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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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): September 29, 2025

 

 

WOLFSPEED, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-40863   56-1572719

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

4600 Silicon Drive  
Durham      North Carolina   27703
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(919) 407-5300

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, $0.00125 par value   WOLF   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

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. ☐

 

 
 


Introductory Note

As previously disclosed, on June 30, 2025, Wolfspeed, Inc. (“Wolfspeed”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Wolfspeed Texas LLC (together with Wolfspeed, the “Company”), filed voluntary petitions commencing cases (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Court”) to implement a prepackaged chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Plan”). The Chapter 11 Cases are jointly administered under the caption In re Wolfspeed, Inc., et al. A summary of the material terms of the Plan and related matters is contained in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 1, 2025 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.

On September 8, 2025, the Court entered the Order (I) Approving the Disclosure Statement, (II) Confirming the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliate, and (III) Approving Entry into the Backstop Agreement [Docket No. 285] (the “Confirmation Order”), which, among other things, confirmed the Plan.

On September 29, 2025 (the “Plan Effective Date”), the conditions to the effectiveness of the Plan were satisfied or waived and the Plan became effective. The Company emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases on September 29, 2025. A copy of the Plan, the Confirmation Order and notice of the Plan Effective Date may be found at https://dm.epiq11.com/wolfspeed.

 

Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Warrant Issuance

In accordance with the Plan, on the Plan Effective Date, Wolfspeed issued a warrant (the “Renesas Warrant”) to Renesas Electronics America Inc. (“Renesas”) to purchase an aggregate of 4,943,555 shares of Wolfspeed’s common stock, par value $0.00125 per share (the “New Common Stock”), at an exercise price of $23.95 per share. Until all Regulatory Approvals have been received, the Renesas Warrant shall only be deemed issued for purposes of U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes and is not exercisable. The Renesas Warrant is exercisable within three years from the Plan Effective Date; provided, that if the Regulatory Trigger Deadline occurs, the expiration date of the Renesas Warrant shall be extended by one year. Further, until all Regulatory Approvals have been received, in lieu of shares of New Common Stock receivable upon exercise of the Renesas Warrant, Renesas will have the right to receive Cash proceeds from the sale of the Warrant Consideration Shares in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Investor Rights Agreement (as defined below). The Renesas Warrant also includes “Black Scholes” protection for two years following the Plan Effective Date.


The foregoing description of the Renesas Warrant is a summary and does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Renesas Warrant, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Investor Rights and Disposition Agreement

In accordance with the Plan, on the Plan Effective Date Wolfspeed entered into an Investor Rights and Disposition Agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) with Renesas. The Investor Rights Agreement provides certain investment-related rights, including, among other terms, that Renesas has the right to select one member of the board of directors of Wolfspeed (the “Board”), subject to receipt of the Regulatory Approvals and Renesas holding in excess of 10% in the aggregate of the New Common Stock. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides that, through January 1 of the year following the receipt of all Regulatory Approvals, (i) Renesas shall not exercise voting rights attached to New Common Stock beneficially owned by Renesas representing more than 9.9% of the Aggregate Company Voting Power (as defined therein) (the “Voting Rights Limitation”) and (ii) any conversion or exercise of Securities (as defined therein) into New Common Stock by Renesas shall be null and void and treated as if never made to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion or exercise, Renesas would beneficially own New Common Stock representing more than 39.9% of the Aggregate Company Voting Power immediately after giving effect to such conversion or exercise (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” and, together with the Voting Rights Limitation, the “Limitations”). Such Limitations will be automatically renewed for subsequent one-year periods subject to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Renesas may terminate the Limitations at any time and without regard to any limitation periods set forth in the Investor Rights Agreement if Wolfspeed has submitted to its stockholders’ meeting a proposal of (i) any transaction that would lead to a change of control of Wolfspeed, (ii) the issuance of any New Common Stock (or instruments convertible or exercisable into New Common Stock), (iii) any amendment to the New Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below) or New Bylaws (as defined below) that would adversely affect any rights of Renesas and (iv) any other matters that could adversely affect any rights of Renesas.

Additionally, prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date under the Plan, subject to certain terms and conditions, Renesas has designation rights regarding the disposition of, and right to cash proceeds from the disposition of, the New Common Stock (or the New Common Stock underlying the Securities (as defined therein)) that Renesas is entitled to receive pursuant to the Plan. Renesas may direct Wolfspeed to sell shares of New Common Stock through a primary registered offering pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below) or sell shares under the ELOC/ATM Program (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement), and remit the cash proceeds from such sales directly to Renesas, net only of sales agent or underwriter commissions or discounts. Upon remittance of such proceeds to Renesas, Renesas’s entitlement to such Securities will be reduced accordingly. Renesas is not permitted to exercise such designation rights until nineteen (19) weeks after the Plan Effective Date.

The foregoing description of the Investor Rights Agreement is a summary and does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Investor Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.


Registration Rights Agreement

In accordance with the Plan, on the Plan Effective Date, Wolfspeed entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with Renesas and certain holders of the New 2L Convertible Notes (as defined below) (together with Renesas, the “RRA Counterparties”).

The Registration Rights Agreement grants the RRA Counterparties certain registration rights in respect of certain “Registrable Securities” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) held by them. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, Wolfspeed must file a shelf registration statement on Form S-1 or, if available, a registration statement on Form S-3 (a “Shelf Registration Statement”) to register the Registrable Securities held by the RRA Counterparties (i) within 45 days of the Plan Effective Date and (ii) solely with respect to the Registrable Securities held by Renesas, within 45 days of the Renesas Base Distribution Date under the Plan. Thereafter, an RRA Counterparty holding Registrable Securities registered on an effective Shelf Registration Statement may require Wolfspeed to effect an underwritten offering of such RRA Counterparty’s Registrable Securities and file any necessary prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to Wolfspeed’s Shelf Registration Statement as soon as practicable and, in any event, within fifteen business days (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-1) or ten business days (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3). The RRA Counterparties may also sell Registrable Securities registered under the Shelf Registration Statements in non-underwritten offerings. Wolfspeed is required to maintain the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement until the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement are no longer Registrable Securities.

Additionally, the RRA Counterparties have customary piggyback registration rights, subject to the limitations set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Prior to the receipt of Regulatory Approvals, at any time following the nineteen-week anniversary of the Plan Effective Date, Renesas may require Wolfspeed to register the sale of shares of New Common Stock or other securities of Wolfspeed on a registration statement on Form S-1 or, if available, a registration statement on Form S-3, to conduct a primary offering of securities, the proceeds of which (after deducting underwriting commissions) will, in accordance with the Investor Rights Agreement, be directed to Renesas in satisfaction of Wolfspeed’s obligation to issue shares of New Common Stock to Renesas pursuant to the Plan.

The foregoing registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including customary blackout periods, market conditions, Wolfspeed’s right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under certain circumstances and, if an underwritten offering is contemplated, the number of such underwritten offerings to be initiated during a year and the right of underwriters to limit the number of shares to be included in a registration statement.


Wolfspeed will generally pay all registration expenses in connection with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, regardless of whether a registration statement is filed or becomes effective. The Registration Rights Agreement provides for customary indemnification and contribution provisions. The Registration Rights Agreement will terminate, with respect to each RRA Counterparty, at such time as such RRA Counterparty no longer owns any Registrable Securities, and in full and be of no further effect, at such time as there are no Registrable Securities held by any RRA Counterparties.

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is a summary and does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

New Senior Secured Notes

In accordance with the Plan, on the Plan Effective Date, certain holders of Wolfspeed’s existing Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Existing Senior Secured Notes”) received their pro rata share of (i) new senior secured notes due 2030 of Wolfspeed in an aggregate principal amount of $1,259,210,128 (the “New Senior Secured Notes”), (ii) a payment from the redemption of $277.5 million in principal amount of Existing Senior Secured Notes at a redemption price of 109.875% of the principal amount being redeemed (to be paid with the proceeds of the rights offering, described below, and proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock of MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. previously held by Wolfspeed), and (iii) certain commitment fees, subject to certain conditions.

The New Senior Secured Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of the Plan Effective Date, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “New Senior Secured Notes Indenture”). The New Senior Secured Notes were issued by Wolfspeed and will be guaranteed by Wolfspeed Texas LLC and all other subsidiaries of Wolfspeed, subject to certain exceptions specified in the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture. The New Senior Secured Notes are secured by substantially all assets of Wolfspeed and the subsidiary guarantors. The terms of the New Senior Secured Notes are substantially similar to the terms of the Existing Senior Secured Notes with certain modifications to reduce go-forward cash interest and minimum liquidity requirements and to provide for certain additional required redemptions, as set forth in the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture.

The foregoing description of the New Senior Secured Notes and the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture is a summary and does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture and New Senior Secured Notes, which are filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 


New 2L Convertible Notes, New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes and New 2L Takeback Notes

In accordance with the Plan, on the Plan Effective Date, holders of Wolfspeed’s previously existing 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”), 0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), and 1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”, and, collectively, with the 2026 Notes and the 2028 Notes, the “Convertible Notes”), received their pro rata share of (i) rights to participate in the rights offering of new 2.5% Convertible Second-Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the “New 2L Convertible Notes”) in the principal amount of approximately $180.675 million, which was fully backstopped by certain holders of Wolfspeed’s previously existing Convertible Notes (who also purchased the remaining reserved $120.45 million New 2L Convertible Notes issued in the rights offering, and for which such backstop parties received a premium reflected by the issuance of additional New 2L Convertible Notes in the principal amount of $30.25 million), (ii) new 7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031 in the principal amount of approximately $296.4 million (the “New 2L Takeback Notes”), and (iii) 24,533,760 shares of New Common Stock.

In addition, in accordance with the Plan, on the Plan Effective Date, Renesas received approximately $203.6 million aggregate principal amount of new 2.5% Convertible Second-Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the “New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes,” and together with the New 2L Convertible Notes and the New 2L Takeback Notes, the “2L Notes”).

The New 2L Convertible Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of the Plan Effective Date, between Wolfspeed, Wolfspeed Texas LLC and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “New 2L Convertible Notes Indenture”). The New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of the Plan Effective Date, between Wolfspeed, Wolfspeed Texas LLC and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes Indenture”). The New 2L Takeback Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of the Plan Effective Date, between Wolfspeed, Wolfspeed Texas LLC and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “New 2L Takeback Notes Indenture,” and together with the New 2L Convertible Notes Indenture and the New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes Indenture, the “2L Indentures”). The 2L Notes were issued by Wolfspeed and will be guaranteed by Wolfspeed Texas LLC and all other subsidiaries of Wolfspeed, subject to certain exceptions specified in the 2L Indentures. The 2L Notes are secured on a second-lien basis by all assets of Wolfspeed and the subsidiary guarantors that secure the New Senior Secured Notes. The New 2L Convertible Notes and New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes will be convertible into shares of Wolfspeed’s New Common Stock in accordance with, and subject to the conditions in, the 2L Convertible Notes Indenture and New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes Indenture, respectively.

The foregoing description of the 2L Notes and the 2L Indentures is a summary and does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of (i) the New 2L Takeback Notes Indenture and the New 2L Takeback Notes, which are filed as Exhibits 4.3 and 4.4, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference, (ii) the New 2L Convertible Notes Indenture and the New 2L Convertible Notes, which are filed as Exhibits 4.5 and 4.6, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference and (iii) the New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes Indenture and the New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes, which are filed as Exhibits 4.7 and 4.8, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 


Intercreditor Agreements

In connection with Wolfspeed’s entrance into the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture and the 2L Indentures, Wolfspeed, the trustees and the collateral agents under the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture and the 2L Indentures entered into the First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Plan Effective Date, which sets forth the respective rights on the shared collateral between the noteholders under the New Senior Secured Notes, as first lien creditors, on the one hand, and the noteholders under the 2L Notes, as second lien creditors, on the other hand.

Additionally, in connection with the Company’s entrance into the 2L Indentures, the Company, the trustees and the collateral agents under the 2L Indentures entered into the Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Plan Effective Date, which sets forth the respective rights on the shared collateral among the noteholders under the 2L Notes.

 

Item 1.02.

Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

In connection with the issuance of the New Senior Secured Notes, the New 2L Convertible Notes, the New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes and the New 2L Takeback Notes described in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, effective on the Plan Effective Date, Wolfspeed terminated (i) the existing Indenture, dated as of April 21, 2020, by and between Wolfspeed and CSC Delaware Trust Company (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank National Association)), and the existing 2026 Notes issued thereunder, (ii) the existing Indenture, dated as of February 3, 2022, by and between Wolfspeed and CSC Delaware Trust Company (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank National Association)) and the existing 2028 Notes issued thereunder; (iii) the existing Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2022, by and between Wolfspeed and CSC Delaware Trust Company (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank National Association)) and the existing 2029 Notes issued thereunder, (iv) the existing Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of October 11, 2024, by and between Wolfspeed and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, and the Existing Senior Secured Notes issued thereunder and (v) the Unsecured Customer Refundable Deposit Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2023, between Wolfspeed and Renesas (the “CRD”), and the CRD loans issued thereunder.

 

Item 1.03.

Bankruptcy or Receivership.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Items 1.01, 1.02 and 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

The material terms of the restructuring transactions that are set forth in the Plan, as confirmed by the Court, were previously described under “Restructuring Support Agreement” in Item 1.01 on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Wolfspeed on June 23, 2025, which description is incorporated herein by reference. This summary describes only certain material provisions of the Plan, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated into this Item 1.03 by reference.


Immediately prior to the Plan Effective Date, there were 156,479,390 outstanding shares of Wolfspeed’s common stock, $0.00125 par value per share (the “Old Common Stock”). In accordance with the Plan and a Plan of Conversion approved by Wolfspeed’s Board (the “Plan of Conversion”), at 12:01 am Eastern Time on September 29, 2025 (the “Conversion Effective Time”), Wolfspeed effected a conversion from a North Carolina corporation to a Delaware corporation and, in connection therewith, a new certificate of incorporation (the “New Certificate of Incorporation”) became effective and Wolfspeed adopted new bylaws (the “New Bylaws”). After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Plan and the Plan of Conversion, the Company’s Old Common Stock was cancelled and retired and the Company issued approximately 25,840,656 shares of New Common Stock in accordance with the Plan.

 

Item 2.03.

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

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under “New Senior Secured Notes” and “New 2L Convertible Notes, New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes and New 2L Takeback Notes” of Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

Under the Plan, on the Plan Effective Date, all of the previously issued and outstanding shares of Old Common Stock were cancelled, and existing equity holders received their pro rata share of approximately 1,306,896 shares of New Common Stock. Also pursuant to the Plan, Wolfspeed issued an aggregate of approximately 25,840,656 shares of New Common Stock (inclusive of the aforementioned shares of New Common Stock issued to existing equity holders). As of the Plan Effective Date, Wolfspeed had an aggregate of approximately 25,840,656 shares of New Common Stock issued and outstanding and approximately 73,030,424 shares of New Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan (such reserve, the “Share Reserve”). If the Regulatory Approvals are received prior to the Regulatory Trigger Deadline, Wolfspeed will issue 16,852,372 shares of New Common Stock to Renesas from the Share Reserve. If the Regulatory Approvals have not been obtained prior to the Regulatory Trigger Deadline, Wolfspeed will issue 871,287 shares of New Common Stock to Renesas from the Share Reserve. However, if Regulatory Approvals are received by the Regulatory Trigger Deadline, holders of Old Common Stock immediately prior to the Plan Effective Date shall receive their pro rata portion of 871,287 shares of New Common Stock from the Share Reserve.

The issuance of the shares of New Common Stock, including the issuance of shares of New Common Stock upon exercise of the Renesas Warrant or upon conversion of the New 2L Convertible Notes or the New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes, and the issuance of the New Senior Secured Notes and the New 2L Takeback Notes, was or will be exempt, as the case may be, from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code (which generally exempts from such registration requirements the issuance of securities under a plan of reorganization), Section 4(a)(2), Section 3(a)(9), Regulation D and/or Regulations S, as applicable.


Initially, approximately 11,096,247 shares of New Common Stock may be issued upon conversion of the New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes, based on the initial conversion rate of 54.5005 shares of New Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes, which is subject to a make-whole adjustment and customary anti-dilution provisions.

Initially, approximately 27,090,171 shares of New Common Stock may be issued upon conversion of the New 2L Convertible Notes, based on the initial conversion rate of 81.7508 shares of New Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of New 2L Convertible Notes, which is subject to a make-whole adjustment and customary anti-dilution provisions.

The information contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K under the sub-heading “Warrant Issuance,” “Senior Secured Notes,” and “New 2L Convertible Notes, New Renesas 2L Convertible Notes and New 2L Takeback Notes” is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

 

Item 3.03.

Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Items 1.01, 3.02 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.01

Changes in Control of Registrant.

On the Plan Effective Date, all previously issued and outstanding equity interests in Wolfspeed were cancelled and extinguished. Pursuant to the Plan, (i) holders of certain claims under Wolfspeed’s pre-petition debt received approximately 95% of the shares of New Common Stock issued on the Plan Effective Date and (ii) holders of shares of Old Common Stock received their pro rata portion of approximately 5% of the shares of New Common Stock issued on the Plan Effective Date.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Board of Directors

Pursuant to the Plan, effective on the Plan Effective Date, Tom Werner, Glenda Dorchak, John Hodge, Darren Jackson, Duy-Loan Le, and Marvin Riley ceased serving on the Board, and Anthony M. Abate, Michael Bokan, Hong Q. Hou, and Eric Musser were appointed to the Board. Robert Feurle, Mark Jensen and Paul V. Walsh, Jr. remained on the Board. Pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement and the Plan, Wolfspeed will appoint Aris Bolisay to the Board upon the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals. Also effective on the Plan Effective Date, Mr. Abate succeeded Mr. Werner as Chairman of the Board.


Mr. Abate, Mr. Bokan, Mr. Hou and Mr. Musser are eligible to participate in the 2025 MIP (as defined below).

Mr. Abate, Mr. Bokan, Mr. Hou and Mr. Musser are also expected to enter into Wolfspeed’s standard indemnification agreement for directors and officers.

There are no other arrangements or understandings between Mr. Abate, Mr. Bokan, Mr. Hou or Mr. Musser and any other persons pursuant to which any of the foregoing was appointed as a member of the Board. None of Mr. Abate, Mr. Bokan, Mr. Hou or Mr. Musser have any family relationship with any director or executive officer of Wolfspeed. There is no relationship between any of Mr. Abate, Mr. Bokan, Mr. Hou or Mr. Musser on the one hand and Wolfspeed on the other that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Board Committees

Effective on the Plan Effective Date, the Board reconstituted the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) to consist of Mr. Bokan, Mark Jensen and Mr. Walsh., and appointed Mr. Walsh as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are “independent directors” within the meaning of the Listing Rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE Listing Rules”), including the special independence requirements applicable to Audit Committee members. The Board has determined that Mr. Jensen is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407 of Regulation S-K.

Effective on the Plan Effective Date, the Board also reconstituted the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) to consist of Mr. Abate, Mr. Hou and Mr. Musser, and appointed Mr. Abate as Chair of the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee are “independent directors” within the meaning of the applicable NYSE Listing Rules.

Effective on the Plan Effective Date, the Board also reconstituted the Governance and Nominations Committee of the Board (the “Governance and Nominations Committee”) to consist of Mr. Bokan, Mr. Jensen and Mr. Musser, and appointed Mr. Jensen as Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee. The Board has determined that all members of the Governance and Nominations Committee are “independent directors” within the meaning of the applicable NYSE Listing Rules.

Compensation Plans

Pursuant to the Plan, on the Plan Effective Date, the obligations of Wolfspeed under all equity incentive plans of Wolfspeed and all documentation related thereto, including options, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and other awards, were terminated. Wolfspeed’s 2023 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan and 2025 Inducement Award Plan also terminated as of the Plan Effective Date.


2025 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

In accordance with the Plan and the Confirmation Order, effective as of the Plan Effective Date, the Board adopted the 2025 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (“2025 LTIP”), which provides for the grant of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance stock units, performance units, other awards, or a combination thereof (“LTIP Awards”), to certain eligible employees and directors. An aggregate of 4,058,925 shares of New Common Stock were reserved for issuance of LTIP Awards under the 2025 LTIP. The 2025 LTIP provides for grants to be made under the 2025 LTIP in fiscal year 2026 and 2027 to have an aggregate value, as determined by the Board or the Committee (as defined in the 2025 LTIP), equal to $26.6 million and $27.5 million, respectively.

2025 Management Incentive Compensation Plan

In accordance with the Plan and the Confirmation Order, effective as of the Plan Effective Date, the Board adopted the 2025 Management Incentive Compensation Plan (“2025 MIP”), which provides for the grant of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance stock units, performance units, other awards, or a combination thereof (“MIP Awards”), to executive officers, key employees and certain directors and other employees. An aggregate of 8,117,851 shares of New Common Stock are reserved for issuance of MIP Awards under the 2025 MIP. The 2025 MIP provides for initial MIP Awards under the 2025 MIP to be made to executive officers and key employees in accordance with the Restructuring Support Agreement.

The foregoing description of the 2025 LTIP and 2025 MIP is a summary and does not propose to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the 2025 LTIP and 2025 MIP, which are filed as Exhibits 10.4 and 10.5, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03.

Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

As described in Item 1.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, at the Conversion Effective Time and in accordance with the Plan and the Plan of Conversion, Wolfspeed effected a conversion from a North Carolina corporation to a Delaware corporation and, in connection therewith, the New Certificate of Incorporation became effective and Wolfspeed adopted the New Bylaws.

The material terms of Wolfspeed’s capital stock, including the rights, preferences, and privileges of the New Common Stock and preferred stock, as well as related provisions of the New Certificate of Incorporation and New Bylaws (including anti-takeover provisions, limitations on liability, and indemnification matters), are described in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-40863), filed with the SEC on September 26, 2025, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description, which description is incorporated herein by reference.


The foregoing description of the material terms of Wolfspeed’s capital stock, the New Charter and New Bylaws is a summary and does not purport to be completed and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the New Certificate of Incorporation and the New Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference, and to the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure

Press Release

On September 29, 2025, Wolfspeed issued press releases announcing (i) the Company’s emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases and (ii) the appointment of the new directors listed in this Current Report on Form 8-K under Item 5.02. A copy of each press release is attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

The information included in this Current Report on Form 8-K under Item 7.01, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause Wolfspeed’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, including estimates, forecasts, and projections about possible or assumed future results of Wolfspeed’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives and Wolfspeed’s industry and market growth. Words such as “could,” “will,” “may,” “assume,” “forecast,” “position,” “predict,” “strategy,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “budget,” “potential,” “forward” or “continue” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. All statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K that are not historical are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential benefits of the transactions contemplated by the Plan, and the potential effects of such transactions on Wolfspeed’s financial position, capital structure, outstanding debt, interest expense, profitability, and growth. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with the emergence by the Company from the Chapter 11 Cases; the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom on Wolfspeed and Wolfspeed’s relationship with its various stakeholders, including vendors and customers; Wolfspeed’s ability to develop and implement the transactions contemplated by the Plan; the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom on Wolfspeed’s liquidity and results of operations; the timing or amount of recovery, if any, to Wolfspeed’s


stakeholders; uncertainty regarding Wolfspeed’s ability to retain key personnel; the diversion of management’s attention as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom; increased administrative and legal costs related to the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom; changes in Wolfspeed’s ability to meet its financial obligations as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom and to maintain contracts that are critical to its operations; the effectiveness of the overall restructuring activities pursuant to the Chapter 11 Cases and any additional strategies that Wolfspeed may employ to address its liquidity and capital resources and achieve its stated goals; the actions and decisions of equity holders, creditors, regulators, and other third parties that have an interest in the Chapter 11 Cases and the Company’s emergence therefrom; ongoing uncertainty in global economic and geopolitical conditions, such as the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East; changes in progress on infrastructure development or changes in customer or industrial demand that could negatively affect product demand, including as a result of an economic slowdown or recession, collectability of receivables and other related matters if consumers and businesses defer purchases or payments, or default on payments; risks associated with Wolfspeed’s expansion plans, including design and construction delays, cost overruns, the timing and amount of government incentives actually received, including, among other things, any direct grants and tax credits, issues in installing and qualifying new equipment and ramping production, poor production process yields and quality control, and potential increases to Wolfspeed’s restructuring costs; Wolfspeed’s ability to obtain additional funding, including, among other things, from government funding, public or private equity offerings, or debt financings, on favorable terms and on a timely basis, if at all; Wolfspeed’s ability to take certain actions with respect to its capital and debt structure; the risk that Wolfspeed does not meet its production commitments to those customers who provide Wolfspeed with capacity reservation deposits or similar payments; the risk that Wolfspeed may experience production difficulties that preclude it from shipping sufficient quantities to meet customer orders or that result in higher production costs, lower yields and lower margins; Wolfspeed’s ability to lower costs; the risk that Wolfspeed’s results will suffer if it is unable to balance fluctuations in customer demand and capacity, including bringing on additional capacity on a timely basis to meet customer demand or scaling back its manufacturing expenses or overhead costs quickly enough to correspond to lower than expected demand; the risk that longer manufacturing lead times may cause customers to fulfill their orders with a competitor’s products instead; product mix; risks associated with the ramp-up of production of Wolfspeed’s new products, and Wolfspeed’s entry into new business channels different from those in which it has historically operated; Wolfspeed’s ability to convert customer design-ins to design-wins and sales of significant volume, and, if customer design-in activity does result in such sales, when such sales will ultimately occur and what the amount of such sales will be; the risk that the markets for Wolfspeed’s products will not develop as it expects, including the adoption of Wolfspeed’s products by electric vehicle manufacturers and the overall adoption of electric vehicles; the risk that the economic and political uncertainty caused by the tariffs imposed or announced by the United States on imported goods, and corresponding tariffs and other retaliatory measures imposed by other countries (including China) in response, may continue to negatively impact demand for Wolfspeed’s products; the risk that Wolfspeed or its channel partners are not able to develop and expand customer bases and accurately anticipate demand from end customers, including production and product mix, which can result in increased inventory and reduced orders as Wolfspeed experiences wide fluctuations in supply and demand; risks related to international sales and purchases; risks resulting from the concentration of Wolfspeed’s business


among few customers, including the risk that customers may reduce or cancel orders or fail to honor purchase commitments; the risk that Wolfspeed’s investments may experience periods of significant market value and interest rate volatility causing it to recognize fair value losses on Wolfspeed’s investment; the risk posed by managing an increasingly complex supply chain (including managing the impacts of supply constraints in the semiconductor industry and meeting purchase commitments under take-or-pay arrangements with certain suppliers) that has the ability to supply a sufficient quantity of raw materials, subsystems and finished products with the required specifications and quality; risks relating to outbreaks of infectious diseases or similar public health events, including the risk of disruptions to Wolfspeed’s operations, supply chain, including its contract manufacturers, or customer demand; the risk Wolfspeed may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if its remaining goodwill or amortizable assets become impaired; risks relating to confidential information theft or misuse, including through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusion; Wolfspeed’s ability to complete development and commercialization of products under development; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Wolfspeed’s products obsolete; the potential lack of customer acceptance for Wolfspeed’s products; risks associated with ongoing litigation; the risk that customers do not maintain their favorable perception of Wolfspeed’s brand and products, resulting in lower demand for its products; the risk that Wolfspeed’s products fail to perform or fail to meet customer requirements or expectations, resulting in significant additional costs; risks associated with strategic transactions; the risk that Wolfspeed is not able to successfully execute or achieve the potential benefits of Wolfspeed’s efforts to enhance its value; the substantial doubt about Wolfspeed’s ability to continue as a going concern; and other factors discussed in Wolfspeed’s filings with the SEC, including Wolfspeed’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2025, and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements represent Wolfspeed’s judgment as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Except as required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, Wolfspeed disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, whether as a result of new information, future events, developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise.


Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.
   Description of Exhibit
 2.1    Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Wolfspeed’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file No. 001-40863), filed on September 10, 2025).
 3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Wolfspeed, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Wolfspeed’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-40863), filed on September 26, 2025)
 3.2    Bylaws of Wolfspeed, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Wolfspeed’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-40863), filed on September 26, 2025)
 4.1*    Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025, by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
 4.2    Form of Senior Secured Note due 2030 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1)
 4.3*    Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025, by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
 4.4    Form of 7.0%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.3).
 4.5*    Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025, by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
 4.6    Form of 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.5).
 4.7*    Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025, by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors part thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
 4.8    Form of 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.7).
10.1    Warrant, dated September 29, 2025, by and between Wolfspeed, Inc. and Renesas Electronics America Inc.
10.2    Investor Rights and Disposition Agreement, dated September 29, 2025, by and between Wolfspeed, Inc. and Renesas Electronics America Inc.
10.3    Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 29, 2025, by and between Wolfspeed, Inc. and the holders party thereto
10.4    2025 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan
10.5    2025 Management Incentive Compensation Plan
99.1    Press Release, dated September 29, 2025
99.2    Press Release, dated September 29, 2025
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

*

Certain schedules and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. The registrant undertakes to furnish a copy of all omitted schedules and similar attachments to the SEC upon its request.


SIGNATURE

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

 

WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:  

/s/ Melissa Garrett

 

Melissa Garrett

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Date: September 30, 2025

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

 

 
 

WOLFSPEED, INC.,

as Issuer,

and the Subsidiary Guarantors party hereto from time to time,

Senior Secured Notes due 2030

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of September 29, 2025

 

 

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

 

 
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1  

SECTION 1.01 Definitions

     1  

SECTION 1.02 Terms Generally

     38  

SECTION 1.03 Effectuation of Transactions

     39  

SECTION 1.04 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents

     39  

SECTION 1.05 Times of Day

     39  

SECTION 1.06 No Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     39  

SECTION 1.07 Accounting Terms

     39  

ARTICLE II. THE NOTES

     40  

SECTION 2.01 Amount of Notes

     40  

SECTION 2.02 Form and Dating

     40  

SECTION 2.03 Execution and Authentication

     40  

SECTION 2.04 Registrar, Paying Agent and Custodian

     41  

SECTION 2.05 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     42  

SECTION 2.06 Noteholder Lists

     42  

SECTION 2.07 Transfer and Exchange

     43  

SECTION 2.08 Replacement Notes

     49  

SECTION 2.09 Outstanding Notes

     49  

SECTION 2.10 Cancellation

     50  

SECTION 2.11 Defaulted Interest

     50  

SECTION 2.12 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers

     50  

SECTION 2.13 Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes

     50  

SECTION 2.14 [Reserved]

     51  

SECTION 2.15 Interest

     51  

SECTION 2.16 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment

     53  

ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE

     54  

SECTION 3.01 Redemption or Repurchase of Notes

     54  

SECTION 3.02 Voluntary and Mandatory Redemption or Repurchase of Notes

     55  

SECTION 3.03 Applicability of Article

     60  

SECTION 3.04 Purchases by the Issuer or a Subsidiary

     60  

SECTION 3.05 Payment for Consent

     60  

ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     61  

SECTION 4.01 Organization; Powers

     61  

SECTION 4.02 Authorization

     61  

SECTION 4.03 Enforceability

     61  

SECTION 4.04 Governmental Approvals

     62  

SECTION 4.05 Financial Statements

     62  

SECTION 4.06 No Material Adverse Effect

     62  

SECTION 4.07 Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases

     62  

SECTION 4.08 Subsidiaries

     63  


SECTION 4.09 Litigation; Compliance with Laws

     63  

SECTION 4.10 Federal Reserve Regulations

     64  

SECTION 4.11 Investment Company Act

     64  

SECTION 4.12 [Reserved]

     64  

SECTION 4.13 Tax Returns

     64  

SECTION 4.14 No Material Misstatements

     64  

SECTION 4.15 Employee Benefit Plans

     65  

SECTION 4.16 Environmental Matters

     66  

SECTION 4.17 Security Documents

     66  

SECTION 4.18 Location of Real Property

     67  

SECTION 4.19 Solvency

     67  

SECTION 4.20 Labor Matters

     68  

SECTION 4.21 Insurance

     68  

SECTION 4.22 No Default

     68  

SECTION 4.23 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

     68  

SECTION 4.24 Senior Debt

     68  

SECTION 4.25 USA PATRIOT Act; Sanctions; Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Laws

     69  

ARTICLE V. [RESERVED]

     70  

ARTICLE VI. [RESERVED]

     70  

ARTICLE VII. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     70  

SECTION 7.01 Existence; Business and Properties

     70  

SECTION 7.02 Insurance

     71  

SECTION 7.03 Taxes

     72  

SECTION 7.04 Financial Statements, Reports, Etc.

     73  

SECTION 7.05 Litigation and Other Notices

     75  

SECTION 7.06 Compliance with Laws

     75  

SECTION 7.07 Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections

     76  

SECTION 7.08 [Reserved]

     76  

SECTION 7.09 Compliance with Environmental Laws

     76  

SECTION 7.10 Further Assurances; Additional Security

     76  

SECTION 7.11 [Reserved]

     80  

SECTION 7.12 Post-Closing

     80  

SECTION 7.13 Compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, Anti-Terrorism Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions

     80  

SECTION 7.14 Cash Management Systems

     81  

SECTION 7.15 Employee Benefit Plans

     81  

SECTION 7.16 ERISA-Related Information

     82  

ARTICLE VIII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     83  

SECTION 8.01 Indebtedness

     83  

SECTION 8.02 Liens

     87  

SECTION 8.03 Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

     92  

SECTION 8.04 Investments, Loans and Advances

     92  

SECTION 8.05 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions

     96  


SECTION 8.06 Dividends and Distributions

     99  

SECTION 8.07 Transactions with Affiliates

     100  

SECTION 8.08 Business of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries

     102  

SECTION 8.09 Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc.

     102  

SECTION 8.10 Fiscal Year

     105  

SECTION 8.11 Liquidity Covenant

     105  

SECTION 8.12 Compliance with ERISA

     106  

SECTION 8.13 Compliance with Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions

     106  

ARTICLE IX. [RESERVED]

     107  

ARTICLE X. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     107  

SECTION 10.01 Events of Default

     107  

SECTION 10.02 Recission

     111  

SECTION 10.03 Treatment of Certain Payments

     111  

SECTION 10.04 [Reserved]

     112  

SECTION 10.05 Control by Majority

     112  

ARTICLE XI. TRUSTEE

     112  

SECTION 11.01 Duties of Trustee

     112  

SECTION 11.02 Rights of Trustee

     113  

SECTION 11.03 Individual Rights of Trustee

     115  

SECTION 11.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer

     115  

SECTION 11.05 Notice of Defaults

     116  

SECTION 11.06 [Reserved]

     116  

SECTION 11.07 Expenses; Indemnity

     116  

SECTION 11.08 Replacement of Trustee

     118  

SECTION 11.09 Successor Trustee by Merger

     119  

SECTION 11.10 Eligibility; Disqualification

     119  

SECTION 11.11 Limitation on Duty of Trustee and Collateral Agent in Respect of Collateral; Indemnification

     120  

ARTICLE XII. DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

     121  

SECTION 12.01 Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance.

     121  

SECTION 12.02 Conditions to Defeasance

     123  

SECTION 12.03 Application of Trust Money

     124  

SECTION 12.04 Repayment to Issuer

     124  

SECTION 12.05 Reinstatement

     124  

ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

     125  

SECTION 13.01 Amendments and Waivers

     125  

SECTION 13.02 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers

     128  

SECTION 13.03 Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     128  

SECTION 13.04 Trustee to Sign Amendments

     128  

SECTION 13.05 Calculation of Principal Amount

     129  


ARTICLE XIV. [Reserved]

     129  

ARTICLE XV. COLLATERAL

     129  

SECTION 15.01 Appointment.

     129  

SECTION 15.02 Delegation of Duties

     130  

SECTION 15.03 Exculpatory Provisions

     130  

SECTION 15.04 Reliance by Agents

     131  

SECTION 15.05 Notice of Default

     132  

SECTION 15.06 Non-Reliance on Agents and other Noteholder Parties

     132  

SECTION 15.07 [Reserved]

     132  

SECTION 15.08 Agent in Its Individual Capacity

     132  

SECTION 15.09 Security Documents

     133  

SECTION 15.10 [Reserved]

     133  

SECTION 15.11 Authorization of Actions to Be Taken

     133  

SECTION 15.12 Release or Subordination of Liens

     134  

SECTION 15.13 Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee

     136  

SECTION 15.14 Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations

     136  

SECTION 15.15 Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantees

     137  

SECTION 15.16 Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Collateral Agent)

     137  

ARTICLE XVI. MISCELLANEOUS

     138  

SECTION 16.01 Notices; Communications

     138  

SECTION 16.02 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     140  

SECTION 16.03 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     140  

SECTION 16.04 [Reserved]

     140  

SECTION 16.05 Survival of Indenture

     140  

SECTION 16.06 Binding Effect

     140  

SECTION 16.07 Successors and Assigns

     141  

SECTION 16.08 [Reserved]

     141  

SECTION 16.09 [Reserved]

     141  

SECTION 16.10 [Reserved]

     141  

SECTION 16.11 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

     141  

SECTION 16.12 Legal Holidays

     141  

SECTION 16.13 GOVERNING LAW

     141  

SECTION 16.14 Entire Agreement

     141  

SECTION 16.15 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     142  

SECTION 16.16 Severability

     142  

SECTION 16.17 No Recourse Against Others

     142  

SECTION 16.18 Successors

     142  

SECTION 16.19 Counterparts

     142  

SECTION 16.20 Headings

     142  

SECTION 16.21 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

     143  

SECTION 16.22 Confidentiality

     143  

SECTION 16.23 Platform; Public Noteholder Party Information

     144  

SECTION 16.24 USA Patriot Act Notice

     145  

SECTION 16.25 Indenture Controls

     145  


EXHIBIT, SCHEDULE & ANNEX INDEX

 

Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B-1    Form of Restricted Note Legend
Exhibit B-2    Form of Global Note Legend
Exhibit B-3    Form of OID Legend
Exhibit C-1    Form of Transfer Certificate from Transferor
Exhibit C-2    Form of Transfer Certificate from Transferee
Schedule 1.01(A)    Certain Excluded Equity Interests
Schedule 1.01(B)    Immaterial Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.01(C)    Initial Subsidiary Guarantors
Schedule 1.01(D)    Agreed Security Principles
Schedule 4.04    Governmental Approvals
Schedule 4.05    Financial Statements
Schedule 4.07(d)    Obligations With Respect to Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 4.07(e)    Material Real Property
Schedule 4.08(a)    Subsidiaries
Schedule 4.08(b)    Subscriptions
Schedule 4.09    Litigation
Schedule 4.13    Taxes
Schedule 4.21    Insurance
Schedule 4.23    Intellectual Property
Schedule 7.12    Post-Closing Items
Schedule 8.01    Indebtedness
Schedule 8.02(a)    Liens
Schedule 8.04    Investments
Schedule 8.05    Dispositions
Schedule 8.07    Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 16.01    Notice Information

 


INDENTURE, dated as of September 29, 2025, by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below) party hereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely as the trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”) and as the collateral agent hereunder.

WHEREAS, the Issuer wishes to issue, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Notes on the Closing Date in the aggregate principal amount of $1,259,210,128 (collectively, the “Notes”).

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes in the manner provided hereunder; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Issuer, in accordance with its terms, have been done, and the Issuer proposes to do all the things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee hereunder and duly issued by the Issuer, the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer as hereinafter provided.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01 Definitions.

Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement” means, with respect to any Liens on the Collateral that are intended to be senior to any Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations, an intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties.

Account Control Agreement” means (a) with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account held or located in the United States, a customary account control agreement which provides for the Collateral Agent to have “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code or Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) of Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, as applicable and (b) with respect to any other Deposit Account or Securities Account, such agreement as is necessary to obtain a perfected security interest under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction over such Deposit Account or Securities Account and which provides for the Collateral Agent to have the equivalent of “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code or Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) (to the extent such equivalent concept exists under the laws of the jurisdiction where such Deposit Account or Securities Account, as applicable, is held or located) of such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, as applicable.


Affiliate” means, when used with respect to a specified person, another person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the person specified.

Agents” means the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Custodian.

Agreed Security Principles” means the principles set forth in Schedule 1.01(D).

AHYDO Payments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(i).

Anti-Corruption Laws” means any Requirement of Law related to bribery or anti-corruption, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

Anti-Terrorism Law” means any Requirement of Law related to money laundering or financing terrorism, including the Patriot Act, The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act”, 31 U.S.C. §§5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959), Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. §1 et seq., as amended), Executive Order 13224 (effective September 24, 2001) and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended), in each case, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statutes.

Applicable Redemption Price” means, with respect to any applicable Notes on any date of determination, (i) on or after June 23, 2026 and prior to the later of (x) June 23, 2027 and (y) the Extraordinary Receipts Trigger Date, 109.875% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable redemption (or repurchase) date, (ii) on or after the later of (x) June 23, 2027 and (y) the Extraordinary Receipts Trigger Date and prior to June 23, 2028, 105.000% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable redemption (or repurchase) date, (iii) on or after June 23, 2028 and prior to June 23, 2029, 103.000% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable redemption (or repurchase) date and (iv) on or after June 23, 2029, 100% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable redemption (or repurchase) date.

Asset Sale Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(b).

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as codified as 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., as amended, and any successor statute of similar import, in each case as in effect from time to time.

Bankruptcy Plan” means that certain Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate, dated as of June 27, 2025, and including all appendices, exhibits, schedules and supplements thereto, as may be amended, supplemented, or modified from time to time.

 

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Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F. R. § 1010.230.

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Board of Directors” means, as to any person, the board of directors or other governing body of such person, or if such person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors or other governing body of such entity.

Budget” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(f).

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or the State of North Carolina are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any person in respect of any period, the aggregate of all expenditures incurred by such person during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “additions to property, plant or equipment” or similar items reflected in the statement of cash flows of such person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease or finance lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP; provided that obligations of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, either existing on the Closing Date or created thereafter that (a) initially were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer as capital lease or finance lease obligations and were subsequently recharacterized as capital lease or finance lease obligations or, in the case of a special purpose or other entity becoming consolidated with the Issuer and its Subsidiaries were required to be characterized as capital lease or finance obligations upon such consolidation, in either case, due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, or (b) did not exist on the Closing Date and were required to be characterized as capital lease or finance lease obligations but would not have been required to be treated as capital lease or finance lease obligations on the Closing Date had they existed at that time, shall for all purposes not be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

Cash Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(h).

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide to the Issuer or any Subsidiary cash management services for collections, treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), any demand deposit, payroll, trust or operating account relationships, commercial credit cards, merchant card, purchase or debit cards, non-card e-payables services, and other cash management services, including electronic funds transfer services, lockbox services, stop payment services and wire transfer services.

 

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Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, assets or property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, assets or property or as compensation for such casualty or condemnation event.

A “Change of Control” shall be deemed to occur if:

(a) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Issuer, its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, the employee benefit plans of the Issuer and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries or Renesas, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the common Equity Interests of the Issuer representing more than 50% of the voting power of the common Equity Interests of the Issuer; or

(b) a “Change of Control” (or similar event) or “Fundamental Event” (or similar event) shall occur under any Second Lien Indenture or any other indenture, credit agreement, or other relevant documentation in respect of any Indebtedness constituting Material Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

provided, that the distribution of securities pursuant to the Bankruptcy Plan shall in no event be deemed to be a Change of Control.

Change of Control Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(c).

Chapter 11 Cases” means the voluntary cases of the Issuer and certain of its subsidiaries filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on July 1, 2025.

Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(e).

CHIPS Act” means Title XCIX — Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283), as amended by the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Division A of Pub. L. 117-167).

CHIPS Program Office” means United States Department of Commerce (the “Department”), CHIPS Program Office.

Closing Date” means September 29, 2025.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

Collateral” means all the “Collateral” (or similar term) as defined in any Security Document and shall also include the Mortgaged Properties, and all other property that is subject to any Lien in favor of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Subagent for the benefit of the Noteholder Parties pursuant to any Security Document.

 

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Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.

Collateral Agreement” means the Collateral Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, and as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, among the Issuer, each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral Agent.

Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means the requirement that (in each case subject to the Agreed Security Principles, Sections 7.10(c), (d) and (g), Schedule 7.12, Section 7.14 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement):

(a) on the Closing Date, (x) the Collateral Agent shall have received from the Issuer and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor a counterpart to the Collateral Agreement and the documents required to be executed by the Issuer and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral Agreement in order to secure the Note Obligations thereunder and (y) the Trustee shall have received from each Subsidiary Guarantor, a counterpart of the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, in each case duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person;

(b) on the Closing Date, (i)(x) all outstanding Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, other than Excluded Securities, and (y) all Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, other than Excluded Securities, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests and such notes or other instruments required to be delivered pursuant to the applicable Security Documents, together with stock powers, note powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(c) in the case of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, shall have received (i) a supplement to Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, a supplement to the Collateral Agreement and supplements to the other Security Documents, if applicable, substantially in the form specified therefor or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), in each case, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor, such other Security Documents governed by the law of any Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction as are necessary for the grant of a perfected security interest in the Equity Interests of, and assets of, such Subsidiary Guarantor, which shall include, among other things, security over substantially all assets in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is customary, in each case, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) and duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

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(d) after the Closing Date, (i) (x) all outstanding Equity Interests of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date and (y) subject to Section 7.10(g), all Equity Interests directly acquired by the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date, other than Excluded Securities, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement or other applicable Security Documents, and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have received all certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(e) except as otherwise contemplated by this Indenture or any Security Document, all documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, and filings with the United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and all other actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) (including those required by applicable Requirements of Law) to be delivered, filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents (in each case, including any supplements thereto) and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents, shall have been delivered, filed, registered or recorded concurrently with, or promptly following, the execution and delivery of each such Security Document;

(f) within the time periods set forth in Section 7.10 with respect to Mortgaged Properties encumbered pursuant to said Section 7.10, the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of each Mortgage to be entered into with respect to each such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Mortgaged Property and suitable for recording or filing in all filing or recording offices that may be necessary or reasonably desirable to create a valid and enforceable Lien subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens, at the time of recordation thereof, (ii) with respect to the Mortgage encumbering each such Mortgaged Property, opinions of counsel in favor of the Collateral Agent regarding the enforceability, due authorization, execution and delivery of the Mortgages and such other matters customarily covered in real estate counsel opinions and customarily given in similar financing transactions, (iii) with respect to each such Mortgaged Property, the Flood Documentation and (iv) such other customary certificates, affidavits and similar deliverables that are customarily given in similar financing transactions in connection with the delivery of a Mortgage or the other deliverables set forth in clause (g) below as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) that are available to the Issuer without material expense with respect to any such Mortgage or Mortgaged Property;

(g) within the time periods set forth in Section 7.10 with respect to Mortgaged Properties encumbered pursuant to said Section 7.10, the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) with respect to each Mortgaged Property located in the United States of America, and to the extent customary in the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property is located if located outside of the United States of America, a policy or policies or

 

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marked up unconditional binder of title insurance, or a date-down and modification endorsement, if available, paid for by the Issuer, issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company selected by the Issuer insuring the Lien of each Mortgage as a valid Lien on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except Permitted Liens, with an insured amount not to exceed the fair market value of the insured Mortgaged Property (as determined in good faith by Issuer), together with such customary endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as may be necessary and as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) and which are available at commercially reasonable rates in the jurisdiction where the applicable Mortgaged Property is located and (ii) with respect to each Mortgaged Property located in the United States of America, and to the extent customary in the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property is located if located outside of the United States of America, a survey of each Mortgaged Property (including all improvements, easements and other customary matters thereon), as applicable, for which all necessary fees (where applicable) have been paid, which is (A) complying in all material respects with the minimum detail requirements of the American Land Title Association and American Congress of Surveying and Mapping as such requirements are in effect on the date of preparation of such survey and (B) sufficient for such title insurance company to remove all standard survey exceptions from the title insurance policy relating to such Mortgaged Property (provided, however, that a survey shall not be required to the extent that the issuer of the applicable title insurance policy provides reasonable and customary survey-related coverages (including, without limitation, survey-related endorsements) in the applicable title insurance policy based on an existing survey, zip map or express map and/or such other documentation as may be reasonably satisfactory to the title insurer);

(h) evidence of the insurance required by the terms of Section 7.02; and

(i) after the Closing Date, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, shall have received (i) such other Security Documents as may be required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.10 or the Collateral Agreement, and (ii) upon reasonable request by the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), evidence of compliance with any other requirements of Section 7.10.

Competitor” means a person or an Affiliate of a person engaged in the development, production, manufacture, marketing, distribution, promotion or sale of semiconductors (it being understood that no Noteholder or Affiliate of a Noteholder that owns such a person or an Affiliate of such a person and whose primary business is not the development, production, manufacture, marketing, distribution, promotion or sale of semiconductors shall be included in this definition).

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any person for any period, all interest expense, including the amortization of debt discount and premium, the amortization or expensing of all fees and expenses payable in connection with the incurrence of indebtedness, the interest component under Capitalized Lease Obligations, capitalized interest, interest paid in kind and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Agreements, in each case, of such person and its subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Consolidated Net Income” means with respect to any person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such person and its subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding:

(1) extraordinary gains or losses;

(2) net earnings of any business entity (other than a Subsidiary) in which any Note Party or any Subsidiary thereof has an ownership interest unless such net earnings shall have actually been received by such Note Party or its Subsidiaries in the form of cash distributions;

(3) any gain or loss from Dispositions not in the ordinary course of business during such period; and

(4) any portion of the net earnings of any Subsidiary which for any reason is unavailable for payment of dividends to the Note Parties.

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date, the total assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer delivered pursuant to Section 7.04(a) or 7.04(b).

Contribution Debt” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not greater than 100% (or 50% in the case of Permitted Disqualified Stock) of the aggregate net amount of cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Closing Date in excess of $300,000,000 in the aggregate from (x) the issuance or sale of the Issuer’s Qualified Equity Interests and Permitted Disqualified Stock or (y) a contribution to the Issuer’s common equity, in each case after the Closing Date (in each case of (x) and (y), other than proceeds (i) from the sale of Equity Interests by the Issuer to any Subsidiary or contributions to the common equity of the Issuer by any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) from the conversion of any Convertible Notes), in each case, to the extent such proceeds have not otherwise been applied to voluntarily redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.02(a)(ii) or make any Investments pursuant to Section 8.04, any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 8.06 or any prepayment of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 8.09(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Contribution Debt may only be allocated to Section 8.01(k) and may not be used to incur any other Indebtedness.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Control Triggering Event” shall mean any of the following: (i) the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default or (ii) as of any date, the amount of Qualified Cash has been less than the Minimum Liquidity Threshold for a period of five (5) or more consecutive Business Days, in each case measured as of each such date during such period.

 

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Controlled Account” means any Deposit Account or Securities Account of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is required to be subject to an Account Control Agreement pursuant to Section 7.14(a).

Controlled Entity” means any Note Party’s Controlled Affiliates. As used in this definition, “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Convertible Notes” means, collectively, (i) the Second Lien Convertible Notes, (ii) the Second Lien Renesas Notes and (iii) any other debt securities issued by the Issuer from time to time permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture that are convertible into common stock of the Issuer (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) and/or cash or any combination thereof (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock).

Core Assets” means any (i) MVF Assets, Siler City Assets or Durham Assets, in each case, excluding any immaterial ordinary course assets utilized in the applicable facility or campus or (ii) Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that directly or indirectly owns any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed that there is no limitation on any MVF Asset, Siler City Asset or Durham Asset moving to and from such locations.

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee in the United States of America at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Noteholder Parties and the Issuer, 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 Noteholder Parties and the Issuer).

Custodian” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

Custodied Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04(e).

Default” means any event or condition that upon notice, lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company or its successor.

Depositary Participant” means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.

 

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Depositary Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer, exchange or other transaction involving a Global Note or any beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary applicable to such transfer, exchange or transaction.

Discharged Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that has been defeased (pursuant to a contractual or legal defeasance) or discharged pursuant to the prepayment or deposit of amounts sufficient to satisfy such Indebtedness as it becomes due or irrevocably called for redemption (and regardless of whether such Indebtedness constitutes a liability on the balance sheet of the obligor thereof); provided, however, that (i) such Indebtedness shall be deemed Discharged Indebtedness if the payment or deposit of all amounts required for defeasance or discharge or redemption thereof have been made even if certain conditions thereto have not been satisfied, so long as such conditions are reasonably expected to be satisfied within 95 days after such prepayment or deposit and (ii) such deposited funds shall be excluded from the calculation of Qualified Cash; provided, further, however, that if the conditions referred to in clause (i) of the immediately preceding proviso are not satisfied within 95 days after such prepayment or deposit, such Indebtedness shall cease to constitute Discharged Indebtedness after such 95-day period.

Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any person and transaction, a member of the Board of Directors of such person who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

Dispose” or “Disposed of” means to convey, sell, lease, sub-lease, license, sub-license, sell and leaseback, assign, farm-out, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property, business or asset, in one transaction or a series of transactions, including any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction and any sale or issuance of Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, and including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith. The term “Disposition” shall have a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any person, any Equity Interests of such person that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior redemption or repurchase in full of the Notes and payment in full of all other Note Obligations that are accrued and payable), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash or (d) at the option of the holder thereof, is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in each case of the preceding clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date (provided, that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock). Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) any Equity Interests issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or the

 

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Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (ii) any class of Equity Interests of such person that by its terms authorizes such person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

DOE Borrower” means any borrower of any DOE Financing.

DOE Financing” means any Indebtedness of any DOE Borrower owing to (x) the United States Department of Energy Loan Programs Office or (y) any financial institution acting as an administrator, facilitator, agent, trustee, servicer, conduit, instrumentality or similar capacity with respect to the United States Department of Energy Loans Programs Office.

DOE Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(g).

DOE Parent Entity” means the Issuer or any other Subsidiary which is a direct or indirect parent company of any DOE Borrower.

Dollars” or “$” means lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer that is set forth on Schedule 1.01(C) and (b) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (unless Issuer has elected to cause such Domestic Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor).

DPA” means the Defense Production Act, as amended, including all implementing regulations.

Durham Assets” means any assets of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries (i) located at, or used in, as of the Closing Date, Durham, North Carolina and (ii) located at, or used in, Durham, North Carolina from and after the Closing Date (it being understood and agreed that such assets in clauses (i) and (ii) shall at all times constitute “Durham Assets” even if subsequently removed from, or no longer used in, Durham, North Carolina).

EBITDA” means, for any period, in each case for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (other than amounts specifically excluded from Consolidated Net Income under clauses (a) through (c) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income): (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) all non-recurring expenses and charges which do not represent a cash item in such period, (v) expenses in connection with the issuance of stock options or other equity as compensation to employees and/or management of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (vi) costs and expenses, in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate during any four (4) fiscal quarter period, incurred in connection with any investment, acquisition, asset disposition, equity issuance or incurrence, payment, prepayment, refinancing or redemption

 

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of Indebtedness (including fees and expenses related to this Indenture and any amendments, supplements and modifications thereof), including the amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses (in each case, whether or not consummated) and (vii) all adjustments used in the calculation of Non-GAAP net loss by the Issuer as reported in its filings with the SEC for the relevant period, minus (b) to the extent included in calculating Consolidated Net Income, (i) all non-recurring, non-cash items increasing net income for such period and (ii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (a)(iv) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were incurred plus (or minus) (c) non-cash losses (or gains) arising from the impact of mark-to-market valuation of the Note Parties Investment in Lextar Electronics Corporation; provided, that (x) in no event shall any fees, costs or expenses of the type referred to as “Start-up and Underutilization Costs” in the Issuer’s filings with the SEC be added back in the calculation of EBITDA, (y) if any Disposition occurs during such period, any EBITDA attributable to the property, business or assets of such Disposition shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA and such Disposition shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the relevant Test Period and (z) if any acquisition or Investment occurs during such period, any EBITDA attributable to the property, business or assets so acquired or Invested in shall be included in the calculation of EBITDA and such acquisition or Investment shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the relevant Test Period.

Environment” means ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata or natural resources such as flora and fauna.

Environmental Laws” means all applicable laws (including common law), rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments or other legally binding requirements, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, regulating or relating to pollution, the protection of the Environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources (such as flora and fauna), including those regulating the generation, use, transport, management, Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Material or to public or employee health and safety matters (solely to the extent relating to human exposure to Hazardous Materials).

Environmental Permits” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.16.

Equity Interests” of any person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity or ownership of such person, including any Preferred Stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest, and any securities or other rights or interests convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing; provided that Equity Interests shall not include any Convertible Notes, Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time and any final regulations promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.

 

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ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Issuer or a Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

ERISA Event” means (a) any Reportable Event or the requirements of Section 4043(b) of ERISA apply with respect to a Plan; (b) the failure to make a required contribution to any Plan that would result in the imposition of a lien or other encumbrance or the provision of security under Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 or 4068 of ERISA, or the arising of such a lien or encumbrance, there being or arising any “unpaid minimum required contribution” or “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined or otherwise set forth in Section 4971 of the Code or Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title 1 of ERISA), whether or not waived, or, with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (c) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code); (d) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Code with respect to any Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (e) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate any Plan, if such termination would require material additional contributions in order to be considered a standard termination within the meaning of Section 4041(b) of ERISA, the filing under Section 4041(c) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate any Plan, the termination of any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, or the incurrence by the Issuer, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) the institution of proceedings, or the occurrence of an event or condition which would reasonably be expected to constitute grounds for the institution of proceedings by the PBGC, under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan or the receipt by the Issuer, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; (g) the incurrence by the Issuer, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any material liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (h) the receipt by the Issuer, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Issuer, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the impending imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or in “endangered” or “critical” status, within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA; (i) the withdrawal of any of the Issuer, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (j) engaging in a non-exempt prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA; or (k) the Issuer, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA).

 

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Escrowed Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) issued to refinance in full any Indebtedness, (ii) in a principal amount no greater than the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness to be so refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest thereon, underwriting discounts and fees, commissions and expenses related to such offering) and (iii) the proceeds of which are funded into an escrow account (pursuant to customary escrow arrangements) pending the release thereof for such refinancing; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, proceeds released from the escrow account and used to refinance the outstanding Indebtedness shall reduce dollar for dollar the amount of “Escrowed Indebtedness” permitted hereunder.

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01.

Excess Net Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(b).

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Excluded Account” means (a) any Deposit Account specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of the employees of any Note Party, (b) any tax account (including any sales tax account), (c) any fiduciary, pension, 401(k) or similar trust account holding employee funds, (d) any impound, escrow, trust, cash collateral or similar account and (e) any Deposit Account and Securities Account that has cash or Permitted Investments that do not have a balance at any time exceeding $20,000,000 individually and $50,000,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts constituting Excluded Accounts; provided that, no account that secures any obligations under any Second Lien Indenture, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be an Excluded Account.

Excluded Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.10(g).

Excluded Securities” means any of the following:

(a) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness with respect to which the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties reasonably agree that the cost or other consequences of pledging such Equity Interests or Indebtedness in favor of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents are likely to be excessive in relation to the value to be afforded thereby;

(b) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Requirement of Law or would require governmental or other regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

(c) any Equity Interests of any person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the extent (A) that a pledge thereof to secure the Note Obligations is prohibited by any organizational documents, joint venture agreement or shareholder agreement of such Subsidiary with an unaffiliated third party without the consent of such third party; provided, that this clause (A) shall not apply if (1) such other party is a Note Party or a Subsidiary of any Note Party or (2) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate the Issuer

 

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or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and shall only apply for so long as such organizational documents, joint venture agreement or shareholder agreement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, or (B) a pledge thereof to secure the Note Obligations would give any other party (other than a Note Party or a Subsidiary of a Note Party) to any organizational document or shareholder agreement governing such Equity Interests the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (so long as, in each case of clause (A) and (B), such provision prohibits the granting of a security interest over such Equity Interests generally (and not solely a pledge to secure the Note Obligations));

(d) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Equity Interests could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any Subsidiary as determined in good faith by the Issuer in consultation with the Required Noteholder Parties;

(e) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness that are set forth on Schedule 1.01(A) to this Indenture or that have been identified on or prior to the Closing Date in writing to the Required Noteholder Parties by a Responsible Officer of the Issuer and agreed to by the Required Noteholder Parties; and

(f) any Margin Stock;

provided that, no Equity Interest or Indebtedness that secures any obligations under any Second Lien Indenture, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be Excluded Securities.

Excluded Subsidiary” means any of the following (except as otherwise provided in clause (b) of the definition of Subsidiary Guarantor):

(a) each Immaterial Subsidiary,

(b) each Subsidiary that is prohibited from Guaranteeing the Note Obligations by a contractual obligation (to the extent such prohibition exists as of the Closing Date or at the time of the acquisition of such Subsidiary (or is a renewal or replacement thereof); provided that such contractual obligation was not entered into or created in contemplation hereof and only for so long as such prohibition exists),

(c) each Subsidiary that is prohibited from Guaranteeing the Note Obligations by any Requirement of Law or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a Governmental Authority to Guarantee the Note Obligations (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received and is in effect),

(d) [reserved],

(e) [reserved],

(f) each not-for-profit Subsidiary or political action committee,

 

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(g) each Subsidiary which is a foreign sales office, to the extent such Subsidiary does not own any material assets,

(h) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, the providing of a Guarantee of the Note Obligations could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any Subsidiary as determined in good faith by the Issuer in consultation with the Required Noteholder Parties, and

(i) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties reasonably determine that the cost or other consequences of providing a Guarantee of the Note Obligations are to be excessive in relation to the value to be afforded thereby.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any Note Document, in no event shall any Subsidiary that (x) is a borrower or guarantor of any DOE Financing, (y) owns any Material IP or (z) is a borrower, issuer or guarantor of any Second Lien Notes, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness), be an Excluded Subsidiary.

Extraordinary Receipts” means 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries in respect of an Extraordinary Receipts Event, in each case, net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, other expenses and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection therewith and (ii) Taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (provided, that if the amount of any such estimated Taxes exceeds the amount of Taxes actually required to be paid in respect of such Extraordinary Receipts Event, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Extraordinary Receipts at the time such Taxes are actually paid).

Extraordinary Receipts Consummation Date” means the date on which the Issuer has repurchased in the aggregate $175,000,000 principal amount of Notes pursuant to an Extraordinary Receipts Offer required to be made by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.02(j)(1) (or such lesser principal amount of Notes tendered by Noteholders pursuant to an Extraordinary Receipts Offer required to be made by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.02(j)(1)).

Extraordinary Receipts Event” means the receipt by Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries of aggregate cash proceeds in excess of $175,000,000 prior to June 30, 2027 from any of the following events: (i) any tax refund or credit (including for this purpose any tax credit that is directly paid in cash) (excluding state, local and foreign tax refunds or credits and excluding any US federal tax refunds or credits that are not refundable credits or eligible for direct payment in cash), (ii) any judgment, settlement or other consideration of any kind in connection with any cause of action (excluding any amounts thereof constituting compensation for reimbursement, damages, or loss of revenue)(as determined by the Issuer), (iii) any pension plan reversion, or (iv) any indemnity payment (excluding any amounts thereof constituting compensation for reimbursement, damages, or loss of revenue)(as determined by the Issuer).

Extraordinary Receipts Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(j).

 

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Extraordinary Receipts Trigger Date” means the date on which the Issuer has repurchased all Notes required to be repurchased pursuant to an Extraordinary Receipts Offer required to be made by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.02(j) (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be the amount required by the applicable subclause of Section 3.02(j) or such lesser principal amount of Notes tendered by the Noteholders pursuant to the Extraordinary Receipts Offer made pursuant to such subclause of Section 3.02(j)).

Fees” means the fees payable by the Issuer (i) to any person pursuant to any Note Document, (ii) to the Collateral Agent for acting as collateral agent under the Note Documents and (iii) to the Trustee for acting as trustee hereunder.

Financial Officer” of any person means the Chief Financial Officer, principal accounting officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or Controller of such person.

First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien/Second Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2025, by and among U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (“U.S. Bank”), as First Lien Notes Trustee and as First Lien Collateral Agent (each as defined therein), U.S. Bank, as Second Lien Convertible Notes Trustee and Second Lien Convertible Notes Collateral Agent (each as defined therein), U.S. Bank, as Second Lien Renesas Convertible Notes Trustee and Second Lien Renesas Convertible Notes Collateral Agent (each as defined therein), U.S. Bank, as Second Lien Non-Convertible Notes Trustee and Second Lien Non-Convertible Notes Collateral Agent (each as defined therein), U.S. Bank, as initial Controlling Second-Priority Collateral Agent (as defined therein) and the Issuer, and as consented to by the Subsidiary Grantors (as defined therein) in the Consent of Subsidiary Grantors (each as defined therein), as such First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Fitch” means Fitch Rating, part of the Fitch Group, a subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A., or any successor or assignee of the business of such company in the business of rating securities.

Flood Documentation” means, with respect to each Mortgaged Property located in the United States of America or any territory thereof, (i) a completed “life-of-loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination (to the extent a Mortgaged Property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, together with a notice about Special Flood Hazard Area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Issuer and the applicable Note Party relating thereto) and (ii) a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, and a declaration page relating to, the insurance policies required by Section 7.02(c) hereof and the applicable provisions of the Security Documents, each of which shall (A) be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a “standard” or “New York” lender’s loss payable or mortgagee endorsement (as applicable), (B) name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured and loss payee/mortgagee, (C) identify the address of each property located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the applicable flood zone designation and the flood insurance coverage and deductible relating thereto and (D) be otherwise in customary form and substance (as reasonably determined by the Issuer).

 

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Flood Insurance Laws” means, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973) as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iii) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction” means, as of any date of determination, any jurisdiction in which a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor is formed or incorporated.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (unless the Issuer has elected to cause such Foreign Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor).

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America on the Closing Date, applied on a consistent basis, subject to the provisions of Section 1.02.

Global Note” means a Note that is represented by a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee, and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary.

Global Note Legend” means a legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B-2.

Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government, court, governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, department, commission, board, bureau, tribunal agency, other authority, instrumentality or regulatory or legislative body.

Gross Cash Proceeds” means the gross cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the applicable event; provided that, to constitute “Gross Cash Proceeds,” the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer from such applicable event may not be less than 95.00% of the gross cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the applicable event.

Guarantee” of or by any person (the “guarantor”) means (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary

 

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obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness or other obligation (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness or other obligation to be secured by such a Lien) of any other person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor; provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition of assets permitted by this Indenture (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such person in good faith.

guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Guarantee.”

Hazardous Materials” means any material, substance or waste that is listed, regulated, or otherwise defined as hazardous, toxic, a pollutant or a contaminant (or words of similar regulatory intent or meaning) under applicable Environmental Law or the Release of which could give rise to liability under any applicable Environmental Law, including, without limitation, explosive or radioactive substances, petroleum byproducts or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas or pesticides.

Hedging Agreement” means any agreement entered into with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction, or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value, or credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reserve repurchase transaction, securities lending transaction, weather index transaction, spot contracts, fixed price physical delivery contracts, or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, in each case of the foregoing, whether or not exchange traded; provided, that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.

Historical Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.05.

IAI” means an institutional “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D.

IAI Global Note” means a Global Note that is an IAI Note.

 

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IAI Note” means (A) each Note that, on the original issue date thereof, was issued to one or more IAIs, other than in reliance upon Rule 144A or Regulation S, and each Note issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof; and (B) each IAI Note issued pursuant to Section 2.07(e) in exchange for, or upon the transfer of, another Note, and each Note issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof; provided, however, that a Note will cease to be an IAI Note when such Note is transferred to, or exchanged for, a Note that is a Rule 144A Note or a Regulation S Note.

IAI Physical Note” means a Physical Note that is an IAI Note.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that does not have (i) revenue, determined on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as of such date, in excess of 1% of the aggregate revenue of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period or (ii) total assets, determined on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, at any time, in excess of 1% of the Consolidated Total Assets; provided, that (x) the aggregate amount of revenue of Subsidiaries constituting Immaterial Subsidiaries, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, shall not exceed 5% of the aggregate revenue of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period and (y) the total assets of Subsidiaries constituting Immaterial Subsidiaries shall not at any time exceed 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets; provided further, that (A) the Issuer may elect in its sole discretion to exclude from classification as an Immaterial Subsidiary any Subsidiary that would otherwise meet the definition thereof and (B) for the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer may at any time designate any Subsidiary that complies with the terms of this definition as an “Immaterial Subsidiary”. Each Immaterial Subsidiary as of the Closing Date shall be set forth in Schedule 1.01(B). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this definition, no Subsidiary shall be an Immaterial Subsidiary if such Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, owns any Core Asset or is a borrower or guarantor of any Second Lien Notes, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) (it being understood and agreed that any such Subsidiary, if applicable, may otherwise be deemed an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with the definition thereof).

Indebtedness” of any person means, if and to the extent (other than with respect to clause (i)) the same would constitute indebtedness or a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person, (d) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than such obligations accrued in the ordinary course), (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such person, (f) all net payments that such person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such person is being determined in respect of outstanding Hedging Agreements, (g) the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (h) the principal component of all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (i) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) to (h) above and (j) the amount of all obligations of such person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock

 

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(excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock); provided, that Indebtedness shall not include (A) trade and other ordinary-course payables, accrued expenses, and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) prepaid or deferred revenue, (C) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase prices of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset, (D) earn-out obligations (to the extent permitted hereunder) until such obligations become a liability on the balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP, (E) obligations in respect of Third Party Funds incurred in the ordinary course of business, (F) in the case of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (G) completion guarantees or (H) any Permitted Warrant Transaction. The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness limits the liability of such person in respect thereof.

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.07(b).

Indenture” means this Indenture as amended, restated or supplemented from time to time.

Ineligible Institution” means (i) a foreign person within the meaning of section 721 of the DPA or a person or Affiliate of a person controlled by a foreign person within the meaning of the DPA, and (ii) a foreign government, foreign person, foreign entity (i.e., an entity not formed under the laws of the United States or any state within the United States or the District of Columbia), or a person representing or acting on behalf of a foreign government, foreign person, or foreign entity, or any entity with foreign ownership that (I) the Issuer reasonably determines, in consultation with the Required Noteholder Parties, would be a security risk to the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ operations in consultation with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency and (II) after such sale, transfer or conveyance, will own, directly or indirectly, more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding Notes; provided that, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any “foreign person” that is an “excepted investor” (in each case, within the meaning of the DPA).

Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.14(a).

Intellectual Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement and, if any, an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement.

Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to any Note, March 23, June 23, September 23 and December 23 of each year.

 

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Interest Rate” means, with respect to any Note, a fixed rate equal to (i) for the period commencing on the Closing Date through and including June 22, 2026, (x) 9.875% per annum, payable in cash, plus (y) 4.00% per annum, payable as PIK Interest, and (ii) commencing on June 23, 2026 and at all times thereafter, (A) in the event the Interest Rate Step-Down Condition is satisfied as of the most recent Test Date, 13.875% per annum, payable in cash, and (B) in the event the Interest Rate Step-Down Condition is not satisfied as of the most recent Test Date, 15.875% per annum, payable in cash.

Interest Rate Officer’s Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(g).

Interest Rate Step-Down Condition” means (i)(a) the redemption or repurchase (other than any redemption or repurchase with the proceeds of any Disposition by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Notes resulting in the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding being less than $1,000,000,000 and (b) the receipt by the Issuer of at least $450,000,000 of award disbursements pursuant to governmental grants under the CHIPS Act or (ii) as of the most recent Test Date, the ratio of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes to EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period is less than or equal to 2.00:1.00.

Interest Rate Trigger Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(g).

Investment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04.

Issuer” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Indenture.

Issuer’s Order” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03.

Junior Financing” means (i) any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is subordinated in right of payment to the Note Obligations (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or (ii) any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is either unsecured or secured by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.01(l) constitute Junior Financing. The Second Lien Notes shall constitute Junior Financing.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, security interest or similar monetary encumbrance in or on such asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided, that in no event shall an operating lease or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Liquidity Covenant” means the covenant of the Issuer set forth in Section 8.11.

Local Time” means New York City time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

Make-Whole Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(e).

Make-Whole Event” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(e).

 

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Make-Whole Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Note on any applicable redemption (or repurchase) date, the greater of (I) the sum of (i) the principal amount of such Note, plus (ii) the accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such redemption (or repurchase) date, plus (iii) the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such redemption (or repurchase) date of (x) 109.875% of (A) the principal amount of such Note plus (B) all required PIK Interest due on such Note so redeemed or repurchased through June 23, 2026 plus (y) all required cash interest payments due on such Note so redeemed or repurchased through June 23, 2026, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption (or repurchase) date plus 50 basis points, over (b) the principal amount of such Note, less (iv) 2.00% of the principal amount of such Note and (II) the sum of (i) 109.875% of the principal amount of such Note plus (ii) the accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such redemption (or repurchase) date; provided that, if the Extraordinary Receipts Consummation Date has occurred, in connection with any redemption (or repurchase) on or after March 31, 2026 and solely to the extent that no Event of Default has occurred on or prior to such redemption (or repurchase) date, the “Make-Whole Redemption Price” shall be the sum of (i) 109.875% of the principal amount of such Note, plus (ii) the accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such redemption (or repurchase) date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if any Event of Default occurs or has occurred, this proviso shall be of no further effect).

If the redemption (or repurchase) is in connection with a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, the applicable Treasury Rate shall be computed as of the date that funds are irrevocably deposited with the Trustee to pay the amounts related thereto, as set forth in this Indenture.

Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect on the business, property, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operating results or financial condition of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, excluding in any event the effect of filing the Chapter 11 Cases, the events and conditions leading up to and customarily resulting from the commencement and continuation of the Chapter 11 Cases, the effects thereof and any action required to be taken under the Chapter 11 Cases or the Bankruptcy Plan themselves, (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform any of their payment obligations under any Note Document to which the Issuer or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors is a party or (c) a material adverse effect on the validity or enforceability of any of the Note Documents or the rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Noteholder Parties thereunder.

Material Indebtedness” means (i) Indebtedness (other than Notes) of any one or more of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $75,000,000 and (ii) Indebtedness under any Second Lien Indenture.

Material IP” means any intellectual property (including any trade secrets) of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (and excluding commercial off the shelf products) that is material to any Product Family of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that Material IP does not include (a) the intellectual property subject to the Specified IP Disposition or (b) any other expiring intellectual property that the Issuer determines is no longer material to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

 

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Material Real Property” means any parcel or parcels of Real Property now or hereafter owned in fee by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor and having a fair market value (on a per-property basis) of at least $5,000,000, as determined by the Issuer in good faith; provided, that “Material Real Property” shall not include (i) any Real Property in respect of which the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor does not own the land in fee simple or (ii) any Real Property which the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor leases to a third party.

Maturity Date” means June 23, 2030.

Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(e).

Minimum Liquidity Threshold” means $350,000,000.

Moody’s” means mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Mortgaged Properties” means each Material Real Property encumbered by a Mortgage pursuant to Section 7.10.

Mortgages” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents (including amendments to any of the foregoing) delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties, each, (i) in the case of Material Real Property located in the United States, in a form customary for financing transactions similar to this Indenture and reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) and the Issuer or (ii) in the case of Material Real Property located outside of the United States in such form as is customary for the applicable jurisdiction and reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) and the Issuer, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Issuer or any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (other than one considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Code Section 414) is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding six plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

MVF” means the Mohawk Valley Fab facility and campus in Marcy, New York.

MVF Assets” means (i) any assets of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries located at, or used in, as of the Closing Date, MVF and (ii) any additional assets located at, or used in, MVF from and after the Closing Date (it being understood and agreed that such assets in clauses (i) and (ii) shall at all times constitute “MVF Assets” even if subsequently removed from, or no longer used in, MVF).

Net Income” means, with respect to any person, the net income (loss) of such person, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Net Proceeds” means 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but only as and when received) from any Disposition of, or Casualty Event with respect to, (x) any Core Asset (other than any Disposition under Section 8.05(a)), (y) any Non-Core Assets pursuant to Section 8.05(g) or (z) any assets or property pursuant to Section 8.05(d), in each case, net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required debt payments and required payments of other obligations that are secured by the applicable asset or property (including without limitation principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts) (other than pursuant to the Note Documents), other expenses and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) [reserved], (iii) Taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (provided, that if the amount of any such estimated Taxes exceeds the amount of Taxes actually required to be paid in respect of such Disposition or Casualty Event, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Proceeds at the time such Taxes are actually paid) and (iv) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (iii) above) (A) related to any of the applicable assets and (B) retained by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event occurring on the date of such reduction); provided, that, with respect to any Net Proceeds arising from any Casualty Event with respect to any Core Assets, if no Default or Event of Default exists and the Issuer intends to use such proceeds within 12 months of such receipt to acquire assets that reasonably replace or remediate the property or assets subject to such Casualty Event to a similar level of such property or assets as prior to such Casualty Event, such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not, within 12 months of such receipt, so used (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 12 month period, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such expiry without giving effect to this proviso).

Non-Core Assets” means any assets owned by the Issuer or any Subsidiary that do not constitute Core Assets.

Non-U.S. Person” means a person that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of Regulation S.

Note Documents” means (i) this Indenture, (ii) the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, (iii) the Security Documents, (iv) any Intercreditor Agreement and (v) all other fee letters, documents, certificates, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by or on behalf of a Note Party for the benefit of any Agent, the Noteholders or any other person in connection herewith.

 

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Note Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Issuer of (i) the unpaid principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Notes issued by the Issuer under this Indenture, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for redemption or otherwise and (ii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer owed under or pursuant to this Indenture and each other Note Document, including obligations to pay fees, expense reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), and (b) the due and punctual payment of all obligations of each other Note Party under or pursuant to each of the Note Documents.

Note Parties” means the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Noteholder” means, as of any date, any Person that is a holder of a Note issued hereunder.

Noteholder Party” means the Noteholders and holders of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes.

Notes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals of this Indenture.

Notes Minimum” means $1.00.

Notes Multiple” means $1.00.

OFAC” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Sanctions.”

OFAC Listed Person” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.25(a).

Officers Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by a Responsible Officer of the Issuer who is the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, which meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

OID Legend” means a legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B-3.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable. The counsel that delivers an Opinion of Counsel on behalf of the Issuer or other person may be an employee of, or counsel, to the Issuer or such other person.

Parallel Debt” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.16.

 

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Parallel Debt Creditor” means the Collateral Agent in its capacity as creditor of the Parallel Debt.

Paying Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04(a).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA.

Pension Plan” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.15(b).

Perfection Certificate” means the Perfection Certificate with respect to the Issuer and the other Note Parties delivered to the Noteholders and the Trustee on or prior to the Closing Date, as the same may be supplemented from time to time to the extent required by Section 7.04(g).

Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Issuer’s common stock purchased by the Issuer in connection with the issuance of any Convertible Notes; provided that the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction, does not exceed the net proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of such Convertible Notes issued in connection with the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

Permitted Disqualified Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer that constitutes Disqualified Stock solely due to clause (c) of the definition thereof; provided that (i) such Preferred Stock has been broadly marketed to potential investors and (ii) such Preferred Stock does not provide for scheduled payments of dividends in cash in an amount in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination).

Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(a) direct obligations of the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(b) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by (i) a bank, trust company or other financial institution that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $500 million and whose long-term debt, or whose parent holding company’s long-term debt, is rated A (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act)), or (ii) other banks, trust companies or other financial institutions approved by the Trustee (acting at direction of the Required Noteholder Parties);

 

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(c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 185 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (b) above;

(d) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of P-1 (or higher) according to Moody’s, or A-1 (or higher) according to S&P or F1 or higher by Fitch (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(e) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, issued and fully guaranteed by any State, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s or A by Fitch (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(f) shares of mutual funds whose investment guidelines restrict 95% of such funds’ investments to those satisfying the provisions of clauses (a) through (e) above;

(g) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500.0 million;

(h) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits in an aggregate face amount not in excess of 0.5% of Consolidated Total Assets;

(i) any Investments permitted by the Issuer’s investment policy (other than any Investment permitted by Section IX thereof), as in effect on the Closing Date, provided that such investment policy has been provided to the Required Noteholder Parties on or prior to the Closing Date; and

(j) instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (a) through (i) above denominated in any foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and commonly used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States of America to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Note Party or any Subsidiary, in each case, organized in such jurisdiction.

Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement” means, with respect to any Liens on Collateral that are intended to be junior to any Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations, the First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties in their sole discretion.

 

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Permitted Liens” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “Refinance”), the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided, that (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness so Refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs and fees, commissions and expenses), (b) (i) the final maturity date of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is after the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (excluding customary amortization) is greater than or equal to the lesser of (x) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes then outstanding, (c) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment and/or in lien priority to the Note Obligations under this Indenture, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment and/or in lien priority, as applicable, to such Note Obligations on terms not materially less favorable to the Noteholder Parties as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced (it being understood that secured Indebtedness may be Refinanced with unsecured Indebtedness), (d) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have obligors that are not (or would not have been) obligated with respect to the Indebtedness being so Refinanced (provided that any Note Party may be an obligor for the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of any other Note Party), (e)(i) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured Indebtedness if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is unsecured Indebtedness as of the Closing Date and (ii) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any collateral that did not secure the Indebtedness being Refinanced as of the Closing Date, (f) the other terms of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (other than interest rates, fees, floors, funding discounts and redemption or prepayment premiums and other pricing terms) are substantially similar to, or not more restrictive to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries than, the terms applicable to the Notes (except for (1) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date or (2) those that are otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties (or, if more restrictive, the Note Documents are amended, prior to or concurrently with such Refinancing, to contain such more restrictive terms to the extent required to satisfy the foregoing standard)), (g) at the time of such Refinancing, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing and (h) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall permit or require scheduled interest payments in cash in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination). Subject to the foregoing conditions, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may also be incurred in respect of any Indebtedness that constitutes Discharged Indebtedness.

Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Issuer’s common stock sold by the Issuer substantially concurrently with any purchase by the Issuer of a related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

 

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Person” or “person” means any natural person, corporation, business trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, limited liability company or government, individual or family trusts, or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Physical Note” means a Note (other than a Global Note) that is represented by a certificated Note in definitive, fully registered form (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend and not bearing the Global Notes Legend) and duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee.

PIK Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(h).

PIK Note” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(h).

Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3 of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) maintained or contributed to by the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has or may have an obligation to contribute, and each such plan for the five-year period immediately following the latest date on which the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to (or is deemed under Section 4069 of ERISA to have maintained or contributed to or to have had an obligation to contribute to, or otherwise to have liability with respect to) such plan.

Platform” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04.

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

primary obligor” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Guarantee.”

Private Side Noteholder Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 16.23.

Product Family” means (a) each product family (as referred to in the Issuer’s most recent Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filings prior to the Closing Date or in any of the Issuer’s Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filings after the Closing Date) and (b) shall also include (i) within the “materials” product family, each of (x) the bare wafers and (y) the epitaxial wafers, lines of business and (ii) within the “power devices” product family, each of (w) dies, (x) the Schottky diodes, (y) the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and (z) the power modules, lines of business.

Projections” means projections and any forward-looking statements (including statements with respect to booked business) of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries furnished to the Required Noteholder Parties by or on behalf of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date.

Public Noteholder Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 16.23.

 

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Public Noteholder Party Information” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04.

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Qualified Cash” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.11.

Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest other than Disqualified Stock.

Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee or leased by any Note Party, whether by lease, license, or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(f).

Refinance” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness,” and “Refinanced” shall have a meaning correlative thereto.

Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04(a).

Registrar” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04(a).

Regulation D” means Regulation D under the Securities Act, as such regulation may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such regulation may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note that is a Regulation S Note.

Regulation S Note” means (A) each Note that, on the original issue date thereof, was issued and sold in reliance on Regulation S, and each Note issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof; and (B) each Regulation S Note issued pursuant to Section 2.07(e) in exchange for, or upon the transfer of, another Note, and each Note issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof; provided, however, that a Note will cease to be a Regulation S Note when such Note is transferred to, or exchanged for, a Note that is a Rule 144A Note or IAI Note.

Regulation S Physical Note” means a Physical Note that is a Regulation S Note.

Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Related Fund” means, with respect to any Noteholder, any other person that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in bank loans, debt securities or similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course and that is administered, advised or managed by (a) such Noteholder, (b) an Affiliate of such Noteholder or (c) an entity (or an Affiliate of such entity) that administers, advises or manages such Noteholder.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified person, such person’s Controlled or Controlling Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such person and such person’s Controlled or Controlling Affiliates.

Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, emanating or migrating in, into, onto or through the Environment.

Renesas” means Renesas Electronics Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Reportable Event” means any reportable event as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder as to which the PBGC has not waived under subsection .22, .23, .25, .27 or .28 of PBGC Regulation Section 4043 the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified of such event with respect to a Plan.

Repurchase Offer” means an Asset Sale Offer, a Change of Control Offer, a Specified Transaction Offer, a DOE Offer, or an Extraordinary Receipts Offer.

Repurchase Offer Payment Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(d).

Required Noteholder Parties” means, at any time, Noteholder Parties (other than any Competitors and Ineligible Institutions) beneficially owning (including through beneficial interests) Notes that, taken together, represent more than 50% of the sum of all Notes (other than Notes held by any Competitors and Ineligible Institutions) outstanding at such time.

Requirement of Law” means, as to any person, any law, treaty, rule, regulation, statute, order, ordinance, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such person or any of its property or assets or to which such person or any of its property or assets is subject.

Responsible Officer” means any executive officer or Financial Officer of such person and any other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such person in respect of this Indenture, or any other duly authorized employee or signatory of such person.

 

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Restricted Note Legend” means a legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B-1.

Restricted Payments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.06. The amount of any Restricted Payment made other than in the form of cash or cash equivalents shall be the fair market value thereof (as determined by the Issuer in good faith).

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such regulation may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

Rule 144A Global Note” means a Global Note that is a Rule 144A Note.

Rule 144A Note” means (A) each Note that, on the original issue date thereof, was issued and sold in reliance upon Rule 144A and not Regulation S, and each Note issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof; and (B) each Rule 144A Note issued pursuant to Section 2.07(e) in exchange for, or upon the transfer of, another Note, and each Note issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof; provided, however, that a Note will cease to be a Rule 144A Note when such Note is transferred to, or exchanged for, a Note that is a Regulation S Note or an IAI Note.

Rule 144A Physical Note” means a Physical Note that is a Rule 144A Note.

Rule 501” means Rule 501 under the Securities Act.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03.

Sanctioned Country” means at any time, a country, region or territory that is, or whose government is, the target of any comprehensive Sanctions, including, as of the Closing Date, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria.

Sanctioned Person” means at any time, any person with whom dealings are restricted or prohibited under Sanctions, including (i) any person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated persons maintained by the United States (including by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), or the U.S. Department of State), or equivalent lists maintained by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or any other relevant sanctions authority, (ii) any person located or organized in a Sanctioned Country or (iii) any person owned fifty (50) percent or more or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any such person described in clause (i) or (ii) of this definition.

Sanctions” means sanctions or trade embargoes enacted, imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, or U.S. Department of Commerce, or (ii) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any of its member states, or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

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SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

Second Lien Convertible Notes” means the 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 issued under the Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Issuer, as issuer, the guarantors party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as indenture trustee and as collateral agent, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Second Lien Notes” means, collectively, the Second Lien Takeback Notes, the Second Lien Renesas Notes, the Second Lien Convertible Notes and any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.01(r)(iv) (if any).

Second Lien Notes Indentures” means, collectively, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture and the Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Renesas Notes” means the 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 issued under the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Issuer, as issuer, the guarantors party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as indenture trustee and as collateral agent, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Second Lien Takeback Notes” means the 7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031 issued under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Issuer, as issuer, the guarantors party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as indenture trustee and as collateral agent, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor), each Noteholder Party and each subagent appointed pursuant to Section 15.02 by the Trustee with respect to matters relating to the Note Documents or by the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor) with respect to matters relating to any Security Document.

Securities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

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Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Security Documents” means the Mortgages, the Collateral Agreement, each foreign collateral agreement, each Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), each Account Control Agreement and each of the security agreements, pledge agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered at any time pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 7.10.

Senior Indebtedness” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 13.01(b).

Siler City Assets” means (i) any tangible personal or real property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries located at, or used in, as of the Closing Date, the Siler City Facility and (ii) any tangible personal or real property purchased after the Closing Date and located at, or used in, the Siler City Facility from and after the Closing Date which did not fall into any other definition under this Indenture prior to such movement or use; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, Siler City Assets shall not include any intangible assets or property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.

Siler City Facility” means the materials facility and campus in Siler City, North Carolina.

Special Flood Hazard Area” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.02(c).

Specified Indebtedness” means Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Sections 8.01(i) and/or 8.01(cc) (which may also be secured by a Lien incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(ll)).

Specified IP Disposition” means the Disposition (whether in a single transaction or multiple transactions) of the assets and property described in item 1 on Schedule 8.05.

Specified Noteholder Parties” means, at any time, Noteholder Parties (other than any Competitors and Ineligible Institutions) beneficially owning (including through beneficial interests) Notes that, taken together, represent more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of all Notes (other than Notes held by any Competitors and Ineligible Institutions) outstanding at such time; provided that the Specified Noteholder Parties shall include each Noteholder Party (other than any Competitors and Ineligible Institutions) that beneficially owns (together with its Affiliates) at least $100,000,000 of aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes.

Specified Transaction Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(h).

Spot Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.04.

Subagent” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.02.

 

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subsidiary” means, with respect to any person (herein referred to as the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, directly or indirectly, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

Subsidiary” means, unless the context otherwise requires, a subsidiary of the Issuer.

Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement” means the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement dated as of the Closing Date as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, between each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and (b) any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that may be designated by the Issuer (by way of delivering to the Trustee of a supplement to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement duly executed by such Subsidiary) in its sole discretion from time to time to be a guarantor in respect of the Note Obligations, whereupon such Subsidiary shall be obligated to comply with the other requirements of Section 7.10(d) as if it were newly acquired.

Successor Issuer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.05(o).

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments, deductions, withholdings or other similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or other basis and any interest, fines, penalties or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

Termination Date” means the date on which the principal of and interest on each Note, all Note Obligations, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Note Document shall have been paid in full (other than in respect of contingent indemnification and expense reimbursement claims not then due).

Test Date” means June 23 of each year commencing with June 23, 2026.

Test Period” means, on any date of determination, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer then most recently ended (taken as one accounting period) for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 7.04(a) or 7.04(b); provided that prior to the first date financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.04(a) or 7.04(b), the Test Period in effect shall be the four fiscal quarter period ended June 29, 2025.

Third Party Funds” means any accounts or funds, or any portion thereof, received by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries as agent on behalf of third parties in accordance with a written agreement that imposes a duty upon the Issuer or one or more of its Subsidiaries to collect and remit those funds to such third parties.

 

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TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

Transactions” means, collectively, the transactions to occur pursuant to the Note Documents, including (a) the execution, delivery and performance of the Note Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents, and the issuance of the Notes hereunder and (b) the payment of all fees and expenses to be paid and owing in connection with the foregoing.

Transferee” means the transferee with respect to the sale, pledge, assignment, or other transfer of the Notes, in whole or in part, and of the rights of the Noteholder thereof with respect thereto and under this Indenture pursuant to Section 2.07.

Transferee Letter” means a letter substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C-1 and accepted by the Trustee and the Issuer.

Transferee Note” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.07(e)(i)(3).

Transferor Letter” means a letter substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C-2 and accepted by the Trustee and the Issuer.

Treasury Rate” means, as of the applicable redemption (or repurchase) date, a rate per annum (computed on the basis of actual days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the rate determined by the Issuer on the date three Business Days prior to the date of redemption (or repurchase), to be the yield expressed as a rate listed in The Wall Street Journal for United States Treasury securities having a term most nearly equal to the period from such redemption (or repurchase) date to June 23, 2026. If the redemption (or repurchase) is in connection with a satisfaction and discharge or defeasance of the Indenture, the applicable Treasury Rate shall be computed as of the date that funds are irrevocably deposited with the Trustee to pay the amounts related thereto, as set forth in this Indenture.

Trust Officer” means any officer:

(1) within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and

(2) who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture, acting in its capacity as trustee hereunder, until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

 

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Unfunded Pension Liability” of any Plan means the amount, if any, by which the value of the accumulated plan benefits under the Plan, determined on a plan termination basis in accordance with actuarial assumptions at such time consistent with those prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds the fair market value of all plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions).

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107 56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any person means a subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such person. Unless the context otherwise requires, “Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

SECTION 1.02 Terms Generally. The definitions set forth or referred to in Section 1.01 shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Indenture unless the context shall otherwise require. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference in this Indenture to any Note Document or other agreement or document shall mean such document as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference herein to any Requirement of Law means such Requirement of Law as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, references to any person shall mean and include such person’s successors and assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in

 

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accordance with GAAP, as in effect on the Closing Date. If the Issuer or its Subsidiaries enters into any revolving, delayed draw or other committed debt facility, the Issuer may elect to determine compliance of such debt facility (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens from time to time in connection therewith) with this Indenture and each other Note Document on the date definitive loan documents with respect thereto are executed by all parties thereto, assuming the full amount of such facility is incurred (and any applicable Liens are granted) on such date, in lieu of determining such compliance on any subsequent date (including any date on which Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to such facility).

SECTION 1.03 Effectuation of Transactions. Each of the representations and warranties of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries contained in this Indenture and the other Note Documents (and all corresponding definitions) are made after giving effect to the Transactions, unless the context otherwise requires.

SECTION 1.04 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents. Any amount specified in this Indenture or any of the other Note Documents to be in Dollars shall also include the equivalent of such amount in any currency other than Dollars, such equivalent amount thereof in the applicable currency to be reasonably determined by the Issuer at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate for the purchase of such currency with Dollars. The “Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate of exchange quoted by the Reuters Currencies Page (available at www.reuters.com/markets/currencies as of the Closing Date) for the applicable currency at 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date two Business Days prior to the date of such determination (or in the event such rate does not appear on any Reuters Currency Page, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as the Issuer may determine to use in its reasonable discretion). No Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation or threshold set forth in Dollars in Article VIII or clause (f) or (j) of Section 10.01 being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates from those rates applicable on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made and for the avoidance of doubt, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of a change in the rate of currency exchange occurring after the time of any relevant transaction so long as such relevant transaction was permitted at the time incurred, made, acquired, committed, entered or declared.

SECTION 1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified herein, all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York City time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

SECTION 1.06 No Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture is not qualified under the TIA, and the TIA shall not apply to or in any way govern the terms of this Indenture. As a result, no provisions of the TIA are incorporated into this Indenture unless expressly incorporated pursuant to this Indenture.

SECTION 1.07 Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Indenture shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Historical Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically

 

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prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

ARTICLE II.

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01 Amount of Notes.

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Closing Date is $1,259,210,128 (which principal amount may exceed such amount subsequently to the Closing Date as a result of the payment of PIK Interest).

SECTION 2.02 Form and Dating.

(a) The Notes issued on the Closing Date will be initially issued and available for transfer and exchange in accordance with the terms of this Indenture to (1) IAIs in accordance with Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D, (2) QIBs in reliance on Regulation D or Rule 144A, as applicable, and (3) persons that are Non-U.S. Persons in offshore transactions (as defined in Rule 902(h) of Regulation S) in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under Regulation S.

(b) The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be originally issued as one or more Global Notes in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture; provided that the Issuer shall be permitted to issue Physical Notes in its discretion as detailed in an issuer order to the Trustee to authenticate such Physical Notes. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided, that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication, except that PIK Notes shall be dated as of the Interest Payment Date to which they relate. The Notes shall be issued in registered form without interest coupons and in denominations of an integral multiple of the Notes Multiple and not less than the Notes Minimum, except as may be necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a Noteholder of its entire holding of Notes.

SECTION 2.03 Execution and Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Responsible Officer of the Issuer the Notes for original issue on the Closing Date in an aggregate original principal amount of $1,259,210,128.

One Responsible Officer shall sign each of the Notes for the Issuer by manual, facsimile or electronic signature (including “.pdf” or DocuSign or other electronic signature platform).

 

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If a Responsible Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

A Note shall not be valid nor shall it be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture until an authorized signatory of the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the Note by manual signature. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate the Notes whenever the Trustee may do so by manual signature. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.04 Registrar, Paying Agent and Custodian.

(a) The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep at its Corporate Trust Office books for (i) the recordation of the names and addresses of the Noteholders, (ii) the registration and transfer of the Notes and (iii) principal amounts (and stated interest) of the applicable Notes owing to, each Noteholder pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The Issuer shall appoint and maintain a person (other than the Issuer or its Affiliates) that will hold the Notes on behalf of the Depositary (the “Custodian”). The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee the Registrar, Custodian and Paying Agent to keep such books and make such assignments, registrations and transfers as are hereinafter set forth in this Section 2.04 and also authorizes and directs the Trustee to provide a copy of such assignment, registration or transfer record to any Paying Agent upon its request. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Issuer, the Trustee and the Noteholder Parties shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Noteholder hereunder for all purposes of this Indenture, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Issuer or any Noteholder Party (but only, in the case of a Noteholder Party, at the Trustee’s office and only with respect to any entry relating to such Noteholder Party’s Notes), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. The intention of this Section 2.04(a) is that the Notes be treated as registered for purposes of Section 5f.103-1(c) and proposed Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Treasury Regulations and Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code.

(b) If a person other than the Trustee is appointed by the Issuer to maintain the Register, the Issuer will give the Trustee and any Paying Agent prompt written notice of such appointment and of the location, and any change in the location, of the successor Registrar and the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have the right to inspect the Register at all reasonable times and to obtain copies thereof, and the Trustee shall have the right to conclusively rely upon a certificate executed on behalf of the Registrar by an officer thereof as to the names and addresses of the Noteholders and the principal amounts and number of such Notes.

 

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(c) The Issuer may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 11.07. The Issuer or any of its domestically organized Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(d) The Issuer may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 11.08.

(e) The Custodian’s sole responsibility is to take and hold in safe-keeping the Notes for which it is acting as Custodian (the “Custodied Notes”) on behalf of the Depositary. Neither the Trustee nor the Custodian shall have any obligation to hold in safe-keeping any Physical Notes.

(f) The Custodian hereby agrees to act in its capacity as such with respect to, and hereby agrees to take and hold in accordance with Section 2.04, the Notes of the Depositary.

SECTION 2.05 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. On or prior to each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Noteholders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.05, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06 Noteholder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Noteholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the 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 Noteholders.

 

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SECTION 2.07 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) A Note (or any interest therein) may not be transferred in whole or in part except in accordance with this Section 2.07. Upon written request by a Noteholder of the Notes and such Noteholder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.07, the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of a Physical Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note evidencing such Noteholder’s interest in the Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange of a Physical Note, the requesting Noteholder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Physical Note duly endorsed and accompanied by a Transferor Letter and Transferee Letter duly executed by such Noteholder or Transferee, as applicable, and acknowledged by the Issuer, in each case duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Noteholder and its Transferee (if applicable) shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to Section 2.07(b). For the avoidance of doubt, any transfer or exchange of any Note will be effected using the assignment form attached to the form of note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

(b) No transfer or exchange of any Note or interest therein shall be made unless such transfer or exchange is made pursuant to a transaction that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. None of the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar is obligated to register or qualify any Notes under the Securities Act or any other securities law or to take any action not otherwise required under this Indenture to permit the transfer or exchange of any Note or interest therein without registration or qualification. Any Noteholder desiring to effect such a transfer or exchange shall, and does hereby agree to, indemnify the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar against any liability that may result if the transfer or exchange is not so exempt or is not made in accordance with the Securities Act and all other applicable federal and state laws.

(c) Transfers and Exchanges of Global Notes

(i) Subject to the immediately following sentence and this Section 2.07, no Global Note may be transferred or exchanged in whole except (x) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary; (y) by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary; or (z) by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. No Global Note (or any portion thereof) may be transferred to, or exchanged for, a Physical Note; provided, however, that a Global Note will be exchanged, pursuant to customary procedures, for one or more Physical Notes if:

(1) (x) the Depositary notifies the Issuer or the Trustee that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Note or (y) the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act and, in each case, the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depositary within ninety (90) days of such notice or cessation;

(2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar has received a written request from the Depositary, or from a holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, to exchange such Global Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, for one or more Physical Notes; or

 

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(3) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, permits the exchange of any beneficial interest in such Global Note for one or more Physical Notes at the request of the owner of such beneficial interest.

(ii) Upon satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Global Note (or any portion thereof):

(1) the Trustee will reflect any resulting decrease of the principal amount of such Global Note by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such Global Note (and, if such notation results in such Global Note having a principal amount of zero, then the Issuer may (but is not required to) instruct the Trustee to cancel such Global Note pursuant to Section 2.10);

(2) if required to effect such transfer or exchange, then the Trustee will reflect any resulting increase of the principal amount of any other Global Note by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such other Global Note;

(3) if required to effect such transfer or exchange, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.03, a new Global Note bearing each legend, if any, required by Section 2.07(f); and

(4) if such Global Note (or such portion thereof), or any beneficial interest therein, is to be exchanged for one or more Physical Notes, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.03, one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in a Notes Multiple and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note to be so exchanged; (y) are registered in such name(s) as the Depositary specifies (or as otherwise determined pursuant to customary procedures); and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.07(f).

(iii) Each transfer or exchange of a beneficial interest in any Global Note will be made in accordance with the Depositary Procedures.

(d) Transfers and Exchanges of Physical Notes

(i) Subject to this Section 2.07, a Noteholder of a Physical Note may (x) transfer such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in a Notes Multiple) to one or more other Person(s); (y) exchange such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in a Notes Multiple) for one or more other Physical Notes in a Notes Multiple having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Physical Note (or portion thereof) to be so exchanged; and (z) if then permitted by the Depositary Procedures, transfer such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in a Notes Multiple) in exchange for a beneficial interest in one or more Global Notes; provided, however, that, to effect any such transfer or exchange, such Noteholder must:

(1) surrender such Physical Note to be transferred or exchanged to the office of the Registrar, together with any endorsements or transfer instruments reasonably required by the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar; and

 

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(2) deliver such certificates, documentation or evidence as may be required by the Trustee or may be required to comply with the applicable procedures of the Depositary.

(ii) Upon the satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Physical Note (such Physical Note being referred to as the “old Physical Note” for purposes of this Section 2.07(d)(ii)) of a Noteholder (or any portion of such old Physical Note in a Notes Multiple pursuant to clause (ii) of thereof):

(1) such old Physical Note will be promptly cancelled pursuant to Section 2.10;

(2) if such old Physical Note is to be so transferred or exchanged only in part, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.03, one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in a Notes Multiple and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such old Physical Note not to be so transferred or exchanged; (y) are registered in the name of such Noteholder; and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.07(f);

(3) in the case of a transfer:

(a) to the Depositary or a nominee thereof that will hold its interest in such old Physical Note (or such portion thereof) to be so transferred in the form of one or more Global Notes, the Trustee will reflect an increase of the principal amount of one or more existing Global Notes by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such Global Note(s), which increase(s) are in a Notes Multiple and aggregate to the principal amount to be so transferred, and which Global Note(s) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.07(f); provided, however, that if such transfer cannot be so effected by notation on one or more existing Global Notes (whether because no Global Notes bearing each legend, if any, required by Section 2.07(f) then exist, because any such increase will result in any Global Note having an aggregate principal amount exceeding the maximum aggregate principal amount permitted by the Depositary or otherwise), then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.03, one or more Global Notes that (x) are in a Notes Multiple and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount that is to be so transferred but that is not effected by notation as provided above; and (y) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.07(f); and

 

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(b) to a Transferee that will hold its interest in such old Physical Note (or such portion thereof) to be so transferred in the form of one or more Physical Notes, the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.03, one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in a Notes Multiple and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so transferred; (y) are registered in the name of such Transferee; and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.07(f); and

(4) in the case of an exchange, the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.03, one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in a Notes Multiple and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so exchanged; (y) are registered in the name of the Person to whom such old Physical Note was registered; and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.07(f).

(e) Restrictions Applicable to Transfers Between Rule 144A Notes, Regulation S Notes and IAI Notes.

(i) None of the following transfers will be effected unless the requirements set forth in Section 2.07(e)(ii) are satisfied with respect to such transfer:

(1) the transfer of a Rule 144A Physical Note, or a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Physical Note, or a beneficial interest in a Global Note, which, in each case, is a Regulation S Note or an IAI Note;

(2) the transfer an IAI Physical Note, or a beneficial interest in an IAI Global Note, to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Physical Note, or a beneficial interest in a Global Note, which, in each case, is a Rule 144A Note or a Regulation S Note; and

(3) a transfer of a Regulation S Physical Note, or a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Physical Note, or a beneficial interest in a Global Note, which, in each case, is a Rule 144A Note or an IAI Note (such Note of which such Person referred to in preceding clause (1), (2) or (3), as applicable, is to take delivery being referred to as the “Transferee Note” for purposes of this Section 2.07(e)).

 

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(ii) A transfer described in Section 2.07(e)(i) will not be effected unless:

(1) in the case the Transferee referred to in Section 2.07(e)(i) is to take delivery of the Transferee Note in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note, the Noteholder delivers to the Registrar (1) a written order from a Depositary Participant or an indirect Depositary Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Depositary Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in such Global Note in an amount equal to the interest to be transferred; and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary Procedures containing information regarding the Depositary Participant account to be so credited, or, in lieu of the foregoing, such other instructions or documentation as the Registrar may reasonably require in order to comply with the Depositary Procedures in connection with such transfer;

(2) such Noteholder delivers to the Registrar a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C-1 hereto, including the certification set forth in Item 1 thereof (if the Transferee Note is a Rule 144A Note), Item 3 thereof (if the Transferee Note is an IAI Note) or Item 2 thereof (if the Transferee Note is a Regulation S Note), or, in lieu thereof, such other certifications or documentation substantially to the same effect (or, with respect to any Global Note, such other electronic or other documentation or instructions as may be permitted or required by the Depositary Procedures) as may be reasonably acceptable to the Issuer; and

(3) such Transferee delivers to the Registrar, if reasonably requested by the Company or the Registrar, a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C-2 hereto, including the certification set forth in Item 1(a) thereof (if the Transferee Note is a Rule 144A Note), Item 1(b) thereof (if the Transferee Note is an IAI Note) or Item 1(c) thereof (if the Transferee Note is a Regulation S Note), or, in lieu thereof, such other certifications or documentation substantially to the same effect (or, with respect to any Global Note, such other electronic or other documentation or instructions as may be permitted or required by the Depositary Procedures) as may be reasonably acceptable to the Issuer.

(f) Legend.

(i) Each Global Note will bear the Global Note Legend (or any similar legend, not inconsistent with this Indenture, required by the Depositary for such Global Note).

(ii) Each Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) will bear the Restricted Note Legend and the OID Legend.

(iii) A Noteholder’s acceptance of any Note bearing any legend required by this Section 2.07(f) will constitute such Noteholder’s acknowledgment of, and agreement to comply with, the restrictions set forth in such legend.

(g) Additional Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, Notes in the manner provided in this Indenture at the Registrar’s request.

 

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(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, a Note may not be transferred or exchanged in part unless the portion to be so transferred or exchanged is in a Notes Multiple.

(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(vi) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

(vii) The Issuer shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of Notes to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

Neither the Trustee nor any agent thereof shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and beneficial owners. None of the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or 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 Note or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Neither the Issuer nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any act or omission of the Depositary. All notices and communications to be given to the Noteholders and all payments to be made to Noteholders in respect of the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Noteholder(s) (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note).

 

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Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions of, or the exemptions from, the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws, or other applicable law. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall be required to obtain any certificate, approvals or other documents required by the terms of this Indenture if the Trustee has not been notified in writing of any transfer requiring such a certificate, approval or other documents to be presented by the proposed transferor or transferee.

Any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Noteholder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

SECTION 2.08 Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Noteholder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Noteholder (a) satisfies the Issuer and the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Noteholder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer and the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Issuer and the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such Noteholder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee, with respect to the Trustee, and the Issuer, with respect to the Issuer, to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar, as applicable, from any loss or liability that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the Noteholder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer.

The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

SECTION 2.09 Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee (giving effect to, and as increased by, any payment of PIK Interest made thereon by increasing the aggregate principal amount of Global Notes by an amount equal to the PIK Interest payable and with respect to Notes represented by Physical Securities, any PIK Notes issued after the Closing Date) except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

 

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If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the Noteholders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10 Cancellation. Upon the redemption or repurchase of any Notes by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, such Notes shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.11 Defaulted Interest. If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuer shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) pursuant to Section 2.15(b) in any lawful manner. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Noteholders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected Noteholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.12 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. The Issuer may use one or more CUSIP or ISIN numbers to identify any of the Notes, and, if so, the Issuer and the Trustee will use such CUSIP or ISIN number(s) in notices to Noteholders; provided, however, that (i) the Trustee makes no representation as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP or ISIN number; and (ii) the effectiveness of any such notice will not be affected by any defect in, or omission of, any such CUSIP or ISIN number. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN number(s) identifying any Notes.

SECTION 2.13 Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the Noteholders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the Noteholders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, and Section 2.09 of this Indenture, and, if applicable, the definitions of

 

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“Required Noteholder Parties” and “Specified Noteholder Parties”. Any calculation of the Make-Whole Redemption Price made pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate. The Trustee shall have no obligation to confirm or verify any such calculation. The Issuer and the Trustee agree that any action of the Noteholders may be evidenced by the Depositary’s applicable procedures or by such other procedures as the Issuer and Trustee may agree.

SECTION 2.14 [Reserved].

SECTION 2.15 Interest.

(a) The Notes shall bear interest at the Interest Rate.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the option of the Required Noteholder Parties (and automatically upon an Event of Default under Sections 10.01(b), (c), (h) or (i)), the principal amount of all Notes outstanding and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any interest payments on the Notes or any fees or other amounts owed hereunder, shall thereafter bear interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws) payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal to 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Note as provided in the preceding clauses of this Section 2.15; provided, that this clause (b) shall not apply to any Event of Default that has been waived by the Required Noteholder Parties pursuant to Section 13.01.

(c) Accrued interest on each Note shall be payable in arrears (i) on each Interest Payment Date and (ii) on the applicable Maturity Date; provided, that (A) interest accrued pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 2.15 shall be payable on demand and (B) in the event of any redemption of any Note, accrued interest on the principal amount redeemed shall be payable on the date of such redemption to, but excluding, the date of such redemption.

(d) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the applicable interest rate, together with all fees and charges that are treated as interest under applicable law (collectively, the “Charges”), as provided for herein or in any other document executed in connection herewith, or otherwise contracted for, charged, received, taken or reserved by any Noteholder Party, shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by such Noteholder Party in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable hereunder, together with all Charges payable to such Noteholder Party, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate; provided, that such excess amount shall be paid to such Noteholder Party on subsequent payment dates to the extent not exceeding the legal limitation.

 

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(f) The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except interest accrued pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 2.15) to the Paying Agent for the account of the persons who are registered Noteholders at the close of business, whether or not a Business Day, 15 days prior to an Interest Payment Date (each a “Record Date”). The Issuer shall pay interest accrued pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 2.15 to the Paying Agent for the account of the registered Noteholders as of a subsequent special record date, which the Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed and notice of which the Issuer shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected Noteholder, which notice shall state the special record date, the payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

(g) In the event that the Interest Rate on the Notes is decreased as a result of the occurrence of the Interest Rate Step-Down Condition (the date of any such occurrence, an “Interest Rate Trigger Date”), the Issuer shall promptly (and in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the next Interest Payment Date) notify the Trustee and Noteholders in an Officer’s Certificate of (i) the occurrence of such event, (ii) the applicable Interest Rate as a result of such decrease, (iii) the Interest Rate Trigger Date, and (iv) the calculation of interest due on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (such notice, the “Interest Rate Officers Certificate”). Unless and until the Trustee receives an Interest Rate Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee may conclusively and without liability assume that the Interest Rate remains unchanged.

(h) The amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i)(x) and (ii) of the definition of “Interest Rate” shall be payable in cash on each Interest Payment Date (and such payments are referred to herein as “Cash Interest”), and the amounts payable pursuant to clause (i)(y) of the definition of “Interest Rate” shall be payable in kind on each Interest Payment Date by increasing the outstanding principal amount of the Global Notes or by issuing Physical Notes under this Indenture having the same terms as the then-existing Notes, except that the issuance price, the issuance date and the initial Interest Payment Date may vary (the “PIK Notes”), in either case, in the amount of interest so paid in kind on such Note (and such payment is referred to herein as “PIK Interest”). To the extent the aggregate amount of interest paid on any Interest Payment Date is paid partially in the form of Cash Interest and partially in the form of PIK Interest, each Note shall be entitled to the same percentage of Cash Interest and the same percentage of PIK Interest as each other Note. On each Interest Payment Date on which the Issuer pays interest in the form of PIK Interest as provided above, the Trustee shall increase the principal amount of each Global Note by an amount equal to the amount of interest payable in kind on such Global Note on such Interest Payment Date and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee with respect to each Note to reflect such increase as a result of the payment of such PIK Interest; provided, however, that if such amount of interest payable in kind is not a whole dollar, then such amount will be rounded to the nearest dollar (with 5/10ths rounded upwards). On any Interest Payment Date on which the Issuer pays PIK Interest by issuing PIK Notes in the form of Physical Notes, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee PIK Notes duly executed by the Issuer together with an Issuer’s Order requesting the authentication of such PIK Notes by the Trustee, with the principal amount of any such PIK Note (for the relevant interest as of the relevant Record Date for such Interest Payment Date). All Notes issued representing PIK Interest will mature on their Stated Maturity and will be governed by, and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of, this Indenture and shall have the same rights and benefits as the other Notes outstanding hereunder. Any Physical Notes that are PIK Notes will be issued with the description “PIK Notes” on the face of such PIK Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, for all purposes of this Indenture, all references to the “principal amount” of the Notes shall mean the outstanding principal amount as it has been increased as a result of all PIK Interest. Any payment of PIK Interest on a Note that would result in the principal balance of such Note not being in a Notes Multiple shall be increased to the next Notes Multiple. The Notes, including any PIK Notes, shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including directions provided to the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.05, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase, and shall rank on a parity basis in right of payment and security.

 

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(i) The amount of PIK Interest required to be paid on any Note for any Interest Payment Date shall be considered paid by the Issuer (i) with respect to Global Notes, on the applicable Interest Payment Date when the Trustee shall have increased the principal amount of such Global Notes by an amount equal to all interest payable in kind on such Global Notes on such Interest Payment Date; and (ii) with respect to Physical Notes, on the Interest Payment Date when the Issuer shall have delivered the PIK Notes duly executed by the Issuer together with an Issuer’s Order requesting the authentication of such PIK Notes by the Trustee. Upon any increase in the principal amount of any Global Note or issuance of PIK Notes in respect of PIK Interest, such Note will bear interest on such increased principal amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, on the Maturity Date, the Issuer shall pay all accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes entirely in cash and accrued and unpaid interest shall also be required to be paid entirely in cash in connection with any redemption, repurchase, exchange, offer to redeem or repurchase or any other principal payment to the extent accrued on the principal amount then being redeemed, repurchased, exchanged or paid and, upon any acceleration of the Notes, any accrued and unpaid interest on the aggregate principal amount of the Notes so accelerated shall be required to be entirely in cash.

SECTION 2.16 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment.

(a) Unless otherwise specified, the Issuer shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees or otherwise) prior to 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds. Each such payment shall be made without condition or deduction for any defense, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Paying Agent for the account of the applicable Noteholders, except that payments pursuant to Section 11.07 shall be made directly to the persons entitled thereto. The Paying Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. All payments made under the Note Documents shall be made in Dollars. Any payment required to be made by the Paying Agent hereunder shall be deemed to have been made by the time required if the Paying Agent shall, at or before such time, have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Paying Agent to make such payment.

(b) Subject to Section 10.03, if at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Trustee from the Issuer to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due from the Issuer hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due from the Issuer hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due from the Issuer hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

 

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ARTICLE III.

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE

SECTION 3.01 Redemption or Repurchase of Notes.

(a) Subject to the other clauses of this Section 3.01, to the extent not previously redeemed or repurchased, outstanding Notes shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date.

(b) Redemptions or repurchases of the Notes from:

(i) any mandatory redemption or offer to repurchase Notes pursuant to Section 3.02(b), Section 3.02(c), Section 3.02(g), Section 3.02(h) or Section 3.02(j) shall be allocated to the Notes pursuant to Section 3.01(c), and

(ii) any optional redemption of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.02(a) shall be redeemed in accordance with Section 3.01(f).

(c) Any mandatory redemption of Notes or offer to repurchase Notes pursuant to Section 3.02(b), Section 3.02(c), Section 3.02(g), Section 3.02(h) or Section 3.02(j) shall be made on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate principal amount of all Notes outstanding on the date of such mandatory redemption or offer to repurchase.

(d) Prior to any optional redemption of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.02(a), a notice of redemption must be delivered electronically or mailed (by first-class mail) by the Issuer or, at the Issuer’s request in an Officer’s Certificate delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the requested date of delivery (or such shorter period as may be satisfactory to the Trustee), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer, at least ten days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Noteholder of the Notes to be redeemed at such Noteholder’s last address as the same appears on the registry books maintained by the Registrar pursuant to Section 2.04 or pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depositary and such notice of redemption shall (A) specify the redemption date, (B) that, on the redemption date, the redemption price will become due and payable upon each Note to be redeemed, and that interest thereof, if any, shall cease to accrue on the redemption date, (C) specify the outstanding principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed on such date, (D) specify the accrued interest and redemption price applicable to the redemption, (E) state the applicable provision of this Indenture pursuant to which such redemption is to be made, (F) the place or places where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price, (G) the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if any, assigned to such Note, and (H) in case any Physical Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and, upon surrender of each Physical Note, a new Physical Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued; provided, that a notice of redemption may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, indentures or similar agreements or other transactions, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Issuer if such condition is not satisfied.

 

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(e) All redemptions of Notes shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the principal amount redeemed and the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate that such redemption shall comply with the conditions contained in this Indenture and the Note.

(f) With respect to any optional redemption pursuant to Section 3.02(a) for less than the full aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, such redemption shall be made on a pro rata basis among all Notes then outstanding. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed in accordance with the preceding sentence and that, if such Note is a Physical Note, such Note shall be surrendered by the Noteholder thereof to the Trustee. Upon surrender of any Physical Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall execute for the Noteholder a new Physical Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Physical Note surrendered which shall be authenticated by the Trustee. The Issuer shall deliver a certificate of authentication to the Trustee. Upon receipt of a written order of the Issuer signed by one Responsible Officer of the Issuer, the Trustee will authenticate and make available for delivery to the Noteholder, at the expense of the Issuer, the new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Physical Note surrendered.

(g) Without duplication of any amounts included in the calculation of the Make-Whole Redemption Price or the Applicable Redemption Price, if the redemption date is on or after an interest Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest up to but excluding the redemption date will be paid to the person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such interest Record Date, and no additional interest will be payable to Noteholders who redeem their Notes.

SECTION 3.02 Voluntary and Mandatory Redemption or Repurchase of Notes.

(a) The Issuer shall have the right at any time and from time to time to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part in an aggregate principal amount that is an integral multiple of the Notes Multiple and not less than the Notes Minimum or, if less, the amount outstanding, subject to prior notice in accordance with Section 3.01(d); provided that:

(i) in the event of any optional redemption of Notes made pursuant to this Section 3.02(a) prior to June 23, 2026, the Issuer shall redeem such Notes from the applicable Noteholders at the Make-Whole Redemption Price with respect to such Notes;

(ii) notwithstanding clause (i) above or clause (iii) below, on any date that is prior to June 23, 2026, the Issuer may make an optional redemption of up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued prior to such redemption (calculated in an aggregate amount with any other optional redemptions made pursuant to this clause (ii) of the Notes prior to such redemption) pursuant to this Section 3.02(a) with the cash proceeds (other than proceeds (A) from the sale of Equity Interests by the Issuer to any Subsidiary or (B) from the conversion of any Convertible Notes, and only to

 

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the extent such proceeds have not otherwise been applied to incur any Contribution Debt pursuant to Section 8.01(k) or make any Investments pursuant to Section 8.04, any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 8.06 or any prepayment of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 8.09(b)) of any issuance of Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer issued after the date the Issuer has received $300,000,000 of net cash proceeds from the issuance of Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer since the Closing Date, at a redemption price equal to 111.875% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date; and

(iii) in the event of any optional redemption of Notes made pursuant to this Section 3.02(a) on or after June 23, 2026, the Issuer shall redeem such Notes from the applicable Noteholders at the Applicable Redemption Price with respect to such Notes.

(b) The Issuer shall make an offer to repurchase the Notes for cash with all Net Proceeds (other than (x) Net Proceeds from the sale or other disposition of “Building 21” (as described in item 2 of Schedule 8.05) and (y) the first $10,000,000 of cumulative Net Proceeds in respect of the Specified IP Disposition) at a price equal to the lesser of (i) 111.875% of the principal amount of such Notes (or, solely in the case of Net Proceeds of a Specified IP Disposition, 109.875% of the principal amount of such Notes) plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date and (ii) the Applicable Redemption Price at the time of the Disposition or Casualty Event giving rise to such Net Proceeds (an “Asset Sale Offer”) in accordance with clauses (b)(i) and (c) of Section 3.01 and the procedures set forth in Section 3.02(d); provided, that no Asset Sale Offer shall be required until the amount of Net Proceeds (excluding Net Proceeds referenced in clauses (x) and (y) of the first parenthetical in this Section 3.02(b)) in the aggregate exceeds $10,000,000 (and, once the amount of such Net Proceeds exceeds $10,000,000, all Net Proceeds in excess of such $10,000,000 (such excess Net Proceeds, “Excess Net Proceeds”) will be required to make an Asset Sale Offer under this Section 3.02(b)); provided, further, that the Issuer shall not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.02(b) at any time that the aggregate amount of Excess Net Proceeds are less than $500,000 (provided that, once the aggregate amount of Excess Net Proceeds are equal to or greater than $500,000, all Excess Net Proceeds shall be required to make an Asset Sale Offer). For the avoidance of doubt, the principal amount of Notes required to be repurchased in any Asset Sale Offer shall be calculated based on the applicable price set forth in this Section 3.02(b), including the accrued and unpaid interest due in connection therewith.

(c) On or prior to the consummation of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall make an offer to repurchase all of the Notes for cash at a price equal to (x) if such Change of Control will occur prior to June 23, 2026, the greater of (i) the Make-Whole Redemption Price at the time such Change of Control occurs minus 1.00% of the principal amount of such Notes and (ii) the Applicable Redemption Price as of June 23, 2026 and (y) if such Change of Control will occur on or after June 23, 2026, the Applicable Redemption Price at the time such Change of Control occurs (a “Change of Control Offer”) in accordance with clauses (b)(i) and (c) of Section 3.01 and the procedures set forth in Section 3.02(d).

 

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(d) If the Issuer is required to make a Repurchase Offer pursuant to Section 3.02(b), Section 3.02(c), Section 3.02(g), Section 3.02(h) or Section 3.02(j), as applicable, the Issuer will apply cash in the amount required to be applied pursuant to such Section to offer to repurchase the Notes at the applicable purchase price pursuant to such Section. (i) Within five Business Day following the realization or receipt of Net Proceeds, in the case of an Asset Sale Offer, (ii) on or prior to the consummation of a Change of Control, in the case of a Change of Control Offer, (iii) within five Business Days following the receipt of net cash proceeds, in the case of a DOE Offer or a Specified Transaction Offer, or (iv) within the time period set forth in Section 3.02(j), in the case of an Extraordinary Receipts Offer, the Issuer will deliver a notice to each Noteholder (with a copy to the Trustee) stating:

(1) a Repurchase Offer is being made pursuant to Section 3.02(b), Section 3.02(c), Section 3.02(g), Section 3.02(h) or Section 3.02(j) of this Indenture, as applicable;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be a date not less than 10 nor more than 20 Business Days from the date such notice is delivered to the Noteholders (including, with respect to Global Notes, electronically pursuant to the Depositary’s applicable procedures); provided, that a notice of the Repurchase Offer may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of such Change of Control or receipt of Net Proceeds or net cash proceeds or other applicable transactions, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Issuer if such condition is not satisfied;

(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

(4) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the applicable purchase price, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Repurchase Offer will cease to accrue interest after the date of purchase (the “Repurchase Offer Payment Date”);

(5) that Noteholders may rescind their tender at any time on or prior to the repurchase date; and

(6) that Noteholders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (if the Notes are Global Notes held by the Depositary, then the applicable operational procedures of the Depositary for tendering and withdrawing securities will apply), which unpurchased portion must be equal to $1.00 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof.

On the Repurchase Offer Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Repurchase Offer; (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the applicable aggregate purchase price (including accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to be repurchased) in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Issuer. The Paying Agent will promptly deliver (but in any case, not later than five days after the Repurchase Date) to each Noteholder of Notes properly tendered the applicable purchase price (including accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase) for such Notes.

 

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If at the end of the Repurchase Offer pursuant to Section 3.02(b), Section 3.02(g), Section 3.02(h) or Section 3.02(j) more Notes are tendered than the Issuer is required to purchase, and if the Notes are Global Notes held by the Depositary, the Depositary will select the Notes to be redeemed in accordance with its operational arrangements. If the Notes are not Global Notes held by the Depositary, selection of such Notes for purchase shall be made by the Issuer in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Notes are listed (and the Issuer shall notify the Trustee of any such listing), or if such Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable, by lot or by such other method as the Issuer deems appropriate; provided that no Notes of a minimum $2,000 or less shall be purchased in part.

(e) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Notes are accelerated or otherwise become due prior to their stated maturity for any reason following the occurrence of any Event of Default (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 10.01(h) or (i)) or the acceleration of claims by operation of law (a “Make-Whole Event”) all fees, expenses and premiums (including any premium included in the Make-Whole Redemption Price or Applicable Redemption Price) as of the date such Notes are accelerated or become due will also be due and payable as if the Issuer had voluntarily redeemed such Notes (the “Make-Whole Amount”), and such Make-Whole Amount shall also be due and payable as of such date and shall constitute part of the Note Obligations. Any Make-Whole Amount payable above shall be presumed to be the liquidated damages sustained by the Noteholders as the result of the early termination and acceleration of the Note Obligations and the Issuer agrees that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing. The Make-Whole Amount shall also be payable in the event the Note Obligations (and/or this Indenture) are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding or otherwise), deed in lieu of foreclosure, in connection with any restructuring, reorganization or compromise of the Notes or the Note Obligations by the confirmation of a plan of reorganization or any other plan of compromise, restructuring or arrangement in any insolvency proceeding, or by any other means following the occurrence of a Make-Whole Event. THE ISSUER AND EACH SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR EXPRESSLY WAIVES (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING MAKE-WHOLE AMOUNT IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACCELERATION. The Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor expressly agrees (to the fullest extent that it may lawfully do so) that: (A) the Make-Whole Amount is reasonable and is the product of an arm’s length transaction between sophisticated business people, ably represented by counsel; (B) the Make-Whole Amount shall be payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment is made; (C) there has been a course of conduct between the Noteholders and the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the Make-Whole Amount; and (D) the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph. Each of the Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors expressly acknowledges that its agreement to pay the Make-Whole Amount to the Noteholders as herein described is a material inducement to the Noteholders to purchase the Notes.

 

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(f) In connection with any redemption or repurchase of Notes under this Indenture, the Noteholders must deliver to the Trustee their Notes.

(g) The Issuer shall make an offer to repurchase the Notes for cash with all net cash proceeds of any DOE Financing received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary at a price equal to the lesser of (i) 105.00% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date and (ii) the Applicable Redemption Price at the time of the receipt of such net cash proceeds (a “DOE Offer”), in each case in accordance with clauses (b)(i) and (c) of Section 3.01 and the procedures set forth in Section 3.02(d).

(h) The Issuer shall make an offer to repurchase the Notes for cash with all net cash proceeds (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall be net of all legal fees, financial advisor fees and investment banking fees paid or payable by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in connection therewith) received by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of any break-up or termination fee pursuant to any material agreement entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary that would have resulted in a Change of Control or an Asset Sale Offer had the transactions contemplated by such material agreement been consummated (a “Specified Transaction Offer”) at a purchase price equal to (i) in the event such offer to repurchase the Notes is made prior to June 23, 2026, the Make-Whole Redemption Price with respect to such Notes and (ii) in the event such offer to repurchase the Notes is made on or after June 23, 2026, the Applicable Redemption Price with respect to such Notes, in each case in accordance with clause (b)(i) and (c) of Section 3.01 and the procedures set forth in Section 3.02(d).

(i) On any Interest Payment Date on or after any accrual period that ends after the date that is five years after October 11, 2024, the Issuer shall also pay a minimum amount of accrued and unpaid interest (including any PIK Interest and any original issue discount) on the Notes in cash at the Applicable Redemption Price as shall be necessary to ensure that none of the Notes shall be considered “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i) of the Code, or any successor provision (“AHYDO Payments”); provided that, any such AHYDO Payments shall be made with respect to all Notes outstanding on the date of such AHYDO Payments pro rata in accordance with the amount of the principal plus accrued and unpaid interest then outstanding with respect to such Notes. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee and the Noteholders no later than the Record Date preceding the Interest Payment Date on which any such AHYDO Payment will be made.

(j) The Issuer shall make an offer to repurchase the Notes (an “Extraordinary Receipts Offer”) in accordance with clauses (b)(i) and (c) of Section 3.01 and the procedures set forth in Section 3.02(d) as set forth in this Section 3.02(j):

(1) in the event that the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries have received in excess of $200,000,000 of aggregate Extraordinary Receipts during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 22, 2026, no later than the tenth (10th) Business Day after the date the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries has received aggregate Extraordinary Receipts in excess of such amount, the Issuer shall make an offer to repurchase $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes for cash at a price equal to 109.875% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date;

 

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(2) in the event that the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries have received in excess of $200,000,000 of aggregate Extraordinary Receipts during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 22, 2027 and the Issuer has not previously made an Extraordinary Receipts Offer under clause (1) above, no later than the tenth (10th) Business Day after the date the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries has received aggregate Extraordinary Receipts in excess of such amount, the Issuer shall make an offer to repurchase $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes for cash at a price equal to 109.875% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date; and

(3) in the event that the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries has not received in excess of $200,000,000 of aggregate Extraordinary Receipts during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 22, 2027, no later than the tenth (10th) Business Day after June 22, 2027, the Issuer shall make an offer to repurchase $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes for cash at a price equal to 109.875% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date.

SECTION 3.03 Applicability of Article. Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuer or otherwise or repurchase of the Notes, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article III.

SECTION 3.04 Purchases by the Issuer or a Subsidiary. The Issuer shall not, nor shall any Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, purchase, repurchase, repay or otherwise acquire (or offer to do any of the foregoing) any Notes on a non-pro rata basis other than pursuant to an offer made available on a pro rata basis to all Noteholders.

SECTION 3.05 Payment for Consent. Neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary of the Issuer shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Noteholder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver, amendment, modification or supplement of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Noteholders that so consent, waive or agree to amend, modify or supplement in the applicable timeframe or timeframes set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver, amendment, modification or supplement.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

On the Closing Date, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors represent and warrant to each of the Noteholder Parties that:

SECTION 4.01 Organization; Powers. Each of the Issuer and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is a partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or other business association duly organized, validly existing and (to the extent applicable) in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own or lease its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Note Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is or will be a party and, in the case of the Issuer, to issue the Notes hereunder.

SECTION 4.02 Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors of each of the Note Documents to which it is a party and the borrowings hereunder (a) have been duly authorized by all corporate, stockholder, partnership, limited liability company or other organizational action required to be obtained by the Issuer and such Subsidiary Guarantors and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Issuer or any such Subsidiary Guarantor, (B) the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents (including any partnership, limited liability company or operating agreements) or by-laws of the Issuer, or any such Subsidiary Guarantor, (C) any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Issuer or any such Subsidiary Guarantor or (D) any provision of any indenture, certificate of designation for Preferred Stock, agreement or other instrument to which the Issuer or any such Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound, (ii) result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) under any such indenture, certificate of designation for Preferred Stock, agreement or other instrument, where any such conflict, violation, breach or default referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 4.02(b), would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by the Issuer or any such Subsidiary Guarantor, other than the Liens created by the Note Documents and Permitted Liens.

SECTION 4.03 Enforceability. This Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor and constitutes, and each other Note Document in effect on the date hereof and each other Note Document when executed and delivered by the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor that is party thereto will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Note Party enforceable against the Issuer and each such Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

 

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SECTION 4.04 Governmental Approvals. No action, consent, exemption or other action or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is or will be required for the execution, delivery, enforcement against or performance by each Note Document to which the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party, except for (a) the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and equivalent filings in foreign jurisdictions, (b) filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office and comparable offices in foreign jurisdictions and equivalent filings in foreign jurisdictions, (c) recordation of the Mortgages, (d) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, (e) such actions, consents and approvals the failure of which to be obtained or made would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (f) filings or other actions listed on Schedule 4.04 and any other filings or registrations required by the Security Documents.

SECTION 4.05 Financial Statements. The audited consolidated balance sheets and the consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows as of and for the fiscal years ended June 29, 2025, June 30, 2024, and June 25, 2023 for the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the notes thereto (the “Historical Audited Financial Statements”), present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein and the results of operations and, if applicable, cash flows for the periods then ended, and, except as set forth on Schedule 4.05, were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby.

SECTION 4.06 No Material Adverse Effect. Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate with other events or circumstances, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.07 Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases.

(a) Each of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries has valid title in fee simple or equivalent to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all its Real Properties (including any Mortgaged Properties) and has valid title to its personal property and assets that are material to its business, in each case, except for Permitted Liens and except for defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes and except where the failure to have such title would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. All such properties and assets are free and clear of Liens, other than Permitted Liens or Liens arising by operation of law.

(b) The Issuer and each of the Subsidiaries has complied with all obligations under all leases to which it is a party, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and all such leases are in full force and effect, except leases in respect of which the failure to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) As of the Closing Date, none of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any pending or contemplated condemnation proceeding or Casualty Event affecting all or any portion of any Mortgaged Properties or any sale or disposition thereof in lieu of condemnation that remains unresolved as of the Closing Date.

 

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(d) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.07(d), as of the Closing Date, none of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries is obligated under any right of first refusal, option or other contractual right to sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any Mortgaged Property or any interest therein, except as permitted under Section 8.02 or 8.05 or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.07(e), there is no Material Real Property owned by any Note Party as of the Closing Date.

SECTION 4.08 Subsidiaries.

(a) Schedule 4.08(a) sets forth as of the Closing Date the name and jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization of each subsidiary of the Issuer and, as to each such subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Equity Interests owned by the Issuer or by any such subsidiary.

(b) As of the Closing Date, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options granted to employees or directors (or entities controlled by directors) and shares held by directors (or entities controlled by directors)) relating to any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries, except as set forth on Schedule 4.08(b).

SECTION 4.09 Litigation; Compliance with Laws.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.09, there are no actions, suits, claims or disputes pending or proceedings at law or in equity or by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened in writing against the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or any business, revenues, property or rights of any such person (A) that involve any Note Document or (B) that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, except (in the case of this clause (B) only) for any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity or by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration which has been disclosed in any of the Issuer’s public filings with the SEC, in each case, prior to the Closing Date or which arises out of the same facts and circumstances, and alleges substantially the same complaints and damages, as any action, suit or proceeding so disclosed and in which there has been no material adverse change since the date of such disclosure.

(b) None of the Issuer, the Subsidiaries and their respective properties, revenues or assets is in violation of (nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate) any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, ordinance, code or approval or any building permit, but excluding any Environmental Laws, which are the subject of Section 4.16) or any restriction of record or agreement affecting any Mortgaged Property, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 4.10 Federal Reserve Regulations. Neither the purchase of any Note hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the provisions of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board.

SECTION 4.11 Investment Company Act. None of the Issuer or the Subsidiaries is required to be registered as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SECTION 4.12 [Reserved].

SECTION 4.13 Tax Returns. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13:

(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Issuer and each of the Subsidiaries has filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, local and non-U.S. Tax returns required to have been filed by it (including in its capacity as withholding agent) and each such Tax return is true and correct;

(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Issuer and each of the Subsidiaries has timely paid or caused to be timely paid all Taxes shown to be due and payable by it on the returns referred to in clause (a) and all other Taxes or assessments (or made adequate provision (in accordance with GAAP) for the payment of all Taxes due), except Taxes or assessments that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings in accordance with Section 7.03 and for which the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries (as the case may be) has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP; and

(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Closing Date, with respect to the Issuer and each of the Subsidiaries, there are no claims being asserted in writing with respect to any Taxes.

SECTION 4.14 No Material Misstatements.

(a) Each representation, warranty and statement of fact of any Note Party contained in any Note Document or in any other documents, certificates or written statements (other than the Projections, forward looking information and information of a general economic nature or general industry nature) (the “Information”) concerning the Issuer, the Subsidiaries, the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated hereby prepared by or on behalf of the foregoing or their representatives and made available to the Trustee or the Noteholders in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby, when taken as a whole, was true and correct in all material respects, as of the date such Information was furnished to such Noteholder Parties and as of the Closing Date (in the case of such Information delivered prior to the Closing Date) and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact as of any such date or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made (giving effect to all supplements and updates provided thereto).

 

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(b) The Projections that have been made available to any Noteholder Party in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Issuer to be reasonable as of the date thereof and as of the date such Projections and information were furnished to the Noteholder Parties (it being understood that such Projections are as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts, such Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such Projections may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material, and that no assurance can be given that the projected results will be realized).

(c) As of the Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Issuer, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (if any) is true and correct in all material respects.

SECTION 4.15 Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each Plan is in compliance in form and operation with its terms and with ERISA and the Code (including without limitation the Code provisions compliance with which is necessary for any intended favorable tax treatment) and all other applicable laws and regulations, (ii) each Plan (and each related trust, if any) which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS to the effect that it meets the requirements of Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code covering all applicable tax law changes, or is comprised of a master or prototype plan that has received a favorable opinion letter from the IRS, and, to the knowledge of the Issuer, nothing has occurred since the date of such determination that would adversely affect such determination (or, in the case of a Plan with no determination, to the knowledge of the Issuer, nothing has occurred that would adversely affect the issuance of a favorable determination letter or otherwise adversely affect such qualification), (iii) no ERISA Event has occurred, (iv) there exists no Unfunded Pension Liability with respect to any Pension Plan, (v) there are no actions, suits or claims pending against or involving a Plan (other than routine claims for benefits) or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened, which would reasonably be expected to be asserted successfully against any Plan or (vi) the Issuer, any Subsidiary and each ERISA Affiliate have made all contributions to or under each Plan and Multiemployer Plan required by law within the applicable time limits prescribed thereby, the terms of such Plan or Multiemployer Plan, respectively, or any contract or agreement requiring contributions to a Plan or Multiemployer Plan.

(b) None of the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any obligation to contribute to, or has ever maintained or contributed to, or has ever had any obligation to contribute to, any “employee pension benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA (“Pension Plan”).

 

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SECTION 4.16 Environmental Matters. Except as to matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect: (i) no written notice, request for information, order, complaint or penalty has been received by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, and there are no judicial, administrative or other actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, threatened which allege a violation or potential violation of or liability under any Environmental Laws, in each case relating to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) each of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries has all environmental permits, licenses and other approvals necessary for its operations to comply with all Environmental Laws (“Environmental Permits”) and is in compliance with the terms of such Environmental Permits and with all Environmental Laws, (iii) (x) no Hazardous Material has been Released at, on or under any property currently or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, formerly, owned, operated or leased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any cost, liability or obligation of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits, and (y) no Hazardous Material has been generated, used, treated, stored, handled, disposed of or controlled, transported or Released by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries at any location in a manner that would reasonably be expected to require an environmental investigation or give rise to any cost, liability or obligation of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits and (iv) there are no existing facts, circumstances or conditions arising out of or relating to the operations of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or any Real Property or facilities currently or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, previously owned or leased by the Issuer or any Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to require environmental investigation, remedial activity or corrective action or cleanup or would reasonably be expected to result in the Issuer or any other Subsidiary incurring any liability pursuant to Environmental Law.

SECTION 4.17 Security Documents.

(a) Each Security Document (when executed and delivered by the parties thereto) will be effective (subject, in the case of any foreign collateral agreement, to the Agreed Security Principles and any perfection requirements expressly set out in the applicable collateral agreement) to create in favor of (i) the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/or (ii) the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in each case, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and proceeds thereof. As of the Closing Date, the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/or the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties shall have a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Note Parties in the Collateral (subject, in the case of any foreign collateral agreement, to the Agreed Security Principles and any perfection requirements expressly set out in the applicable collateral agreement) and, subject to Section 9-315 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (or any comparable legislation in the applicable jurisdiction), the proceeds thereof, as security for the Note Obligations to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (or similar financing statements or filings or other actions expressly described in the applicable foreign collateral document), in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other person (except Permitted Liens).

(b) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles in the case of any Intellectual Property held by any Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor, the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/or the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties shall have a fully perfected (subject to exceptions arising from defects in the chain of title, which defects in the aggregate do not constitute a Material Adverse Effect

 

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hereunder) Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Note Parties under the Security Documents or any ancillary document thereunder in the material Intellectual Property included in the Collateral (but, in the case of the registered copyrights included in the Collateral, only to the extent such registered copyrights are listed in such ancillary document filed with the United States Copyright Office or a similar office in the applicable jurisdiction) listed in such ancillary document, in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other person, except for Permitted Liens (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office or a similar office in the relevant foreign jurisdiction, as applicable, may be necessary to perfect a Lien on material registered trademarks and patents, trademark and patent applications and registered copyrights acquired by the Note Parties after the Closing Date).

(c) Mortgages, if any, executed and delivered after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 7.10 shall be effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/ or the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties legal, valid and enforceable Liens on all of the Note Parties’ rights, titles and interests in and to the Mortgaged Property thereunder and the proceeds thereof, and when such Mortgages are filed or recorded in the proper real estate filing or recording offices, and all relevant mortgage taxes and recording charges are duly paid, the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/ or the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties shall have valid Liens with record notice to third parties on, and security interests in, all rights, titles and interests of the Note Parties in such Mortgaged Property and, to the extent applicable, subject to Section 9-315 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other person, except for Permitted Liens.

SECTION 4.18 Location of Real Property. Schedule 4.07(e) lists correctly, in all material respects, as of the Closing Date all Material Real Property owned by the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors and the addresses thereof.

SECTION 4.19 Solvency.

(a) As of the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions on the Closing Date, (i) the fair value of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

 

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(b) As of the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, the Issuer does not intend to, and the Issuer does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature.

SECTION 4.20 Labor Matters. Except as to matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Issuer and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, contracts, policies, plans and programs relating to employment and employment practices; (ii) neither the Issuer nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract or legally binding commitment to any labor union or employee organization or group in respect of or affecting employees; (iii) neither the Issuer nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently engaged in, or has any legal duty to engage in, any negotiation with any labor union or employee organization; (iv) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened strike, labor dispute, complaint, grievance, or arbitration proceeding against the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries regarding any alleged unfair labor practices within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act; (v) the hours worked and payments made to employees of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (to the extent applicable) or any other applicable law dealing with such matters; and (vi) all payments due from the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or for which any claim may be made against the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Issuer or such Subsidiary to the extent required by GAAP.

SECTION 4.21 Insurance. Schedule 4.21 sets forth a true, complete and correct description, in all material respects, of all material insurance (excluding any title insurance) maintained by or on behalf of the Issuer or the Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of such date, such insurance is in full force and effect.

SECTION 4.22 No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or any other Note Document.

SECTION 4.23 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or as set forth in Schedule 4.23, (a) the Issuer and each of its Subsidiaries owns, or possesses the right to use, all Intellectual Property that are used or held for use in or are otherwise reasonably necessary for the present conduct of their respective businesses, (b) to the knowledge of the Issuer, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries are not interfering with, infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating Intellectual Property of any person, and (c) (i) no claim or litigation regarding any of the Intellectual Property owned by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened and (ii) to the knowledge of the Issuer, no claim or litigation regarding any other Intellectual Property described in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) is pending or threatened.

SECTION 4.24 Senior DebtThe Note Obligations will constitute “Senior Debt” (or the equivalent thereof) under the documentation governing any Indebtedness of any Note Party permitted to be incurred hereunder constituting Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Note Obligations.

 

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SECTION 4.25 USA PATRIOT Act; Sanctions; Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) Neither the Issuer nor, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any of its officers, directors, brokers or agents (i) has violated any Anti-Terrorism Laws or Sanction, (ii) has engaged in any transaction, investment, undertaking or activity that conceals the identity, source or destination of the proceeds from any category of prohibited offenses designated by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering or “specified unlawful activities” under 18 U.S.C. §1956, (iii) is a person whose name appears on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Sanctioned Persons published by OFAC (an “OFAC Listed Person”) or is otherwise a Sanctioned Person, (iv) is majority owned by or controlled by or acting on behalf of, directly or indirectly, (A) any OFAC Listed Person or (B) any other Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country, or (v) is otherwise blocked, the subject or target of Sanctions or engaged in any activity in violation of Sanctions or Anti-Terrorism Laws. Neither Issuer nor any Controlled Entity has been notified that its name appears on a list of persons that engage in investment or other commercial activities in Iran or any other Sanctioned Country. No part of the proceeds from the Notes made hereunder constitutes or will constitute funds obtained on behalf of any Sanctioned Person or in any Sanctioned Country or will otherwise be used by the Issuer, directly or knowingly indirectly, or lent, contributed or otherwise made available to any person (x) in connection with any investment in, or any transactions or dealings with, any Sanctioned Person or in any Sanctioned Country, (y) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (z) otherwise in any manner that would result in a material violation of Sanctions by any person (including any person participating in the Notes, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

(b) Neither the Issuer, nor to Issuer’s knowledge, its officers, directors, brokers or agents acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Notes (i) deals in or otherwise engages, or has dealt or otherwise engaged, in any transaction related to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to any Anti-Terrorism Law or Sanction, (ii) engages in or conspires to, or has engaged or conspired to, engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law or Sanction, (iii) has been found in violation of, charged with, or convicted under any Anti-Terrorism Law, (iv) is under investigation by any Governmental Authority for possible violation of Anti-Terrorism Laws or any Sanctions, (v) has been assessed civil penalties under any Anti-Terrorism Laws or any Sanctions, or (vi) has had any of its funds seized or forfeited in an action under any Anti-Terrorism Law or Sanction. The Issuer has established policies, procedures and controls which are reasonably designed (and otherwise comply with applicable law) to ensure that each of the Issuer and each Controlled Entity, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable current and future Anti-Terrorism Laws and Sanctions.

 

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(c) The Issuer (i) has not been charged with or convicted of bribery or any other anti-corruption related activity under any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) to its knowledge is not under investigation by any Governmental Authority for possible violation of Anti-Corruption Laws, or (iii) has not been assessed civil or criminal penalties under any Anti-Corruption Laws. No part of the proceeds of the Notes will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the Anti-Corruption Laws. The Issuer and, to the knowledge of the Issuer, its directors, officers, employees and agents are in compliance with all Anti-Corruption Laws, and the Issuer has established policies, procedures and controls which are reasonably designed (and otherwise comply with applicable law) to ensure that Issuer and each Controlled Entity, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable current and future Anti-Corruption Laws.

(d) The representations and warranties under this Section 4.25 will not be made by any Foreign Subsidiary if and to the extent that the expression of, or compliance with, these representations and warranties would result in a breach of, violate, conflict with or expose such entity or any director, officer or employee thereof to any liability under EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (or any associated implementing law or regulation in any member state of the European Union) or section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Regulation (Verordnung zur Durchführung des Außenwirtschaftsgesetzes Außenwirtschaftsverordnung – AWV) in connection with the German Foreign Trade Law (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz), or any similar law of any other jurisdiction, as applicable.

ARTICLE V.

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE VI.

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE VII.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Issuer covenants and agrees with each Noteholder Party that, until the Termination Date, unless the Required Noteholder Parties shall otherwise consent in writing, the Issuer will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 7.01 Existence; Business and Properties.

(a) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, except, in the case of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Note Party, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as otherwise permitted under Section 8.05, and except for the liquidation or dissolution of Subsidiaries if the assets of such Subsidiaries to the extent they exceed estimated liabilities are acquired by the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer in such liquidation or dissolution; provided, that Subsidiary Guarantors may not be liquidated into Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties (except as permitted under Section 8.05).

 

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(b) Except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, do or cause to be done all things necessary to (i) lawfully obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the permits, franchises, authorizations, Intellectual Property, licenses and rights with respect thereto necessary to the normal conduct of its business, (ii) at all times maintain, protect and preserve all property necessary to the normal conduct of its business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and (iii) make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith, if any, may be properly conducted at all times (in each case except as permitted by this Indenture).

SECTION 7.02 Insurance.

(a) Maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance (subject to customary deductibles and retentions) in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by similarly situated companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and consistent with past practice or industry practice, cause the Collateral Agent to be listed as a co-loss payee on property and casualty policies and as an additional insured on liability policies (other than workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, director and officer liability and other policies where such an endorsement would not customarily be provided to a secured creditor). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer and the Subsidiaries may self-insure with respect to such risks with respect to which companies of established reputation engaged in the same general line of business in the same general area usually self-insure.

(b) Except as the Required Noteholder Parties may agree in their discretion (with communication of such agreement, if any, to be delivered to the Issuer by the Trustee at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), where available, (i) cause all such property and casualty insurance policies to be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a “standard” lender’s loss payable endorsement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Noteholder Parties; (ii) cause each such policy covered by this clause (b) to provide that it shall not be cancelled or not renewed upon less than 30 days’ (or 10 days in the case of cancellation due to non-payment) prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Collateral Agent; and (iii) deliver to the Collateral Agent, prior to or concurrently with the expiration, cancellation or nonrenewal of any such policy of insurance covered by this clause (b), evidence of renewal or replacement of any such policy and within ten (10) Business Days of such renewal, an insurance certificate with respect thereto, together with evidence satisfactory to the Required Noteholder Parties that the Issuer or the applicable Subsidiary is not past due on any payment of premium for such policy.

(c) If any improved portion of any Mortgaged Property is at any time located in an area within the United States identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area (each a “Special Flood Hazard Area”) with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance

 

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Act of 1968 (as now or hereafter in effect or successor act thereto), (i) maintain, or cause to be maintained, with a financially sound and reputable insurer, flood insurance in an amount and otherwise sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and (ii) deliver to the Collateral Agent evidence of such compliance in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Required Noteholder Parties.

(d) In connection with the covenants set forth in this Section 7.02, it is understood and agreed that:

(i) the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Noteholder Parties and their respective agents or employees shall not be liable for any loss or damage insured by the insurance policies required to be maintained under this Section 7.02, it being understood that (A) the Note Parties shall look solely to their insurance companies or any other parties other than the aforesaid parties for the recovery of such loss or damage and (B) such insurance companies shall have no rights of subrogation against the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Noteholder Parties or their agents or employees. If, however, the insurance policies, as a matter of the internal policy of such insurer, do not provide waiver of subrogation rights against such parties, as required above, then the Issuer, on behalf of itself and behalf of each of its Subsidiaries, hereby agrees, to the extent permitted by law, to waive, and further agrees to cause each of its Subsidiaries to waive, its right of recovery, if any, against the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Noteholder Parties and their agents and employees;

(ii) the designation of any form, type or amount of insurance coverage by the Collateral Agent (including acting in the capacity as the Collateral Agent and as the Parallel Debt Creditor) under this Section 7.02 shall in no event be deemed a representation, warranty or advice by the Collateral Agent or the Noteholder Parties that such insurance is adequate for the purposes of the business of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries or the protection of their properties; and

(iii) the amount and type of insurance that the Issuer and its Subsidiaries has in effect as of the Closing Date satisfies for all purposes the requirements of this Section 7.02 with respect to the properties and assets owned as of the Closing Date.

SECTION 7.03 Taxes. Pay its obligations in respect of all Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (i) the amount or validity thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP or (ii) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 7.04 Financial Statements, Reports, Etc.. Furnish to the Trustee:

(a) within 105 days after the end of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity showing the financial position of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the consolidated results of their operations during such year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity shall be accompanied by customary management’s discussion and analysis and audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be qualified as to scope of audit or as to the status of the Issuer or any Subsidiary as a going concern, other than solely with respect to, or resulting solely from, an upcoming maturity date under any series of Indebtedness occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or any potential inability to satisfy the covenant set forth in Section 8.11 or any financial maintenance covenant in any series of Indebtedness, in each case, on a future date or in a future period) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (it being understood that the delivery by the Issuer of annual reports on Form 10-K of the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.04(a) to the extent such annual reports include the information specified herein);

(b) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity showing the financial position of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the consolidated results of their operations during such fiscal quarter and the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year, all of which shall be in reasonable detail, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders’ equity shall be accompanied by customary management’s discussion and analysis and which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity shall be certified by a Financial Officer of the Issuer on behalf of the Issuer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes) (it being understood that the delivery by the Issuer of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.04(b) to the extent such quarterly reports include the information specified herein);

(c) (i) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Issuer (x) certifying that no Event of Default or Default has occurred since the date of the last certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 7.04(c) or, if such an Event of Default or Default has occurred, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto and (y) identifying each Immaterial Subsidiary of the Issuer as of the date such certificate is delivered and (ii) no later than five (5) Business Days after the end of each calendar month, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Issuer certifying compliance with the Liquidity Covenant;

(d) [reserved];

 

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(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other publicly available reports, proxy statements and, to the extent requested by the Trustee or the Required Noteholder Parties, other materials filed by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries with the SEC or distributed to its stockholders generally, as applicable; provided, however, that such reports, proxy statements, filings and other materials required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above or this clause (e) shall be deemed delivered for purposes of this Indenture when posted to the website of the Issuer or the website of the SEC;

(f) within 60 days (or such later date as the Required Noteholder Parties (with communication of such extension, if any, to be delivered to the Issuer by the Trustee at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may agree in their discretion) after the beginning of each fiscal year, a consolidated annual budget for such fiscal year consisting of a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for the following fiscal year (collectively, the “Budget”), which Budget shall in each case be accompanied by the statement of a Financial Officer of the Issuer to the effect that the Budget is based on assumptions believed by the Issuer to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof;

(g) upon the reasonable request of the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) not more frequently than once a year, an updated Perfection Certificate (or, to the extent such request relates to specified information contained in the Perfection Certificate, such information) reflecting all changes since the date of the information most recently received pursuant to this clause (g) or Section 7.10(f) with a copy to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent;

(h) promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of any Note Document as in each case the Required Noteholder Parties may reasonably request (for itself or on behalf of any Noteholder Party and with communication of such requests, if any, to be delivered to the Issuer by the Trustee at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), in each case, subject to reasonable requirements of confidentiality, including requirements imposed by law or by contract, and excluding non-financial trade secrets and information subject to attorney-client or similar privileges; and

(i) at a time determined by the Issuer after delivery of the financial statements required pursuant to Section 7.04(a) or 7.04(b) (but not later than 10 Business Days after such delivery), the Issuer shall cause appropriate Financial Officers or other officers with reasonably equivalent duties of the Issuer to participate in one conference call for the Noteholder Parties to discuss the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for the most recently ended fiscal period and, prior to the date of each such conference call, will announce the time and date of such conference call and either include all information necessary to access the call or inform Noteholder Parties how they can obtain such information, including, without limitation, the applicable password or login information (if applicable); provided, that if the Issuer hosts a quarterly investor or financial results call to which the Noteholders have access, such conference call will satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.04(i).

 

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In addition to providing such information and reports to the Trustee, the Issuer shall make available to the Noteholder Parties the information required to be provided pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) through (h) of this Section 7.04, clauses (a) through (c) of Section 7.05, clauses (a) through (e) of Section 7.16, Section 8.05(o) and Section 8.07(b), by posting such information to its website or on IntraLinks or any comparable password protected online data system or website (the “Platform”). The Trustee shall have no duty to review or analyze reports delivered to it. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.04, Section 7.05, Section 7.16, Section 8.05 and Section 8.07 is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute actual or constructive notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee is under no duty to examine such reports, information or documents to ensure compliance with the provision of this Indenture or to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the information or the statements contained therein. The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Issuer’s compliance with the covenants or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with or posted to any website under this Indenture, or participate in any conference calls.

All financial statements furnished pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) and (e) above (the “Public Noteholder Party Information”) shall be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Noteholder Party” as contemplated by Section 16.23.

SECTION 7.05 Litigation and Other Notices. Furnish to the Trustee written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of the Issuer obtains actual knowledge thereof:

(a) of any condition or event that constitutes any Event of Default or Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(b) the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority or in arbitration, against the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries which if adversely determined would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) any other event, development or change specific to the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and

(d) as of any date, the amount of Qualified Cash as of such date is less than the applicable Minimum Liquidity Threshold as of such date.

SECTION 7.06 Compliance with Laws. Comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided, that this Section 7.06 shall not apply to Environmental Laws, which are the subject of Section 7.09, to laws related to Taxes, which are the subject of Section 7.03, or to Anti-Terrorism Laws, USA PATRIOT Act, Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions, which are the subject of Section 7.13.

 

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SECTION 7.07 Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections. Maintain all financial records in accordance with GAAP and permit any persons designated by the Trustee or the Required Noteholder Parties or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Noteholder Party to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries at reasonable times, upon reasonable prior notice to the Issuer, and as often as reasonably requested (provided, however, that except during the continuance of an Event of Default, only one visit per calendar year for the Noteholder Parties, taken as a whole, shall be permitted) and to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any persons designated by the Trustee or the Required Noteholder Parties or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Noteholder Party upon reasonable prior notice to the Issuer to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor (so long as the Issuer has the opportunity to participate in any such discussions with such accountants), in each case, subject to reasonable requirements of confidentiality, including requirements imposed by law or by contract, and excluding non-financial trade secrets and information subject to attorney-client or similar privileges.

SECTION 7.08 [Reserved].

SECTION 7.09 Compliance with Environmental Laws. (i) Comply, and make commercially reasonable efforts to cause all lessees (if any) and other persons occupying its properties to comply, with all Environmental Laws applicable to its operations and properties; and obtain and renew all authorizations and permits required pursuant to Environmental Law for its operations and properties, in each case in accordance with Environmental Laws, and (ii) in each case to the extent the Note Parties or their Subsidiaries are required by Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, remedial or other corrective action necessary to address Hazardous Materials at any property or facility in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws, except, in each case with respect to this Section 7.09, to the extent the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.10 Further Assurances; Additional Security. Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement:

(a) Execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings (provided that if a Mortgage is actually filed, only to the extent a filed Mortgage cannot act as a fixture filing in an applicable jurisdiction), Mortgages and other documents), that Trustee and/or Collateral Agent and/or Parallel Debt Creditor (in each case, acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may reasonably request (including, without limitation, those required by applicable law), to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Note Parties and provide to the Required Noteholder Parties and/or Parallel Debt Creditor, from time to time upon reasonable request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Required Noteholder Parties and/or Parallel Debt Creditor as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.

 

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(b) If any asset (other than Real Property) that has an individual fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or is a semiconductor tool or equipment used in any Product Family of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries is acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date or owned by an entity at the time it becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case other than (x) assets constituting Collateral under a Security Document that become subject to the Lien of such Security Document upon acquisition thereof and (y) assets constituting Excluded Property), the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, will (i) notify the Collateral Agent of such acquisition or ownership and (ii) cause such asset to be subjected to a Lien (subject to any Permitted Liens) securing the Note Obligations by, and take, and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to take, such actions as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in clause (a) of this Section 7.10, all at the expense of the Note Parties, subject to clause (g) below.

(c) (i) Grant and cause each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to grant to the Collateral Agent security interests in, and mortgages on, any Material Real Property of the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, (x) within 90 days after the Closing Date with respect to Material Real Property owned as of the Closing Date and (y) to the extent acquired after the Closing Date, within 90 days after such acquisition (or such later date as the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may agree) pursuant to a Mortgage, which security interest and mortgage shall constitute valid and enforceable Liens subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens and (ii) to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction, record or file, and cause each such Subsidiary Guarantor to record or file, the Mortgage or instruments related thereto in such manner and in such places as is required by law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/ or the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties required to be granted pursuant to the Mortgages and pay, and cause each such Subsidiary Guarantor to pay, in full, all Taxes, fees and other charges required to be paid in connection with such recording or filing, in each case subject to clause (g) below. Unless otherwise waived by the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), with respect to each such Mortgage, to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction, the Issuer shall cause the requirements set forth in clauses (f) and (g) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” to be satisfied with respect to such Material Real Property.

(d) If any additional direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer is formed or acquired after the Closing Date and if such Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor (with any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary being deemed to constitute the acquisition of a Subsidiary), within 10 Business Days after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may agree), notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, within (x) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary, 30 days or (y) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, 60 days, in each case, after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired or such longer period as the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may agree (or, with respect to

 

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clauses (f), (g) and (h) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”, within 90 days after such formation or acquisition or such longer period as set forth therein or as the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may agree), cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such Subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Note Party, subject to clause (g) below.

(e) [Reserved].

(f) Furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt written notice of any change (A) in any Note Party’s corporate or organization name, (B) in any Note Party’s identity or organizational structure, (C) in any Note Party’s organizational identification number, (D) in any Note Party’s jurisdiction of organization or (E) in the location of the chief executive office of any Note Party that is not a registered organization; provided, that the Issuer shall not effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within 30 days following such change (or such longer period as the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may agree), under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by such filing, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

(g) The Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the other provisions of this Section 7.10 and the other Note Documents with respect to Collateral are (I) solely in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries (and the assets of and Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiaries), subject in all respects to the Agreed Security Principles and (II) solely in the case of Domestic Subsidiaries (and the assets of, and Equity Interests in, such Domestic Subsidiaries) need not be satisfied by any Excluded Subsidiary or by any Note Party with respect to any of the following (collectively, the “Excluded Property”): (i) any Real Property other than Material Real Property, (ii) (x) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and letter of credit rights (in each case, other than to the extent a Lien on such assets or such rights can be perfected by filing a UCC-1) and (y) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $10,000,000, (iii) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contractual obligation (with respect to any such contractual obligation, only to the extent such restriction is permitted under Section 8.09(c) and such restriction is binding on such assets on the Closing Date or on the date of acquisition thereof and not entered into in contemplation thereof (and renewals and replacements thereof)) (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (iv) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Issuer in consultation with the Required Noteholder Parties, (v) any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (vi) those assets as to which the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties reasonably agree that the cost or other

 

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consequence of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby, (vii) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (viii) pending “intent to use” trademark applications for which an Amendment to Allege Use or a Statement of Use under Section 1(c) or 1(d) of the Lanham Act has not been filed with or accepted by the United States Trademark Office, (ix) any Excluded Account and any cash and Permitted Investments maintained in an Excluded Account, (x) any Excluded Securities, (xi) any Third Party Funds, (xii) any equipment or other real or personal property or asset that is subject to a Lien permitted by clause (i) of Section 8.02, if permitted by Section 8.01, if the agreement governing such Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) prohibits or requires the consent of any person (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such equipment or other real or personal property or asset and, in each case, such prohibition or requirement is permitted hereunder after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (xiii) [reserved] and (xiv) any other exceptions mutually agreed upon between the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties; provided, that the Issuer may in its sole discretion elect to exclude any property from the definition of Excluded Property; provided, further, that, no property or assets that secure any obligations under any Second Lien Indenture, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be Excluded Property. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (A) the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may grant extensions of time or waivers of requirements for the creation or perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of insurance (including title insurance), or the amount of insurance, or surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Note Parties on such date) where the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) reasonably determines, in consultation with the Issuer, that perfection or obtaining of such items cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Indenture or the other Note Documents, (B) no landlord, mortgagee or bailee waivers shall be required, (C) no notice shall be required to be sent to account debtors or other contractual third parties prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, (D) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to, or any other requirements of, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Security Documents shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as otherwise agreed between the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) and the Issuer, (E) to the extent any Mortgaged Property is located in a jurisdiction with mortgage recording or similar tax, the amount secured by the Security Document with respect to such Mortgaged Property shall be limited to the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property as determined in good faith by the Issuer (subject to any applicable laws in the relevant jurisdiction or such lesser amount agreed to by the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties)), (F) the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) and the Issuer may make such modifications to the Security Documents, and execute and/or consent to such easements, covenants, rights of way or similar instruments as the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may agree to

 

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subordinate the lien of any Mortgage to any such easement, covenant, right of way or similar instrument or record or may agree to recognize any tenant pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Required Noteholder Parties, as are reasonable or necessary in connection with any project or transactions otherwise permitted hereunder, and (G) other than to the extent required by Section 7.14, no control agreement or control, lockbox or similar arrangement shall be required with respect to any deposit accounts, securities accounts or commodities accounts.

(h) Neither the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor) nor the Trustee undertakes any responsibility whatsoever to determine whether any of the foregoing covenants have been satisfied, and neither shall have any liability whatsoever arising out of the failure of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors to satisfy such requirements.

SECTION 7.11 [Reserved].

SECTION 7.12 Post-Closing. Take all necessary actions to satisfy the items described on Schedule 7.12 within the applicable period of time specified in such Schedule (or such longer period as the Required Noteholder Parties may agree in their reasonable discretion).

SECTION 7.13 Compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, Anti-Terrorism Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.

(a) Comply in all respects with the USA PATRIOT Act and all applicable Anti-Terrorism Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Note Parties shall, and shall cause each of their Subsidiaries to, maintain in effect policies, procedures and controls reasonably designed to ensure compliance by the Note Parties, the Controlled Entities and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee or the Collateral Agent. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

(b) The covenants under this Section 7.13 will not apply to any Foreign Subsidiary if and to the extent that the compliance with these covenants result in a breach of, violate, conflict with or expose such entity or any director, officer or employee thereof to any liability under EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (or any associated implementing law or regulation in any member state of the European Union) or section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Regulation (Verordnung zur Durchführung des Außenwirtschaftsgesetzes Außenwirtschaftsverordnung – AWV) in connection with the German Foreign Trade Law (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz), or any similar law of any other jurisdiction, as applicable.

 

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SECTION 7.14 Cash Management Systems.

(a) (x) Within 60 days after (i) the Closing Date or (ii) in the case of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date, the date such person becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case, or such longer period as the Required Noteholder Parties may agree in their reasonable discretion), the Issuer and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have entered into Account Control Agreements (including, as applicable, customary notices to accounts banks (and acknowledgements thereof, if so required by applicable law) if required in order to perfect security interests over bank accounts of Foreign Subsidiary Guarantors) with respect to all cash and Permitted Investments maintained in Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, other than cash and Permitted Investments maintained in Excluded Accounts and (y) within 5 Business Days (in each case, or such longer period as the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) may agree) after any Deposit Account or Securities Account ceases to be an Excluded Account, the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall enter into an Account Control Agreement with respect to such Deposit Account or Securities Account.

(b) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Control Triggering Event, the Collateral Agent (acting at the written request of the Trustee or the Required Noteholder Parties) shall have the right to deliver to the applicable depositary institution (with a copy to the Issuer and the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor) an activation notice (or similar term, as defined in each Account Control Agreement) with respect to each Controlled Account. After delivery of an Activation Notice (or similar term, as defined in each Account Control Agreement), the Collateral Agent shall comply with the written instructions of the Trustee (or the Required Noteholder Parties) with respect to credits and transfers from the applicable Controlled Accounts.

(c) The Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors may close and/or open any account (including any Controlled Account) maintained at any bank or other financial institution subject to the applicable requirements of Section 7.14(a).

(d) So long as no Control Triggering Event has occurred and is continuing, the Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors may direct the manner of disposition of funds in all Controlled Accounts without further consent of the Collateral Agent or any other Person.

(e) The Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) shall promptly (a) furnish written notice to each person with whom a Controlled Account is maintained of any termination of a Control Triggering Event or (b) take such other action and execute such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Issuer or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor in connection with any termination of a Control Triggering Event.

SECTION 7.15 Employee Benefit Plans. Maintain each material Plan in compliance with all applicable requirements of law and regulations, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 7.16 ERISA-Related Information. The Issuer shall supply (or shall cause each of the Subsidiaries to supply) to the Trustee the following if such information relates to any event, development or change that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) promptly and in any event within 15 days after the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate files a Schedule B (or such other schedule as contains actuarial information) to IRS Form 5500 in respect of a Plan with Unfunded Pension Liabilities, a copy of such IRS Form 5500 (including the Schedule B);

(b) promptly and in any event within 30 days after the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Event has occurred, a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Issuer describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, proposed to be taken with respect to such ERISA Event and a copy of any notice filed with the PBGC or the IRS pertaining to such ERISA Event and any notices received by such Issuer, Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or any other governmental agency with respect thereto; provided that, in the case of ERISA Events under clause (b) of the definition thereof, the 30-day period set forth above shall be a 10-day period, and, in the case of ERISA Events under clause (e) of the definition thereof, in no event shall notice be given later than the occurrence of the ERISA Event;

(c) promptly and in any event within 30 days after becoming aware that there has been (i) a material increase in Unfunded Pension Liabilities (taking into account only Plans with positive Unfunded Pension Liabilities) since the date the representations hereunder are deemed given, or from any prior notice, as applicable; (ii) the existence of any material Withdrawal Liability under Section 4201 of ERISA, if the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate were to withdraw completely from any and all Multiemployer Plans, (iii) the adoption of, or the commencement of contributions to, any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code by the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate, or (iv) the adoption of any amendment to a Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code which results in a material increase in contribution obligations of the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate, a detailed written description thereof from the chief financial officer of the Issuer;

(d) if, at any time after the Closing Date, the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate maintains, or contributes to (or incurs an obligation to contribute to), a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, then the Issuer shall deliver (or shall cause each of the Subsidiaries to deliver) to the Trustee written notice as soon as practicable, and in any event within 10 days after the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate first maintains, or contributes (or incurs an obligation to contribute to), thereto; and

(e) promptly following receipt thereof, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k) of ERISA that the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate requests with respect to any Multiemployer Plan to which such Issuer, Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate is obligated to contribute and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(l) of ERISA that the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate requests with respect to any Multiemployer Plan to which such Issuer, Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate is obligated to contribute; provided that if such Issuer, Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate, as applicable, has not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, then, upon reasonable request of the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), such Issuer, Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor, and the Issuer shall (or shall cause each of the Subsidiaries to) provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Issuer covenants and agrees with each Noteholder Party that, until the Termination Date, unless the Required Noteholder Parties shall otherwise consent in writing, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 8.01 Indebtedness. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness on or after the Closing Date, except:

(a) Indebtedness existing or committed (including, for the avoidance of doubt, paid-in-kind interest payable on such Indebtedness to the extent specified in Schedule 8.01) on the Closing Date (provided, that any such Indebtedness that is not intercompany Indebtedness shall be set forth on Schedule 8.01) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness (other than intercompany indebtedness Refinanced with Indebtedness owed to a person not affiliated with the Issuer or any Subsidiary);

(b) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Note Documents;

(c) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary pursuant to Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes;

(d) Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(e) Indebtedness of the Issuer to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Issuer or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) any such Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party owing to a Note Party is permitted by Section 8.04 and (ii) any such Indebtedness of a Note Party owing to a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party is permitted by Section 8.04 and is subordinated to the Note Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties);

(f) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

 

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(g) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds or other cash management services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(h) [reserved];

(i) Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Subsidiary prior to or within 30 days after the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of the respective property (real or personal) permitted under this Indenture in order to finance such acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement, in an aggregate principal amount that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 8.01(i), would not exceed $50,000,000 at any time;

(j) solely to the extent the Issuer has received at least $500,000,000 of Gross Cash Proceeds from the issuance or sale of the Issuer’s Qualified Equity Interests after the Closing Date, Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Disqualified Stock;

(k) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 8.01(k), would not exceed the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes that have been converted pursuant to their terms into Qualified Equity Interests plus (y) the amount of Contribution Debt; provided that (i) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 8.01(k) shall have a maturity date no earlier than the Maturity Date and shall not permit or require scheduled cash interest payments in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination) and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 8.01(k) may not exceed $500,000,000 at any time;

(l) Indebtedness and other obligations secured by the Siler City Assets in an outstanding amount not to exceed at any time (x) $750,000,000 of obligations in respect of any DOE Financing, plus (y) $750,000,000 of obligations to the United States Department of Commerce, the CHIPS Program Office or any other Governmental Authority of the United States, in each case under this clause (y), in respect of award disbursements received pursuant to governmental grants under the CHIPS Act;

(m) Guarantees by the Issuer or any DOE Parent Entity of any DOE Financing; provided that Guarantees under this Section 8.01(m) shall only be permitted to the extent such Guarantees are senior unsecured or secured only by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and subject to the Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement;

(n) [Reserved];

 

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(o) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued to support performance obligations and trade letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of other Indebtedness) in the ordinary course of business;

(p) Indebtedness in respect of cash collateralized letters of credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any one time;

(q) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or any Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase or acquisition price or similar obligations (including earn-outs), in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with any Investments or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary expressly permitted by this Indenture;

(r) (i) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Convertible Notes issued on the Closing Date, (ii) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Renesas Notes issued on the Closing Date (plus paid-in-kind interest applicable to such Indebtedness at the rate applicable thereto in accordance with the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date), (iii) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Takeback Notes issued on the Closing Date (plus paid-in-kind interest applicable to such Indebtedness at the rate applicable thereto in accordance with the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date), (iv) to the extent the applicable regulatory approvals have not been obtained on or prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan), Indebtedness issued to Renesas in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000 in the form of additional Second Lien Takeback Notes issued under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture (plus paid-in-kind interest applicable to such Indebtedness at the rate applicable thereto in accordance with the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date); provided that, to the extent any Indebtedness issued under this clause (r)(iv) is Refinanced, no additional Indebtedness may be issued or incurred under this clause (r)(iv) and (v) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (including, solely to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has an interest rate equal to or less than the Indebtedness it Refinances, any paid-in-kind interest on such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) incurred to Refinance any such Indebtedness; provided that, (x) the Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this clause (r) shall be junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations, (y) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this clause (r) shall have no borrower, issuer or obligor in respect thereof that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor and (z) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this clause (r) shall not be secured by any assets or property that are not Collateral;

(s) [Reserved];

(t) [Reserved];

(u) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services; provided, that such obligations are incurred in connection with open accounts extended by suppliers on customary trade terms in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices and not in connection with the borrowing of money or any Hedging Agreements;

 

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(v) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Issuer or any Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, without duplication of any amounts payable under Section 8.06;

(w) [Reserved];

(x) obligations in respect of Cash Management Agreements;

(y) Escrowed Indebtedness;

(z) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such person in connection with any Investment permitted hereunder;

(aa) Guarantees of Indebtedness under customer financing lines of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(bb) Indebtedness consisting of (i) financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice; and

(cc) other Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding amount not in excess of $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (a) no Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to any clause of Section 8.01 may be used to Refinance any Indebtedness that was incurred pursuant to, or outstanding under, any other clause of Section 8.01; provided that Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.01(k) or (j) may be used to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under any other clause of Section 8.01 and (b) no Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to any clause of this Section 8.01 (other than Section 8.01(b)) may be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Note Obligations.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 8.01, if the use of proceeds from any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness is to fund the repayment of any Indebtedness, then such repayment shall be deemed to have occurred substantially simultaneously with such incurrence or issuance so long as (1) such repayment occurs within one Business Day of such incurrence or issuance and (2) the proceeds thereof are deposited with a trustee, agent or other representative for such Indebtedness being repaid pending such repayment.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 8.01, the amount of any Indebtedness denominated in any currency other than Dollars shall be calculated based on customary currency exchange rates in effect, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) on or prior to the Closing Date, on the Closing Date and, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred or assumed (in

 

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respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) after the Closing Date, on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred or assumed (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness); provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred, assumed or committed to Refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than Dollars (or in a different currency from the Indebtedness being Refinanced), and such Refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such Refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness being Refinanced.

Further, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 8.01, (A) Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 8.01(a) through (cc) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof, (B) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 8.01(a) through (cc), the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such later time), such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 8.01 and at the time of incurrence, assumption, classification or reclassification will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) shall be treated as having been incurred, assumed or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 8.01(r)(i), (y) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 8.01(r)(ii) and (iii) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 8.01(r)(iii) and, in each case, may not be so reclassified or divided.

SECTION 8.02 Liens. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any person) of the Issuer or any Subsidiary at the time owned by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof on or after the Closing Date, except the following (collectively, “Permitted Liens”):

(a) Liens on property or assets of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 8.02(a) and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided, that such Liens shall secure only those obligations that they secure on the Closing Date (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such obligations permitted by Section 8.01(a)) and shall not subsequently apply to any other property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (B) proceeds and products thereof;

(b) any Lien created under the Note Documents or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property by the terms of the applicable Mortgage;

 

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(c) [reserved];

(d) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent by more than 30 days or that are being contested in compliance with Section 7.03 or with respect to which the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(e) Liens imposed by law, such as landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, supplier’s, construction or other like Liens, securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, the Issuer or any Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP or with respect to which the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(f) (i) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations, (ii) Liens pursuant to Section 8a of the German Partial Retirement Act (Altersteilzeitgesetz) or Section 7d of the German Social Law Act No. 4 (Sozialgesetzbuch IV) and (iii) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(g) deposits and other Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, completion guarantees, bids, leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(h) zoning and other land use restrictions, easements, survey exceptions, servitudes, trackage rights, leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), subleases, licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, reservations of rights, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of Real Property or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its Real Property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar non-monetary encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and title defects or irregularities that are of a minor nature and that, in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

 

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(i) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 8.01(i); provided, that such Liens (i) only apply to assets permitted under Section 8.01(i) and (ii) do not apply to any property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than (A) the property or assets acquired, leased, constructed, replaced, repaired or improved with such Indebtedness, (B) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (C) proceeds and products thereof; provided, further, that individual financings provided by one lender (and its Affiliates) may be cross-collateralized to other financings provided by such lender (and its Affiliates);

(j) (x) first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets securing DOE Financing permitted under Section 8.01(l)(x) and (y) first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets representing a federal interest and security interest in favor of the United States Department of Commerce, the CHIPS Program Office or any other Governmental Authority of the United States securing obligations permitted under Section 8.01(l)(y), so long as, in each case, the Note Obligations are secured on a second-priority basis on such assets and such Indebtedness or other obligations is subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt the parties agree that if first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets were granted pursuant to either of the foregoing clauses, the Liens securing the Second-Priority Obligations (as defined in the First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement) would be permitted to be secured on a third-priority basis as it relates to the Siler City Assets);

(k) Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 10.01(j);

(l) Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Closing Date and pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, Section 7.10 or Schedule 7.12 and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien; provided, that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (B) proceeds and products thereof; provided, further, that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Indenture;

(m) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under any leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Liens in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice that are contractual rights of set-off and/or pledges of cash collateral (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks and other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposits, sweep accounts, reserve accounts or similar accounts of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, including with respect to credit card charge-backs and similar obligations, (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers, suppliers or service providers of the Issuer or any Subsidiary or (iv) relating to any other Cash Management Agreement permitted by this Indenture;

 

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(o) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice (i) arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision or customary standard terms relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts, (iii) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred and not for speculative purposes, (iv) in respect of Third Party Funds or (v) in favor of credit card companies pursuant to agreements therewith;

(p) Liens securing obligations in respect of trade-related letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations permitted under Section 8.01(f) or (o) and covering the property (or the documents of title in respect of such property) financed by such letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations and the proceeds and products thereof;

(q) leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to Intellectual Property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(r) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of applicable law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(s) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in respect of any Investment permitted to be made hereunder;

(t) Liens with respect to property or assets of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party securing obligations of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party permitted under Section 8.01;

(u) Liens on any amounts held by a trustee or agent under any indenture or other debt agreement issued in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the release thereof, or under any indenture or other debt agreement pursuant to customary discharge, redemption or defeasance provisions to the extent the relevant Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred and discharged, redeemed or defeased, as applicable, hereunder;

(v) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(w) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 8.01(r); provided that, such Liens shall be junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and shall be subject to the Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement;

(x) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (and similar instruments under the laws of any other jurisdiction) regarding operating leases or other obligations not constituting Indebtedness;

(y) [Reserved];

(z) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Permitted Investments under clause (c) of the definition thereof;

 

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(aa) Liens on cash or Permitted Investments securing letters of credit permitted by Section 8.01(o) or (p); provided that such cash and Permitted Investments do not exceed 105% of the stated face amount of such letters of credit secured thereby;

(bb) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements; provided, that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(cc) in the case of Real Property that constitutes a leasehold interest, any Lien to which the fee simple interest (or any superior leasehold interest) is subject;

(dd) [Reserved];

(ee) Liens on not more than $200,000,000 of deposits securing Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes;

(ff) Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit, bank guarantee or bankers’ acceptance issued or created for the account of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices; provided, that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Issuer or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit, bank guarantee or banker’s acceptance to the extent permitted under Section 8.01;

(gg) [Reserved];

(hh) Liens securing Guarantees permitted to be secured by Section 8.01(m); provided that such Liens shall be subject to the Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement;

(ii) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business;

(jj) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(kk) customary payment in lieu of tax arrangements and other similar structures customary in the applicable jurisdiction in which assets or properties are located;

(ll) other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary securing obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of the obligations secured by such Liens, would not exceed $25,000,000; provided that any such Liens on the Collateral shall be junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and shall be subject to the Permitted Junior Intercreditor Agreement;

(mm) Liens pursuant to Section 1136 (alone or in conjunction with 1192(1)) of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch); and

 

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(nn) Liens required to be granted under mandatory law in favor of creditors as a consequence of a merger or conversion permitted under the Indenture due to §§ 22, 204 German Transformation Act (Umwandlungsgesetz—UmwG).

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 8.02, (A) a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 8.02(a) through (nn) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (B) in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 8.02(a) through (nn), the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such later time), such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 8.02 and at the time of incurrence, classification or reclassification will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof) without giving pro forma effect to such item (or any portion thereof) when calculating the amount of Liens or Indebtedness that may be incurred, classified or reclassified pursuant to any other clause (or any portion thereof) at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred under Section 8.01(r) shall only be permitted in reliance on the foregoing clause (w) of this Section 8.02.

SECTION 8.03 Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. Enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter, as part of such transaction, rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred (a “Sale and Lease-Back Transaction”).

SECTION 8.04 Investments, Loans and Advances. (i) Purchase or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with a person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger) any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any other person, (ii) make any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the Indebtedness of any other person (other than in respect of intercompany liabilities incurred in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries) or (iii) purchase or otherwise acquire, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, (x) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another person or (y) assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such person (each of the foregoing, an “Investment”), in each case, on or after the Closing Date, except:

(a) [Reserved];

(b) (i) Investments by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; (ii) intercompany loans from the Issuer or any Subsidiary to the Issuer or any Subsidiary; and (iii) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations permitted pursuant to Section 8.01 (except to the extent such Guarantee is expressly subject to this Section 8.04); provided that (x) the aggregate amount of Investments

 

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made pursuant to this clause (b) by Note Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties and Guarantees made pursuant to this clause (b) by any Note Party of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party shall not exceed $10,000,000 per fiscal year and (y) any Investment by any Note Party in any Subsidiary in the form of cash or Permitted Investments shall only be permitted to the extent such Investment was made in reliance on the foregoing clause (x) of this proviso;

(c) Permitted Investments;

(d) Investments arising out of the receipt by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of non-cash consideration for the Disposition of assets permitted under Section 8.05 (other than clause (c) of Section 8.05);

(e) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (i) in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate outstanding amount (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) not to exceed $5,000,000, (ii) in respect of payroll payments and expenses in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice and (iii) in connection with such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer solely to the extent that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Issuer in cash as common equity;

(f) accounts receivable, security deposits and prepayments arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices and any assets or securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and any prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(h) Investments existing on, or contractually committed as of, or contemplated as of, the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 8.04 and any extensions, renewals, replacements or reinvestments thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this clause (h) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing, committed or contemplated on the Closing Date;

(i) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits under Sections 8.02(f), (g), (n), (o), (r), (s), (u), (aa), (bb), (ee) and (ll);

(j) Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice by Note Parties into Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties on a transfer pricing basis to fund expenses of such Subsidiaries;

(k) [Reserved];

 

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(l) any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction, to the extent constituting Investments;

(m) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices or Investments acquired by the Issuer or a Subsidiary as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(n) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a person merged into the Issuer or merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary after the Closing Date, in each case, (i) to the extent such acquisition, merger or consolidation is permitted under this Section 8.04, (ii) in the case of any acquisition, merger or consolidation, in accordance with Section 8.05 and (iii) to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(o) other Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding; provided that no Investments may be made pursuant to this Section 8.04(o) in any Subsidiary, unless such Investment constitutes the acquisition of additional Equity Interests in a non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

(p) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(q) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with (or that are received in exchange for) Equity Interests of the Issuer or the cash proceeds of Equity Interests of the Issuer;

(r) [Reserved];

(s) Investments consisting of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 8.06 (and without duplication of any baskets thereunder);

(t) Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

(u) [Reserved];

(v) [Reserved];

 

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(w) advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of the Issuer or such Subsidiary;

(x) [Reserved];

(y) [Reserved];

(z) [Reserved]; and

(aa) to the extent constituting Investments, (i) purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or non-exclusive licenses or leases of Intellectual Property in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice and not constituting all or substantially all of the assets of another person and (ii) development and expansion Capital Expenditures (which shall exclude, for the avoidance of doubt, any acquisition of Equity Interests of any person).

Any Investment in any person other than a Note Party that is otherwise permitted by this Section 8.04 may be made through intermediate Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties and such intermediate Investments shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the outstanding amount of Investments pursuant to any clause set forth above. The amount of any Investment made other than in the form of cash or cash equivalents shall be the fair market value thereof (as determined by the Issuer in good faith) valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any subsequent write-downs or write-offs thereof.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, an Investment need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Investments (or portion thereof) described in the above clauses but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.02, 8.04, 8.05 or 8.07, except as expressly set forth in item 1 of Schedule 8.05, neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall be permitted to make any Investment of any Material IP into any person (including any Subsidiary) or Dispose of any Material IP (including to any Subsidiary) unless, (a) in the case of an Investment, at all times after giving effect to the consummation of such Investment, such Material IP is subject to a first-priority Lien securing the Note Obligations and (b) in the case of a Disposition of any Material IP, such Disposition consists of a non-exclusive license of such Material IP and such Material IP remains subject to a first-priority Lien securing the Note Obligations; provided that such non-exclusive license shall (X) if to a Subsidiary, be subject to recurring royalties, payment terms or other consideration negotiated consistent with an arm’s length transaction, and (Y) otherwise (other than in subclause (X) immediately preceding), be entered into in the ordinary course of business.

 

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SECTION 8.05 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions. Merge into or consolidate with any other person, or permit any other person to merge into or consolidate with it, or Dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) all or any part of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or Dispose of any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) all of the assets of any other person or division or line of business of a person, in each case, on or after the Closing Date, except that this Section 8.05 shall not prohibit:

(a) (i) the purchase and Disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (ii) the acquisition or lease (pursuant to an operating lease) of any other asset in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary or, with respect to operating leases, otherwise for fair market value on market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), (iii) the Disposition of surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (iv) the Disposition of tools, equipment and similar property in exchange for, or the proceeds of the Disposition of which will be applied towards the purchase price of, new or replacement tools, equipment or similar property or (v) the Disposition of Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business;

(b) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (i) the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Subsidiary with or into the Issuer in a transaction in which the Issuer is the survivor, (ii) the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Subsidiary with or into any Subsidiary Guarantor in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is or becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor and, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), no person other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor receives any consideration (unless otherwise permitted by Section 8.04), (iii) the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor with or into any other Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, (iv) the liquidation or dissolution or change in form of entity of any Subsidiary if the Issuer determines in good faith that such liquidation, dissolution or change in form is in the best interests of the Issuer and is not materially disadvantageous to the Noteholder Parties, (v) any Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other person (other than the Issuer) in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 8.04 so long as the continuing or surviving person shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor (unless otherwise permitted by Section 8.04), which shall be a Note Party if the merging or consolidating Subsidiary was a Note Party (unless otherwise permitted by Section 8.04) and which together with each of its Subsidiaries shall have complied with any applicable requirements of Section 7.10 or (vi) any Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other person in order to effect a Disposition otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 8.05;

(c) Dispositions (i) to the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise), (ii) [reserved] or (iii) by any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(d) the Specified IP Disposition; provided that the Net Proceeds in respect thereof are applied in accordance with Section 3.02(b) to the extent required thereby;

(e) Investments permitted by Section 8.04 (including any merger, amalgamation or consolidation in order to effect such Investments) and Restricted Payments permitted by Section 8.06;

 

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(f) Dispositions of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(g) other Dispositions of assets to a person that is not an Affiliate of any Note Party; provided, that (i) at the time of the execution of the definitive documentation for such Disposition, no Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) the requirements of the fourth to last paragraph of this Section 8.05 shall apply to such Disposition and (iii) the Net Proceeds thereof, if any, are applied in accordance with Section 3.02(b);

(h) [Reserved];

(i) leases or subleases or licenses or sublicenses of any real or personal property (including licenses of Intellectual Property) in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(j) Dispositions of inventory or Dispositions or abandonment of Intellectual Property of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries determined in good faith by the management of the Issuer to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries;

(k) other Dispositions for fair market value as determined in good faith by the Issuer (acting in its reasonable discretion) with an aggregate value not in excess of $10,000,000 per fiscal year commencing with the Issuer’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2027; provided, that this clause (k) may not be used in combination with any other clause of this Section 8.05 in connection with any Disposition (or portion thereof) or series of related Dispositions (or portion thereof);

(l) dedications or dispositions of roads constituting Real Property, or the granting of easements, rights of way, rights of access and/or similar rights in Real Property, to any Governmental Authority, utility providers, cable or other communication providers and/or other parties providing services or benefits to any project that, would not reasonably be expected to interfere in any material respect with the operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that upon request by the Issuer accompanied by the documents required by Section 15.12, Collateral Agent shall (i) release its Mortgage on the portions of such Real Property dedicated or disposed of or (ii) subordinate its Mortgage on such Real Property to such easement, right of way, right of access or similar agreement, in each case, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and the Issuer;

(m) Dispositions contractually committed as of, or contemplated as of, the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 8.05;

(n) to the extent constituting a Disposition, any termination, settlement or extinguishment of Hedging Agreements or other contractual obligations; and

 

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(o) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, any Subsidiary or any other person may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Issuer, provided that (A) the Issuer shall be the surviving entity or (B) if the surviving entity is not the Issuer (such other person, the “Successor Issuer”), (1) the Successor Issuer shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (2) the Successor Issuer shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the other Note Documents pursuant to a supplement and/or amendment hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), (3) each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement confirmed that its guarantee thereunder shall apply to any Successor Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture, (4) each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to any applicable Security Document affirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to its guarantee as reaffirmed pursuant to clause (3), (5) each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have affirmed that its obligations under the applicable Mortgage shall apply to its guarantee as reaffirmed pursuant to clause (3) and (6) the Successor Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that such merger or consolidation does not violate this Indenture or any other Note Document (it being understood that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Issuer will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.05 above, (I) no Disposition of assets under Section 8.05(g) shall be permitted unless (i) such Disposition is for fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer acting in its reasonable discretion) and such fair market value is no less than the net book value of the assets subject to such Disposition and (ii) at least 90% of the proceeds of such Disposition consists of cash and (II) neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall be permitted to Dispose of any Material IP to any person that is not a Note Party, except for non-exclusive licenses.

Upon request by the Issuer, the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) shall direct the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Noteholder Parties to provide the tenant under any lease or sublease permitted hereunder with a subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreement in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties).

To the extent any Collateral is sold, contributed, distributed, transferred or disposed of in a transaction expressly permitted by this Section 8.05 to any person other than a Note Party, such Collateral shall be sold, contributed, distributed, transferred or disposed of free and clear of the Liens created by the Note Documents, and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall take, and is hereby authorized by each Noteholder Party to take, any actions reasonably requested by the Issuer in order to evidence the foregoing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, other than with respect to Section 8.05(k), a Disposition need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Dispositions (or portion thereof) described in the above clauses but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

 

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SECTION 8.06 Dividends and Distributions. Declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of its Equity Interests (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person paying such dividends or distributions) or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any Subsidiary to purchase or acquire) any of the Issuer’s Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares) (all of the foregoing, “Restricted Payments”), in each case, on or after the Closing Date; provided, however, that:

(a) Restricted Payments may be made to the Issuer or to any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer (or, in the case of non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of the Issuer or such Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests);

(b) [Reserved];

(c) Restricted Payments may be made to purchase or redeem the Equity Interests of the Issuer (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held by then present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or by any Plan or any shareholders’ agreement then in effect upon such person’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or under the terms of any such Plan or any other agreement under which such shares of stock or related rights were issued; provided, that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions under this clause (c) shall not exceed in any fiscal year $5,000,000 (plus (x) the amount of net proceeds contributed to the Issuer that were (x) received by the Issuer during such fiscal year from sales of Equity Interests of the Issuer to directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements, (y) the amount of net proceeds of any key-man life insurance policies received during such calendar year, and (z) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees in such fiscal year that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests), which, if not used in any year, may be carried forward to any subsequent calendar year; and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Subsidiary from present or former directors, consultants, officers and employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 8.06;

(d) the Issuer may make non-cash repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options;

(e) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Restricted Payments may be made by the Issuer in the form of regularly scheduled dividends on Permitted Disqualified Stock;

 

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(f) Restricted Payments may be made by the Issuer in form of Equity Interests of the Issuer in connection with the redemption of any Convertible Notes; and

(g) Restricted Payments may be made by the Issuer to pay in cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of the Issuer or upon the conversion of any Convertible Notes; provided, that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made in reliance on this clause (g) shall not exceed $250,000.

SECTION 8.07 Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) Sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates on or after the Closing Date, unless such transaction is (i) upon terms that are no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, in any material respect than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate and (ii) if in connection with any transaction or series of transactions with a fair market value greater than $1,000,000, approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Issuer.

(b) The foregoing clause (a) shall not prohibit, to the extent otherwise permitted under this Indenture,

(i) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(ii) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary permitted by Section 8.04(e);

(iii) transactions among the Issuer or any Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction (including via merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which the Issuer or a Subsidiary is the surviving entity);

(iv) the payment of fees, reasonable out-of-pocket costs and indemnities to directors, officers, consultants and employees the Issuer and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(v) transactions, agreements and arrangements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 8.07 or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof or similar arrangement to the extent such amendment, replacement or arrangement is not adverse to the Noteholder Parties in any material respect;

(vi) (A) any employment, independent contractor or consulting agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (B) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, consultants, officers or directors, and (C) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto;

 

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(vii) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 8.06 and Investments permitted under Section 8.04;

(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) [Reserved];

(x) transactions for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(xi) any transaction in respect of which the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of the Issuer from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is in the good faith determination of the Issuer qualified to render such letter, which letter states that (i) such transaction is on terms that are substantially no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate or (ii) such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, from a financial point of view;

(xii) [Reserved];

(xiii) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(xiv) [Reserved];

(xv) [Reserved];

(xvi) [Reserved];

(xvii) [Reserved];

(xviii) [Reserved];

(xix) [Reserved];

(xx) [Reserved];

(xxi) transactions between the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries and any person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer; provided, however, that (A) such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer on any matter involving such other person and (B) such person is not an Affiliate of the Issuer for any reason other than such director’s acting in such capacity;

 

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(xxii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Section 8.05; and

(xxiii) intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a Responsible Officer of the Issuer) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries which do not circumvent any covenant set forth herein.

SECTION 8.08 Business of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, engage at any time in any material business or business activity materially different from any business or business activity (x) conducted by any of them on the Closing Date or (y) contemplated by any of them on the Closing Date and disclosed to the Noteholders on or prior to the Closing Date and, in each case, any business or activity reasonably related or incidental thereto and reasonable extensions thereof.

SECTION 8.09 Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc.

(a) Amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Noteholder Parties (as reasonably determined by the Issuer), or grant any waiver or release under or terminate in any manner (if such granting or termination shall be materially adverse to the Noteholder Parties (as reasonably determined by the Issuer)), the articles or certificate of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company operating agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the Issuer or any Subsidiary.

(b) (i) Make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of, or in respect of, principal of or interest on any Junior Financing, or any payment (whether at maturity or otherwise) or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination in respect of any Junior Financing, in each case, on or after the Closing Date, except for:

(A) repayments, prepayments, redemptions or repurchases of any Junior Financing at a price not to exceed the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and underwriting discounts, commissions and reasonable fees and expenses, with the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness expressly permitted under Section 8.01 solely to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has an interest rate and a cash component of any interest rate, in each case, equal to or less than the Junior Financing it Refinanced;

(B) payments of regularly-scheduled interest due on any Junior Financing (i) that is issued and outstanding on the Closing Date, (ii) that is issued following the Closing Date in the principal amount and with the interest rate set forth in the Bankruptcy Plan or (iii) that constitutes Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Junior Financing referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 8.09(b)(i)(B) solely to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has an interest rate and a cash component of any interest rate, in each case, equal to or less than the Junior Financing it Refinanced;

 

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(C) purchases of all or any portion of any Junior Financing at a price not to exceed the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and reasonable fees and expenses thereon, with the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or sale of common Equity Interests of the Issuer;

(D) the conversion or exchange of any Junior Financing to common Equity Interests of the Issuer; provided that, such conversion or exchange is accompanied by permanent reductions of any commitments, if any, with respect to such Junior Financing to the extent of such conversion or exchange, to the extent applicable; and

(E) the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares; provided that, the aggregate amount of such cash paid in lieu of fractional shares shall not exceed $250,000.

(ii) On or after the Closing Date, (x) amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of any Junior Financing, or any agreement, document or instrument evidencing or relating thereto, other than amendments or modifications that are not adverse to Noteholder Parties (it being understood that any increase in the principal amount of, interest payable in respect of (including any cash component thereof) or fees payable in connection with, any Junior Financing or any change in the form of payment of any principal amount, interest or fees in respect of any Junior Financing is adverse to the Noteholder Parties) and that do not affect the lien subordination or payment subordination provisions thereof (if any) in a manner adverse to the Noteholder Parties or (y) amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of any agreement, document or instrument evidencing or relating thereto, if such amendment or modification affects the lien subordination or payment subordination provisions thereof (if any) in a manner adverse to the Noteholder Parties.

(c) On or after the Closing Date, permit any Subsidiary to enter into any agreement or instrument that by its terms restricts (i) the payment of dividends or distributions or the making of cash advances to the Issuer or any Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary or (ii) the granting of Liens by the Issuer or such Subsidiary that is a Note Party pursuant to the Security Documents, in each case other than those arising under any Note Document, except, in each case, restrictions existing by reason of:

(A) restrictions imposed by applicable law;

(B) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date, including under the Second Lien Indentures and any other Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 8.01;

(C) any restriction on a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Equity Interests or assets of a Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

 

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(D) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Sections 8.09(c)(i) and 8.09(c)(ii) imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.01(l);

(E) any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(F) any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness or other obligations incurred pursuant to Section 8.01 to the extent such restrictions are not more restrictive in any material respect than the restrictions contained in this Indenture or are market terms at the time of issuance (as reasonably determined by the Issuer);

(G) customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of Intellectual Property and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(H) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

(I) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(J) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any asset permitted under Section 8.05 pending the consummation of such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition;

(K) customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien, so long as (1) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien, and (2) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 8.09;

(L) customary net worth provisions contained in Real Property leases entered into by Subsidiaries, so long as the Issuer has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations;

(M) any agreement in effect at the time such subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary;

(N) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;

 

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(O) customary restrictions contained in leases, subleases, licenses or Equity Interests or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby as long as such restrictions relate to the Equity Interests and assets subject thereto;

(P) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers or counterparties under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business (and including with respect to any cash collateral permitted to be provided to any counterparty under Section 8.02); and

(Q) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Sections 8.09(c)(i) and 8.09(c)(ii) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of or similar arrangements or the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (A) through (P) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings or similar arrangements are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, not more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such dividend, other payment and Lien restrictions than those contained in the dividend, other payment and Lien restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing or similar arrangements or are otherwise in accordance with the terms of the applicable intercreditor agreement.

SECTION 8.10 Fiscal Year. In the case of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, permit any change to its fiscal year without the prior written consent of the Required Noteholder Parties (with communication of such consent to be delivered to the Issuer by the Trustee at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), in which case, the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties will, and are hereby authorized by the Noteholder Parties to, make any adjustments to this Indenture that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year (with communication of such authorization to be delivered to the Issuer by the Trustee at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties).

SECTION 8.11 Liquidity Covenant. The Note Parties shall not, in the aggregate, as of the last day of any calendar month have less than the Minimum Liquidity Threshold of cash and Permitted Investments that are (a) not classified as “restricted” on the balance sheet of the Note Parties as of such date (other than in favor of the Note Obligations and the Second Lien Notes (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof)), (b) not subject to any Lien other than any Lien permitted pursuant to Section 8.02(b) or 8.02(w) or Lien of the type referred to in Section 8.02(n) or (o) in favor of the related bank or financial institution and (c) subject to Section 7.14, maintained in Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts in the name of a Note Party in the United States (or in any foreign jurisdiction where the Collateral Agent has been granted a perfected first lien security interest) as of such date, which cash or Permitted Investments are subject to an Account Control Agreement providing for springing control to the Collateral Agent upon the issuance of a notice of exclusive control or other similar notice (it being agreed that the Collateral Agent would have the right to issue such notice only upon and during the continuance of any Control Triggering Event) (such eligible cash and Permitted Investments, the “Qualified Cash”). The Note Parties shall not at any time knowingly allow, or knowingly take any action to cause, the amount of Qualified Cash held by the Note Parties to be

 

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below the amount which would be required by this Section 8.11 as of the last day of the current calendar month (including as a result of the cash and Permitted Investments held by the Note Parties not satisfying the requirements of this Section 8.11). To the extent that the Note Parties have actual knowledge that the amount of Qualified Cash held by the Note Parties at any time is below the amount which would be required by this Section 8.11 as of the last day of the current calendar month (including as a result of any cash and Permitted Investments held by the Note Parties not satisfying the requirements of this Section 8.11), (x) except for the making of any payments or deposits required to operate the Issuer’s business in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice, the Note Parties shall not allow, or take any action to cause, the amount of Qualified Cash held by the Note Parties to be reduced any further or any Qualified Cash held by the Note Parties to cease to satisfy the requirements of this Section 8.11 and (y) the Note Parties and their Subsidiaries shall use their reasonable best efforts to promptly increase the amount of Qualified Cash held by the Note Parties to an amount equal to (or greater than) the amount of Qualified Cash that would be required to be held by the Note Parties pursuant to this Section 8.11 as of the last day of the current calendar month and cause all cash and Permitted Investments held by the Note Parties to satisfy the requirements of this Section 8.11.

SECTION 8.12 Compliance with ERISA. Cause or suffer to exist (a) any event that could result in the imposition of a Lien on any asset of the Issuer or any Subsidiary with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan or (b) any other ERISA Event, that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.13 Compliance with Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. No Note Party shall:

(a) (i) violate any Anti-Terrorism Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) engage in any transaction, investment, undertaking or activity that conceals the identity, source or destination of the proceeds from any category of prohibited offenses designated by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering or “specified unlawful activities” under 18 U.S.C. §1956, (iii) become (including by virtue of being majority owned by or controlled by a Sanctioned Person), own or control a Sanctioned Person or any other Sanctioned Person or (iv) knowingly permit any of their respective Affiliates to violate these laws or engage in these actions.

(b) use, directly or knowingly indirectly, the proceeds of the Notes, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any person, (x) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country in violation of Sanctions, or (y) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions or any Anti-Terrorism Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws by any person (including any person participating in the Notes, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise).

(c) (i) deal in, or otherwise engage in any transaction related to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to any Anti-Terrorism Law or Sanctions, or (ii) engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempt to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law or Sanctions or (iii) knowingly permit any of their respective Affiliates to do any of the foregoing.

 

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(d) The covenants under this Section 8.13 will not apply to any Foreign Subsidiary if and to the extent that the compliance with, these covenants result in a breach of, violate, conflict with or expose such entity or any director, officer or employee thereof to any liability under EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (or any associated implementing law or regulation in any member state of the European Union) or section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Regulation (Verordnung zur Durchführung des Außenwirtschaftsgesetzes Außenwirtschaftsverordnung – AWV) in connection with the German Foreign Trade Law (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz), or any similar law of any other jurisdiction, as applicable.

ARTICLE IX.

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE X.

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 10.01 Events of Default. In case of the happening of any of the following events (each, an “Event of Default”):

(a) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Issuer or any Subsidiary herein or in any other Note Document or any certificate or document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect (without duplication of any materiality qualifier therein) when so made or deemed made;

(b) default shall be made in the payment of any principal of any Note when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for redemption or repurchase thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

(c) default shall be made in the payment of any interest on any Note or in the payment of any Fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (b) above) due under any Note Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

(d) default shall be made in the due observance or performance by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 7.01(a), 7.05(a) or in Article VIII;

(e) default shall be made in the due observance or performance by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of (i) any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 7.04 (other than Section 7.04(e), (f), (g), (h) or (i)), 7.05(d) or 7.14 and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days after the earlier of (x) any Responsible Officer of a Noteholder Party shall become aware of such default and (y) notice thereof from the Trustee or a Noteholder Party to the Issuer or (ii) any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Note Document (other than those specified in clauses (b), (c), (d) and (e)(i) above) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (x) any Responsible Officer of a Noteholder Party shall become aware of such default and (y) notice thereof from the Trustee or a Noteholder Party to the Issuer;

 

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(f) (i) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity (other than (x) any event which triggers any conversion right of holders of Convertible Notes or (y) the actual conversion and settlement of such conversion of such Convertible Notes, in each case that is not a default or event of default under such Convertible Notes); or (ii) the Issuer or any Subsidiary fails to pay the principal of any Material Indebtedness at the stated final maturity thereof; provided, that this clause (f) shall not apply to any secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness;

(g) [reserved];

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, under the Bankruptcy Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (except in a transaction permitted hereunder); and such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) the Issuer or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under the Bankruptcy Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in clause (h) above, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) become unable or admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(j) the failure by the Issuer or any Subsidiary to pay one or more final judgments aggregating in excess of $75,000,000 (to the extent not covered by insurance), which judgments are not discharged or effectively waived or stayed for a period of 45 consecutive days, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon assets or properties of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(k) (i) one or more ERISA Events shall have occurred, or (ii) there is or arises an Unfunded Pension Liability (taking into account only Plans with positive Unfunded Pension Liability); or (iii) there is or arises any potential Withdrawal Liability if the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate were to withdraw completely from one or more Multiemployer Plans; and the liability of the Issuer, any Subsidiary and any ERISA Affiliates contemplated by the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), either individually or in the aggregate, has had, or would be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(l) (i) any Note Document shall for any reason be asserted in writing by the Issuer or any Subsidiary not to be a legal, valid and binding obligation of any party thereto (other than in accordance with its terms), (ii) any security interest purported to be created by any Security Document and to extend to assets that constitute a material portion of the Collateral shall cease to be, or shall be asserted in writing by the Issuer or any other Note Party not to be (other than, in each case, in accordance with its terms), a valid and perfected security interest (perfected as or having the priority required by this Indenture or the relevant Security Document and subject to such limitations and restrictions as are set forth herein and therein) in the securities, assets or properties covered thereby, except from the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Agreement, (iii) (A) any of the Note Obligations of the Note Parties under the Note Documents for any reason shall cease to be, or shall be asserted in writing by the Issuer or any other Note Party not to be, “Senior Indebtedness” (or any comparable term) or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any Junior Financing documentation or (B) the subordination provisions set forth in any Junior Financing documentation shall, in whole or in part, cease to be, or shall be asserted in writing by the Issuer or any other Note Party not to be, effective or legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of any Junior Financing, if applicable or (iv) a material portion of the Guarantees pursuant to the Security Documents by the Subsidiary Guarantors guaranteeing the Note Obligations shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof), or shall be asserted in writing by any Subsidiary Guarantor not to be in effect or not to be legal, valid and binding obligations (other than in accordance with the terms thereof); provided, that no Event of Default shall occur under this Section 10.01(l) if the Note Parties cooperate with the Collateral Agent to replace or perfect such security interest and Lien, such security interest and Lien is replaced and the rights, powers and privileges of the Secured Parties are not materially adversely affected by such replacement; or

(m) any provisions of the First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Intercreditor Agreement (following the effectiveness thereof) shall for any reason be revoked or invalidated, or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect, or the Note Obligations or the Liens securing the Note Obligations, for any reason, shall not have the priority contemplated by this Indenture.

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Issuer described in clause (h) or (i) above), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Trustee, at the written request of the Required Noteholder Parties, shall, by notice to the Issuer, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: declare the Notes then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Notes so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Issuer accrued hereunder and under any other Note Document (including any amounts required under Section 3.02), shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Issuer, anything contained herein or in any other Note Document to the contrary notwithstanding; and in any event with respect to the Issuer described in

 

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clause (h) or (i) above, the principal of the Notes then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Issuer accrued hereunder and under any other Note Document, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Issuer, anything contained herein or in any other Note Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Noteholder of a Note to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, and interest of the Note (including liquidated damages) on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Noteholder.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This paragraph does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Noteholder pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, or a suit by Noteholders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

If an Event of Default in payment of principal, premium or interest specified in Section 10.01(b) or (c) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or any other obligor on the Notes) for the whole amount of unpaid principal and accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate set forth in the Notes, and such further amounts 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.

The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 11.07) and the Noteholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same after deduction of its charges and expenses to the extent that any such charges and expenses are not paid out of the estate in any such proceedings and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Noteholder 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 Noteholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under this Indenture. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Noteholder any plan or reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Noteholder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Noteholder in any such proceedings.

 

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SECTION 10.02 Recission. At any time after any action is taken by the Trustee following the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 10.01 and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Required Noteholder Parties, by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(i) the Issuer has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A) all of the installments of interest and premium on and, if the Maturity Date with respect to the Notes has occurred, the then unpaid principal balance of all such Notes which were overdue prior to the date of such acceleration;

(B) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate of interest applicable to the Notes;

(C) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Note Documents and the reasonable compensation, out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their agents and counsel incurred in connection with the enforcement of this Indenture;

(D) all scheduled payments, early termination amounts, taxes, indemnities and interest on overdue interest; and

(ii) all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of or interest on Notes which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided herein.

No such rescission with respect to any Event of Default shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 10.03 Treatment of Certain Payments. Subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, any amount received by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent from any Note Party (or from proceeds of any Collateral) following any Event of Default that is continuing or any acceleration of the Note Obligations under this Indenture or any Event of Default with respect to the Issuer under Section 10.01(h) or (i), in each case that is continuing, shall be applied: (i) first, ratably, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due under any Note Document to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent from the Issuer or any Note Party, including those set forth in Section 11.07 of this Indenture, (ii) second, towards payment of interest and fees then due from the Issuer hereunder with respect to Note Obligations, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, (iii) third, towards payment of other Note Obligations then due from the Issuer hereunder with respect to Note Obligations, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Note Obligations then due to such parties, and (iv) last, the balance, if any, after all of the Note Obligations have been paid in full, to the Issuer or as otherwise required by Requirements of Law.

 

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SECTION 10.04 [Reserved].

SECTION 10.05 Control by Majority. The Required Noteholder Parties may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense for which it is not adequately indemnified, or subject to Section 11.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder (provided that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative obligation to make such determination) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification, security and prefunding satisfactory to it against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

ARTICLE XI.

TRUSTEE

SECTION 11.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of

 

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such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the form of certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 10.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 11.01.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) 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 11.01.

SECTION 11.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Other than in connection with actions specifically required under this Indenture, before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

 

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(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the Required Noteholder Parties, 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 Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuer and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture or the Security Documents at the request or direction of any of the Noteholders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Noteholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder (including as Registrar, Custodian and Paying Agent), and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder, including the Collateral Agent; provided, however in and during an Event of Default, only the Trustee (in its capacity as such) and not any other agent (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent) shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

(i) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

(j) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the Noteholder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon future Noteholders of Notes and upon Notes executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

 

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(k) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by a Trust Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(l) The Trustee may request that the Issuer delivers an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(m) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for punitive, special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of actions.

(n) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

(o) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

SECTION 11.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 11.10 and 11.11.

SECTION 11.04 Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee (including in its capacity as Custodian) shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, or the Notes or any other Note Document, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 10.01(a), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), or (m) unless either (a) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 16.01 hereof from the Issuer, any Subsidiary Guarantor

 

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or any Noteholder. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee under this Indenture and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the Noteholders of Notes and the Issuer having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein. If the Trustee is directed by the Required Noteholder Parties to deliver any information, determination or any other matter to the Issuer, the Trustee will have no liability relating thereto nor will it be deemed to have any notice or knowledge of any information contained therein. The Trustee will have no obligation to monitor or record any information contained therein.

SECTION 11.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee or the Trustee has received written notice thereof pursuant to Section 11.02(k), the Trustee shall mail to each holder of the Notes notice of the Default within the later of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or a Trust Officer of the Trustee has received written notice thereof pursuant to Section 11.02(k). Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the noteholders.

SECTION 11.06 [Reserved].

SECTION 11.07 Expenses; Indemnity.

(a) The Issuer agrees to pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in connection with the preparation of this Indenture and the other Note Documents, or by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in connection with the administration of this Indenture, the other Note Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel for the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, and, if necessary, the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one local counsel per jurisdiction, (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Noteholders (limited in the case of legal fees and costs to the reasonable and documented fees and costs of (a) Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, (b) one local counsel in each relevant local jurisdiction (provided that any such local counsel shall not be in addition to any local counsel of the Trustee or Collateral Agent in such jurisdiction referred to in clause (i) above) and (c) any additional specialist counsel for diligence purposes that the Noteholders are required to engage pursuant to existing internal policies and procedures), accounting, consulting and other third party advisors retained by the Noteholders in connection with the examination, review, due diligence investigation, preparation and/or execution of this Indenture, the other Note Documents and any guarantees or collateral documents in connection therewith (whether prior to, on, or following the Closing Date), or by the Noteholders in connection with the administration of this Indenture, the other Note Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof, and (iii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Noteholder Party in connection with the enforcement of their rights in connection with this Indenture and the other Note Documents, in connection with the Notes

 

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purchased hereunder, including the fees, charges and disbursements of a single counsel for the Trustee and Collateral Agent, and a single counsel for all Noteholder Parties, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, a single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for all such persons, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where such person affected by such conflict informs the Issuer of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel with the Issuer’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), of another firm of such for such affected person).

(b) The Issuer agrees to indemnify the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, each Noteholder Party, each of their respective Affiliates, successors and assignors, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and members (each such person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements (excluding the allocated costs of in house counsel and limited to not more than one counsel for all such Indemnitees related to the Trustee and Collateral Agent, taken as a whole, and limited to not more than one counsel for all such Indemnitees related to the Noteholder Parties, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, a single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Issuer of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel with the Issuer’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnitee)), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Indenture or any other Note Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto and thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby and in the case of the Trustee and its related Indemnitees, the acceptance and administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, (ii) any violation of or liability under Environmental Laws by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (iii) any actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of or exposure to Hazardous Materials at, under, on, from or to any property owned, leased or operated by the Issuer or any Subsidiary or (iv) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by a third party or by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of its powers or duties hereunder or in connection with the enforcement of these provisions; provided, that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are (x) determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (A) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties or (B) solely in the case of Noteholder Parties, a material breach of such Noteholder Party’s obligations under the Note Documents or (y) arose from any claim, actions, suits, inquiries, litigation, investigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission of the Issuer or any of its Affiliates and is brought by an Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than any claim, actions, suits, inquiries, litigation, investigation or proceeding against the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such); provided further, that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available with respect to any settlement entered into by such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties without the Issuer’s written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld,

 

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delayed or conditioned). The provisions of this Section 11.07 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Indenture, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Note Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Indenture or any other Note Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Noteholder Party. All amounts due under this Section 11.07 shall be payable within 15 days after written demand therefor accompanied by reasonable documentation with respect to any reimbursement, indemnification or other amount requested.

(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, neither the Issuer nor any Indemnitee shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Note Party or any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Indenture, any other Note Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Notes or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided, that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the Issuer’s indemnification obligations to the extent set forth hereinabove to the extent such special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages are included in any third party claim in connection with which such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Indenture or the other Note Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(d) The agreements in this Section 11.07 shall survive the resignation of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Noteholder Party and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Note Obligations and the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 11.08 Replacement of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The Required Noteholder Parties may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 11.10;

(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the Required Noteholder Parties and such Noteholder Parties do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

 

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(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Noteholder Parties. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Noteholders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 11.10, any Noteholder who has been a bona fide Noteholder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 11.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 11.09 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes 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 Notes or in this Indenture that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 11.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall (i) be a bank or trust company organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, (ii) be subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority, (iii) have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition and (iv) have a long-term unsecured debt rating of at least “BBB+” by S&P. If the Trustee shall cease to satisfy the eligibility requirements of this Section 11.10, the Trustee shall resign promptly after written request to do so by the Issuer; provided, that the resignation of the Trustee shall not be effective until the substitution and replacement of the Trustee by a successor Trustee meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in this Section 11.10.

 

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SECTION 11.11 Limitation on Duty of Trustee and Collateral Agent in Respect of Collateral; Indemnification.

(a) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Trustee shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Trustee shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. The Trustee shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Trustee in good faith.

(b) The Trustee shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of the Issuer to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. Subject to Section 11.01 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture, the Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document by the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Collateral Agent. The Trustee may act and rely and shall be protected in acting and relying in good faith on the opinion or advice of or information obtained from any counsel, accountant, appraiser or other expert or adviser, whether retained or employed by the Issuer or by the Trustee, in relation to any matter arising in the administration of this Indenture or the Security Documents. The Trustee shall have no duty to verify or monitor the satisfaction of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

(c) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for the environmental condition or any contamination of any property secured by any mortgage or deed of trust or for any diminution in value of any such property as a result of any contamination of the property by any Hazardous Materials. The Trustee shall not be liable for any claims by or on behalf of the Noteholders or any other person or entity arising from contamination of the property by any Hazardous Materials, and shall have no duty or obligation to assess the environmental condition of any such property or with respect to compliance of any such property under any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits.

(d) Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be obligated to acquire possession of or take any action with respect to any property secured by a mortgage or deed of trust, if as a result of such action, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee would be considered to hold title to, to be a “mortgagee in possession of”, or to be an “owner” or “operator” of such property within the meaning of the Comprehensive Environmental Responsibility Cleanup and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), as amended from time to time, or any equivalent designation in any analogous state or local laws or regulations promulgated pursuant to said laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time, Collateral Agent is entitled to take any action to preserve the Collateral or protect the security interest in the Collateral, prior to doing so, the Collateral Agent may require that a satisfactory indemnity bond or “Premises Pollution Liability Insurance” be furnished to it for the payment or reimbursement of all expenses to which it may be put and to protect it against all liability resulting from any claims, judgments, damages, losses, fees, penalties or expenses which may result from such action.

 

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(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to effect or maintain insurance or to renew any policies of insurance or to inquire as to the sufficiency of any policies of insurance carried by the Issuer or any Guarantor, or to report, or make or file claims or proof of loss for, any loss or damage insured against or that may occur, or to keep itself informed or advised as to the payment of any taxes or assessments, or to require any such payment to be made.

(f) The provisions of the Section for the benefit of the Trustee shall equally apply to the Collateral Agent, mutatis mutandis.

ARTICLE XII.

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 12.01 Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance.

(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights, protections and immunities of the Trustee and rights of registration or transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when:

(i) either (A) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (B) all of the Notes (1) have become due and payable, (2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (3) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, 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 Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Make-Whole Redemption Price, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Make-Whole Redemption Price calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of the redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of the redemption and the Trustee shall have no liability for the Issuer’s non-payment of such deficit;

 

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(ii) the Issuer and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

(b) Subject to Sections 12.01(c) and 12.02, the Issuer may at any time terminate:

(i) all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture with respect to the Noteholder Parties (“legal defeasance option”), and

(ii) its obligations under Article VII, Article VIII, and Sections 10.01(a), 10.01(d), 10.01(e), 10.01(f), 10.01(g), 10.01(h), 10.01(i), 10.01(j), 10.01(k), 10.01(l) and 10.01(m) (“covenant defeasance option”).

The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) by exercising its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the obligations of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligation.

If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 10.01(a), 10.01(d), 10.01(e), 10.01(f), 10.01(g), 10.01(h), 10.01(i), 10.01(j), 10.01(k), 10.01(l) or 10.01(m).

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein (as evidenced by the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 12.02(a)(viii)) and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Issuer terminated.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08 and 2.09 and Article XI, including, without limitation, Sections 11.07 and 11.08 and in this Article XII and the rights and immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 11.07, 11.08 and 12.05 and the rights and immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

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SECTION 12.02 Conditions to Defeasance.

(a) The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in Dollars sufficient to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Make-Whole Redemption price, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Make-Whole Redemption Price calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of the redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of the redemption;

(ii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants, investment bank or financial advisory firm expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(iii) no Default specified in Section 10.01(h) or (i) with respect to the Issuer shall have occurred or is continuing on the date of such deposit;

(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other material agreement or instrument binding on the Issuer;

(v) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Maturity Date 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 Issuer;

(vi) such exercise does not impair the right of any Noteholder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Noteholder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Noteholder’s Notes;

(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Noteholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and

 

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(viii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article XII have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article III.

SECTION 12.03 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article XII. The Trustee shall apply the deposited money through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

SECTION 12.04 Repayment to Issuer. Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money held by it as provided in this Article XII that, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article XII.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Noteholder Parties entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

SECTION 12.05 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article XII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XII until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with this Article XII; provided, however, that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, or interest on, any such Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Noteholders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE XIII.

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 13.01 Amendments and Waivers.

(a) No failure or delay of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Noteholder Party in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any Note Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Noteholder Parties hereunder and under the other Note Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have under this Indenture at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. No waiver of any provision of this Indenture or any other Note Document or consent to any departure by the Issuer or any other Note Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by clause (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on the Issuer or any other Note Party in any case shall entitle such person to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither the Indenture nor any other Note Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Note Party party thereto and the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable (in each case, with the consent of the Required Noteholder Parties); provided, however, that no such agreement shall:

(i) reduce the principal amount of, or extend the Maturity Date of, or decrease the rate of interest on, any Note, without the prior written consent of each Noteholder of a Note directly adversely affected thereby (which, notwithstanding the foregoing, such consent of such Noteholder of a Note directly adversely affected thereby shall be the only consent required hereunder to make such modification),

(ii) amend or modify the definitions of “Applicable Redemption Price” or “Make-Whole Redemption Price”, or any provisions of Section 3.01 or 3.02 relating to the price that is required to be paid in connection with a redemption or repurchase of the Notes, without the prior written consent of each Noteholder of a Note directly adversely affected thereby (which, notwithstanding the foregoing, such consent of such Noteholder of a Note directly adversely affected thereby shall be the only consent required hereunder to make such modification),

(iii) extend any date on which payment of interest on any Note is due, without the prior written consent of each Noteholder of a Note directly adversely affected thereby (which, notwithstanding the foregoing, such consent of such Noteholder of a Note directly adversely affected thereby shall be the only consent required hereunder to make such modification),

(iv) amend or modify the provisions of Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.04, 3.05, 2.16(b) or 10.03 with respect to the pro rata redemption, repurchase, offer, payment, application or sharing of payments required thereby, without the prior written consent of each Noteholder Party adversely affected thereby (which, notwithstanding the foregoing, such consent of such Noteholder of a Note adversely affected thereby shall be the only consent required hereunder to make such modification),

 

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(v) amend or modify the provisions of this Section 13.01 or the definition of the terms “Required Noteholder Parties” or “Specified Noteholder Parties” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Noteholder Parties required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the prior written consent of each Noteholder Party adversely affected thereby, in each case except, for the avoidance of doubt, as otherwise provided in Section 13.01(d) and (e);

(vi) release all or substantially all of the Collateral or all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their respective Guarantees under the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture or the Security Documents, without the prior written consent of each Noteholder Party;

(vii) contractually subordinate any Note Obligations in right of payment to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Note Parties or contractually subordinate the Liens securing the Note Obligations on the Collateral to Liens securing other Indebtedness for borrowed money (any such other Indebtedness for borrowed money, to which such Note Obligations or such Liens securing any of the Note Obligations, as applicable, are subordinated, “Senior Indebtedness”), without the consent of each Noteholder Party adversely affected thereby, in either case, unless such adversely affected Noteholder Party has been offered a bona fide opportunity to fund or otherwise provide its pro rata share of the Senior Indebtedness on the same terms as offered to all other providers (or their Affiliates) of the Senior Indebtedness (it being understood that this clause (vii) shall not apply to the incurrence of (A) debtor-in-possession financing or (B) Indebtedness that is expressly permitted by this Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date to be senior to the Note Obligations and/or secured by a Lien that is senior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations);

(viii) amend or modify any provision of this Indenture or any other Note Document to make any payments in respect of any Note (including but not limited to principal, premium and interest) payable in a currency other than Dollars, without the prior written consent of each Noteholder Party;

(ix) waive any Default or Event of Default arising pursuant to Section 10.01(b) or Section 10.01(c), without the prior written consent of each Noteholder Party;

(x) amend or modify the last sentence of the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary” or the last paragraph of Section 8.04, subclause (II) of the first paragraph after Section 8.05(o) or any other provision hereof restricting the transfer or disposition of Material IP, without the prior written consent of each Specified Noteholder Party;

(xi) amend or modify any provision that would allow for the incurrence of additional Indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by a Lien that is pari passu with the Liens securing the Note Obligations (any such other Indebtedness for borrowed money, “Pari Passu Indebtedness”), without the consent of each Specified Noteholder Party that is adversely affected thereby, in either case, unless such adversely affected Noteholder Party has been offered a bona fide opportunity to fund or otherwise provide

 

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its pro rata share of the Pari Passu Indebtedness on the same terms as offered to all other providers (or their Affiliates) of the Pari Passu Indebtedness (it being understood that this clause (xi) shall not apply to the incurrence of (A) debtor-in-possession financing or (B) Indebtedness that is expressly permitted by this Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date to be secured by a Lien that is pari passu to the Liens securing the Note Obligations); or

(xii) without the prior written consent of the Specified Noteholder Parties, amend or modify any provision of this Indenture or any other Note Document to permit the issuance of additional notes pursuant to this Indenture;

provided, further, that (x) no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent without the prior written consent of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent acting as such at the effective date of such agreement, as applicable. Each Noteholder Party shall be bound by any waiver, amendment or modification authorized by this Section 13.01 and (y) notwithstanding any other provision in the Note Documents, no amendment or modification of the Note Documents may be effected that would adversely change (x) the economic terms, (y) the interests in the Collateral or (z) the legal remedies, in each case, of a particular Noteholder in a manner disproportionate to the rights or interests of any other Noteholder without the prior consent of each Noteholder so affected.

(c) Without the consent of any Noteholder Party, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may (or shall, to the extent required by any Note Document) enter into any amendment, modification or waiver of any Note Document, or enter into any new agreement or instrument, (i) to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties or as required by local law or foreign law to give effect to, or protect any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable law or this Indenture, (ii) to effect the addition of any Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor (including as may be required or appropriate under foreign law for the addition of any Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor), (iii) to add more restrictive terms in respect of the Notes as contemplated by clause (f) of the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” or (iv) to otherwise enhance the rights or benefits of any Noteholder Party under any Note Document.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, Notes (or beneficial interests therein) held by Competitors and Ineligible Institutions shall be disregarded for purposes of (i) the determination of “Required Noteholder Parties” and “Specified Noteholder Parties” and (ii) whether the consent or direction of each Noteholder Party or each affected Noteholder Party has been received for any amendment, waiver or other modification to this Indenture, the Notes or the other Note Documents.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, technical and conforming modifications to the Note Documents may be made with the consent of the Issuer and the Trustee (but without the consent of any Noteholder Party) to the extent necessary to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency.

 

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SECTION 13.02 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.

(a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Noteholder Party shall bind the Noteholder Party and every subsequent Noteholder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Noteholder Party’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such Noteholder Party or subsequent Noteholder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Noteholder Party’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite amount of Noteholder Parties have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Noteholder Party. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of consents by the Required Noteholder Parties, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee.

(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Noteholders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those persons who were Noteholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such persons continue to be Noteholders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 13.03 Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Issuer may require the Noteholder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the Noteholder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determine, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and, upon written order of the Issuer signed by a Responsible Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 13.04 Trustee to Sign Amendments. The Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article XIII if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent. If it does, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to receive indemnity, security and/or prefunding satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 11.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents in Section 16.02, (i) an Officer’s Certificate, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and the other applicable Note Documents and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and any Subsidiary Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof, (iii) a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Issuer, authorizing the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver and (iv) if such amendment, supplement or waiver is executed pursuant to Section 13.01, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, of the consent of Noteholder Parties required to consent thereto.

 

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SECTION 13.05 Calculation of Principal Amount. Determinations as to whether the requisite Noteholder Parties have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article XIII and Section 2.13. Additionally, the Required Noteholder Parties (or such other percentage of Noteholder Parties as may be required, including the Specified Noteholder Parties) may certify in writing to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, that such Required Noteholder Parties (or such other percentage of Noteholder Parties as may be required, including the Specified Noteholder Parties) beneficially own Notes that, taken together, represent more than 50% (or such other percentage, if applicable) of the sum of all Notes outstanding at such time (and, with respect to the Specified Noteholder Parties that included in such percentage is each Noteholder Party that beneficially owns (together with its Affiliates) at least $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes) and the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, may rely on such certification as conclusive proof without any obligation to verify their holdings.

ARTICLE XIV.

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE XV.

COLLATERAL

SECTION 15.01 Appointment.

(a) Each Noteholder Party (in its capacities as a Noteholder Party) hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Trustee as the agent of such Noteholder Party under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, and the Collateral Agent as the agent for such Noteholder Party and the other Secured Parties under the Security Documents, and each such Noteholder Party irrevocably authorizes the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, in such capacities, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture and the other Note Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture and the other Note Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, each of the Noteholder Parties hereby grants to the Trustee and Collateral Agent any required powers of attorney to execute any Security Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Noteholder Party’s behalf. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Indenture, the Agents shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth in any Note Document to which it is a party, or any fiduciary relationship with any Noteholder Party, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture or any other Note Document or otherwise exist against the Agents.

 

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(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, each Noteholder Party (in its capacities as a Noteholder Party) hereby appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of such Noteholder Party for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Note Parties to secure any of the Note Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent (and any Subagents appointed by the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 15.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Documents, or for exercising any rights or remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent) shall be entitled to the benefits of this Article XV (including, without limitation, Section 15.07) and Article XI (including, without limitation, Section 11.07) as though the Collateral Agent (and any such Subagents) were an “Agent” under the Note Documents, as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

SECTION 15.02 Delegation of Duties. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent may execute any of their respective duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof)) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. Each Agent may also from time to time, when it deems it to be necessary or desirable, appoint one or more trustees, co-trustees, collateral co-agents, collateral subagents or attorneys-in-fact (each, a “Subagent”) with respect to all or any part of the Collateral; provided, that no such Subagent shall be authorized to take any action with respect to any Collateral unless and except to the extent expressly authorized in writing by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent. Should any instrument in writing from the Issuer or any other Note Party be required by any Subagent so appointed by an Agent to more fully or certainly vest in and confirm to such Subagent such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Issuer shall, or shall cause such Note Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by such Agent. If any Subagent, or successor thereto, shall become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Subagent, to the extent permitted by law, shall automatically vest in and be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent until the appointment of a new Subagent. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent, attorney-in-fact or Subagent that it selects with reasonable care.

SECTION 15.03 Exculpatory Provisions. None of the Agents, or their respective Affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (a) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such person under or in connection with this Indenture or any other Note Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its or such person’s own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (b) responsible in any manner to any of the Noteholder Parties for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Note Party or any officer thereof contained in this Indenture or any other Note Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture or any other Note Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture or any other Note Document or for

 

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any failure of any Note Party a party thereto to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent shall be under any obligation to any Noteholder Party to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Indenture or any other Note Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Note Party. No Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in any Note Documents to which it is a party. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) no Agent shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (b) no Agent shall, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Note Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Issuer or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by such Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Agents shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice describing such Default or Event of Default is given to the Trustee by the Issuer or a Noteholder Party. No Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Indenture or any other Note Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Indenture, any other Note Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article VI or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 15.04 Reliance by Agents. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or conversation believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper person. Each Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Issuer), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts. Each Agent may deem and treat the Noteholder Party specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes and each Agent shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture or any other Note Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Noteholder Parties (or, if so specified by this Indenture, all or other Noteholder Parties) as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Noteholder Parties against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture and the other Note Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Noteholder Parties (or, if so specified by this Indenture, all or other Noteholder Parties), and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Noteholder Parties.

 

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SECTION 15.05 Notice of Default. Neither Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless such Agent has received written notice from a Noteholder Party or the Issuer referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” In the event that the Trustee receives such a notice, the Trustee shall give notice thereof to the Noteholder Parties. The Trustee shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Noteholder Parties (or, if so specified by this Indenture, all or other Noteholder Parties); provided, that unless and until the Trustee shall have received such directions, the Trustee may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Noteholder Parties.

SECTION 15.06 Non-Reliance on Agents and other Noteholder Parties. Each Noteholder Party expressly acknowledges that neither the Agents nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Note Party or any affiliate of a Note Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent to any Noteholder Party. Each Noteholder Party represents to the Agents that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Noteholder Party, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of, the Note Parties and their affiliates and made its own decision to purchase or hold the Notes issued hereunder and enter into this Indenture. Each Noteholder Party also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Noteholder Party, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Note Parties and their affiliates. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Noteholder Parties by the Trustee hereunder, the Trustee shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Noteholder Party with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Note Party or any affiliate of a Note Party that may come into the possession of the Trustee or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

SECTION 15.07 [Reserved].

SECTION 15.08 Agent in Its Individual Capacity. Each Agent and its affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from, and generally engage in any kind of business with any Note Party as though such Agent were not an Agent. With respect to its Notes purchased or held by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Indenture and the other Note Documents as any Noteholder and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms “Noteholder” and “Noteholders” shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

 

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SECTION 15.09 Security Documents. The Noteholder Parties and the other Secured Parties authorize the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to release any Collateral or Guarantors in accordance with Section 15.12 or if approved, authorized or ratified in accordance with Section 13.01.

The Noteholder Parties and the other Secured Parties hereby authorize and instruct the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to, without any further consent of any Noteholder Party or any other Secured Party (other than the reasonable consent of the Required Noteholder Parties to the form of any such Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement), enter into (or acknowledge and consent to) any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement that is contemplated by Section 8.02(j) with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness or other obligations that is to be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is expressly permitted (including with respect to priority) under this Indenture and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations to the provisions thereof. The Noteholder Parties and the other Secured Parties agree that (x) the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer as to whether any such other Liens are expressly permitted and that all covenants and conditions precedent to the execution of such Intercreditor Agreement have been complied with and (y) any Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in compliance with the terms of this Indenture shall be binding on the Secured Parties, and each Noteholder Party and the other Secured Parties hereby agrees that it will take no actions contrary to the provisions of, if entered into in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and if applicable, any Intercreditor Agreement. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to any provider of any Indebtedness or other obligations expressly permitted by Section 8.01 hereof to extend credit to the Note Parties and such persons are intended third-party beneficiaries of such provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 15.09 shall not limit in any manner the right of the Required Noteholder Parties to reasonably agree to the form and substance of any Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 15.10 [Reserved].

SECTION 15.11 Authorization of Actions to Be Taken. (a) Each Noteholder Party, by its signature hereto or acceptance of Notes, consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document and each Intercreditor Agreement as originally in effect and as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, authorizes and directs the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, the Security Documents and each Intercreditor Agreement permitted hereunder and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to bind the holders of Notes and other holders of Note Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and each Intercreditor Agreement permitted hereunder and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

(b) Subject to the provisions of each Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the holders of Notes any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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(c) Subject to the provisions of Article X, Section 11.01 and Section 11.02 hereof, each Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Noteholder Parties, direct, on behalf of the Noteholder Parties, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(1) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the Liens securing the Note Obligations;

(2) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(3) collect and receive payment of any and all Note Obligations.

Subject to the terms of each Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the Liens securing Note Obligations or the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Noteholder Parties in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of Noteholder Parties, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 15.12 Release or Subordination of Liens.

(a) The Noteholder Parties and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Note Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released: (i) in full upon the occurrence of the Termination Date as set forth in Section 15.12(d) below; (ii) upon the Disposition of such Collateral by any Note Party to a person that is not (and is not required to become) a Note Party in a transaction not prohibited by this Indenture (and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) to the extent that such Collateral comprises property leased to a Note Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iv) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Noteholder Parties (or such other percentage of the Noteholder Parties whose consent may be required in accordance with Section 13.01), (v) to the extent that the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee in accordance with the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement or clause (b) below (and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee may rely conclusively on a

 

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certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry), (vi) as required by the Trustee to effect any Disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents and (vii) as required by the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement. The Noteholder Parties and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Note Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically subordinated to the Liens securing other Indebtedness or other obligations to the extent expressly contemplated by this Indenture and required by any Intercreditor Agreement permitted by this Indenture. Any such release or subordination shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Note Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Note Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Note Parties, including the proceeds of any Disposition, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Note Documents.

(b) In addition, the Noteholder Parties and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that (i) any Subsidiary Guarantor that is an Excluded Subsidiary shall be released from the Guarantees upon written request of the Company and (ii) without limiting the foregoing, the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be automatically released from the Guarantees upon consummation of any transaction not prohibited hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary ceasing to exist or constitute a Subsidiary or otherwise becoming an Excluded Subsidiary (and the Trustee may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry).

(c) The Noteholder Parties and the other Secured Parties hereby authorize the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence and confirm the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor or the release or subordination of any Collateral pursuant to Section 15.09 and the foregoing provisions of this Section 15.12 and to return to the Issuer all title documents (including share certificates (if any)) held by it in respect of any Collateral, all without the further consent or joinder of any Noteholder Party or any other Secured Party. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Note Document relating to any such Collateral or Subsidiary Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be made. In connection with any release or subordination hereunder, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall promptly (and the Secured Parties hereby authorize the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Issuer and at the Issuer’s expense in connection with the release or subordination of any Liens or release of Guarantees created by any Note Document in respect of such Subsidiary, property or asset; provided, that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received a certificate containing such certifications as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall reasonably request (and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Note Document, on the Termination Date, upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral (including returning to the Issuer all share certificates (if any) held by it in respect of any Collateral and terminating any control agreements in respect of Controlled

 

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Accounts), and to release all obligations under any Note Document, whether or not on the date of such release there may be any contingent indemnification obligations or expense reimbursement claims not then due; provided, that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer containing such certifications as the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request (and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry).

(d) Any such release of obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the obligations guaranteed thereby shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. The Issuer agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (and their respective representatives) in connection with taking such actions to release security interest in all Collateral and all obligations under the Note Documents as contemplated by this Section 15.12(d).

SECTION 15.13 Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee. In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XV upon the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the release, subordination, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XV; and if the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent.

SECTION 15.14 Release Upon Termination of the Issuers Obligations. In the event (i) that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that all the obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents (other than any contingent indemnification obligations or expense reimburse claims not then due) have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, and all such obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a discharge of this Indenture occurs under Article XII, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholder Parties, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary at the request and expense of the Issuer to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

 

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SECTION 15.15 Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantees. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Note Party, (i) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of any Note Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuer) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise (A) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of any or all of the Note Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Noteholder Parties and the Trustee and any Subagents allowed in such judicial proceeding, and (B) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and (ii) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Noteholder Party to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Noteholder Parties, to pay to the Trustee any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under the Note Documents. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Noteholder Party any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Note Obligations or the rights of any Noteholder Party or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Noteholder Party in any such proceeding.

Anything contained in any of the Note Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party hereby agree that (a) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Guarantee, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Trustee, on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Security Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent, and (b) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Collateral Agent or any Noteholder Party may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Noteholder Party or Noteholder Parties in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Noteholder Parties shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Note Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other Disposition.

SECTION 15.16 Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Collateral Agent).

(a) The Issuer and, subject to any limitations relating to any Guarantee of the Note Obligations given by a Subsidiary Guarantor (the “Guarantee Limitations”), each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Collateral Agent amounts equal to any amounts owing from time to time by the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor to any Secured Party under any Note Document as and when those amounts are due and payable.

 

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(b) The Issuer, each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral Agent acknowledges that the obligations of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor under paragraph (a) above are several and are separate and independent from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the corresponding obligations of the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor to any Secured Party under any Note Document (its “Corresponding Debt”), nor shall it constitute the Collateral Agent and any Note Party as joint creditors of any Corresponding Debt, nor shall the amounts for which the Issuer or each Subsidiary Guarantor is liable under paragraph (a) above (its “Parallel Debt”) be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt provided that:

(i) The Parallel Debt of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be decreased and the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment to the extent that its Corresponding Debt has been paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged; and

(ii) The Corresponding Debt of the Issuer and each Guarantor shall be decreased and the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment to the extent that its Parallel Debt has been paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged.

(c) For the purposes of this Section 15.16, the Collateral Agent acts in its own name and not as a trustee, and its claims in respect of the Parallel Debt shall not be held on trust and instead shall be owed to it in its individual capacity. The Collateral granted under the Security Documents to the Collateral Agent to secure the Parallel Debt is granted to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as Parallel Debt Creditor and shall not be held on trust.

All moneys received or recovered by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 15.16, and all amounts received or recovered by the Collateral Agent from or by the enforcement of any Collateral granted to secure the Parallel Debt, shall be applied in accordance with this Indenture.

ARTICLE XVI.

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 16.01 Notices; Communications. (a) Except as provided in Section 16.01(b) and Section 16.01(f) below, all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier or other electronic means as follows:

(i) if to any Note Party or the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Required Noteholder Parties or the Noteholders as of the Closing Date to the address, telecopier number or electronic mail address specified for such person on Schedule 16.01; and

(ii) if to any Noteholder that is not a Noteholder on the Closing Date, to the address, telecopier number or electronic mail address specified for such person in the applicable Transferee Letter.

 

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(b) Notices and other communications to the Noteholder Parties hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites). The Issuer may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(c) Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received. Notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 16.01(b) above shall be effective as provided in such Section 16.01(b).

(d) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

(e) Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.04 may be delivered electronically (including through the Platform) and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Issuer files such documents with the SEC or posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Issuer’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 16.01, or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Issuer’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Noteholder Party and the Trustee have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Trustee).

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice or communication delivered or to be delivered to a Noteholder Party of Global Notes shall be delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary and shall be sufficiently given to it if so delivered to the Depositary within the time prescribed (and any such notice so given will be deemed to have been given in writing for purposes of this Indenture).

The Trustee may, in its sole discretion, agree to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic methods. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. 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 instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions 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 or interception and misuse by third parties.

 

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SECTION 16.02 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee or Collateral Agent to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture or other Note Document, (a) the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee or Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture and any applicable Note Document relating to the proposed action have been complied with and (b), the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to request and receive an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 16.03 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture or applicable Note Document shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

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

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

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 16.04 [Reserved]

SECTION 16.05 Survival of Indenture. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Note Parties herein, in the other Note Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Indenture or any other Note Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Noteholder Parties and shall survive the purchasing of the Notes and the execution and delivery of the Note Documents, regardless of any investigation made by such persons or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect until the Termination Date. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements contained herein, indemnification and reimbursement obligations contained herein (including pursuant to Section 11.07) shall survive the Termination Date.

SECTION 16.06 Binding Effect. This Indenture shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Issuer and the Trustee and when the Trustee shall have received copies hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Issuer, the Trustee and each Noteholder Party and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

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SECTION 16.07 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Indenture shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that except as permitted by Section 8.05, the Issuer may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Noteholder Party (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Issuer without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this Indenture, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any person (other than the parties hereto and the Noteholder Parties, their respective successors, assigns and transferees permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Noteholder Parties) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or the other Note Documents. No transfer by a Noteholder shall be effective for purposes of this Indenture unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in Section 2.04.

SECTION 16.08 [Reserved].

SECTION 16.09 [Reserved].

SECTION 16.10 [Reserved].

SECTION 16.11 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the Noteholder Parties. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 16.12 Legal Holidays. If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular Record Date is not a Business Day, the Record Date shall not be affected. If performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is required on a date which is not a Business Day, performance shall not be required until the next succeeding Business Day.

SECTION 16.13 GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE AND THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR ANY OTHER NOTE DOCUMENT (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY PRINCIPLE OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THAT COULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW.

SECTION 16.14 Entire Agreement. This Indenture, the other Note Documents and the agreements regarding certain Fees referred to herein constitute the entire contract between the parties relative to the subject matter hereof. Any previous agreement among or representations from the parties or their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Indenture and the other Note Documents. Nothing in this Indenture or in the other Note Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto and thereto any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Indenture or the other Note Documents.

 

141


SECTION 16.15 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES (AND EACH NOTEHOLDER PARTY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, HEREBY WAIVES), TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE OR ANY OF THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS INDENTURE AND THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 16.15.

SECTION 16.16 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in any other Note Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 16.17 No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent companies, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or this Indenture, as applicable, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Noteholder Party, by its signature hereto or by accepting a Note, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 16.18 Successors. All agreements of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind such person’s successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 16.19 Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 16.06. Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Indenture by facsimile transmission (or other electronic transmission) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed original.

SECTION 16.20 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Indenture and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Indenture.

 

142


SECTION 16.21 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) The Issuer and each other Note Party irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, any Noteholder Party, or any Affiliate of the foregoing in any way relating to this Indenture or any other Note Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Indenture or in any other Note Document shall affect any right that the Trustee or any Noteholder Party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Indenture or any other Note Document against the Issuer or any other Note Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(b) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the other Note Documents in any New York State or federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(c) Each party to this Indenture irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 16.01. Nothing in this Indenture will affect the right of any party to this Indenture or any other Note Document to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. All Note Parties that are organized under the laws other than those of a state of the United States hereby consent to service of process for them being given to the Issuer and appoint the Issuer as their agent for such service. Further, each Note Party that is organized under the laws other than those of a state of the United States waives any immunity it may have under any non-U.S. law or otherwise in relation to the jurisdiction or ruling of any aforementioned New York State or federal courts.

SECTION 16.22 Confidentiality. Each of the Noteholder Parties and the Agents agree that it shall maintain in confidence any information relating to the Issuer and any Subsidiary furnished to it by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, but only to the extent such information is provided upon request pursuant to Section 7.04(h) or is only provided to the Private Side Noteholder Parties (other than information that (a) has become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by such party, (b) has been independently developed by such Noteholder Party or such Agent without violating this Section 16.22 or (c) was available to such Noteholder Party or such Agent from a third party having, to such person’s knowledge, no obligations of confidentiality to the Issuer or any other Note Party) and shall not reveal the same other than to its directors, partners, members, legal counsel, independent auditors, trustees, officers, employees and advisors with a need to know and any numbering, administration or settlement service providers or to any person that approves or

 

143


administers the Notes on behalf of such Noteholder Party (so long as each such person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 16.22), except: (A) to the extent necessary to comply with law or any legal process or the requirements of any Governmental Authority, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or of any securities exchange on which securities of the disclosing party or any Affiliate of the disclosing party are listed or traded (provided that notice of such requirement or order shall be promptly furnished to the Issuer prior to such disclosure to the extent practicable and legally permitted), (B) as part of normal reporting or review procedures to, or examinations by, Governmental Authorities or self-regulatory authorities, including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., (C) to its parent companies, Affiliates or auditors and to their respective directors, partners, members, legal counsel, independent auditors, trustees, officers, employees and advisors (so long as each such person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 16.22 and it being understood that the disclosing party shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 16.22 by such recipient), (D) in order to enforce its rights under any Note Document in a legal proceeding, (E) disclosures made upon the request or demand of any regulatory or quasi-regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such person or any of its Affiliates, (F) to any prospective assignee or transferee of any of its rights under this Indenture (so long as such person shall have agreed with the Issuer to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 16.22, including pursuant to a “click through” agreement on the Platform), (G) disclosures with the consent of the relevant Note Party and (H) to any direct or indirect contractual counterparty in Hedging Agreements or such contractual counterparty’s professional advisor (so long as such contractual counterparty or professional advisor to such contractual counterparty agrees with the Issuer to be bound by the provisions of this Section 16.22, including pursuant to a “click through” agreement on the Platform); provided, that in the case of clauses (F) and (H), no information may be provided to any Ineligible Institution or Competitor or person who is known to be acting for an Ineligible Institution or Competitor, in each case, to the extent that the list of Ineligible Institutions and Competitors has been made available to the disclosing Noteholder Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, each party (and each of their respective employees, representatives or other agents) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitations of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture and all materials of any kind (including opinions and other tax analyses) that are provided to any such party relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. However, any information relating to the tax treatment or tax structure shall remain subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof (and the foregoing sentence shall apply) to the extent reasonably necessary to enable the parties hereto, their respective Affiliates, and all of their respective directors and employees to comply with applicable securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” means any facts relevant to the federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture but does not include information relating to the identity of any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Affiliates.

SECTION 16.23 Platform; Public Noteholder Party Information. The Issuer and the Noteholder Parties hereby acknowledge that certain of the Noteholder Parties may be “public-side” Noteholder Parties (i.e., Noteholder Parties that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities) (each, a “Public Noteholder Party”). The Issuer hereby agrees that the Trustee and the Noteholder Parties are authorized to treat the Public Noteholder Party Information as solely

 

144


containing information that is either (A) publicly available information or (B) not material (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that such Public Noteholder Party Information shall be treated as set forth in Section 16.22, to the extent such Public Noteholder Party Information constitute information subject to the terms thereof). The Noteholder Parties hereby acknowledge that any information required to be provided by the Issuer hereunder that is not Public Noteholder Party Information shall only be made available to “private side” Noteholder Parties (each, a “Private Side Noteholder Party”) and that such information may contain information that is material non-public information with respect to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws and the Noteholder Parties agree to treat such information accordingly.

SECTION 16.24 USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Noteholder Party that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Trustee (for itself and not on behalf of any Noteholder Party) hereby notifies the Issuer that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Note Party, which information includes the name and address of each Note Party and other information that will allow such Noteholder Party or the Trustee, as applicable, to identify each Note Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 16.25 Indenture Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

145


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first written above.

 

WOLFSPEED, INC., as the Issuer
By:   /s/ Melissa Garrett
  Name: Melissa Garrett
  Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel
WOLFSPEED TEXAS LLC, as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:   /s/ Melissa Garrett
  Name: Melissa Garrett
  Title: Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


U.S BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity, but
solely as the Trustee and the Collateral Agent
By:   /s/ Wally Jones
  Name: Wally Jones
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF NOTE]

[Insert Global Note Legend, if applicable]

[Insert Restricted Note Legend, if applicable]

[Inset OID Legend, if applicable]

[GLOBAL][PHYSICAL][PIK]1 NOTE

[CUSIP No.: [   ]

ISIN No.: [  ]]2

Certificate No. [  ]

US$[  ]    Date: [  ]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), hereby promises to pay [Cede & Co.] or its registered assigns (the “Noteholder”) in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal amount of [    ] dollars ($[    ]) [(as revised by the attached Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note)]3 in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (as defined below).

This Note shall mature on June 23, 2030.

The Issuer also promises to pay all accrued and unpaid interest at the rates provided in the Indenture on March 23, June 23, September 23 and December 23 of each year, commencing [    ], 202[ ]. Interest on this Note shall accrue from the most recent Interest Payment Date or, if no interest has been paid, [    ], 202[ ].

All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except interest accrued pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.15 of the Indenture) to the Paying Agent for the account of the persons who are registered Noteholders at the close of business, whether or not a Business Day, 15 days prior to an Interest Payment Date (each a “Record Date”). The Issuer shall pay interest accrued pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.15 of the Indenture to the Paying Agent for the account of the registered Noteholders as of a subsequent special record date, which the Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed and notice of which the Issuer shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to the registered Noteholder, which notice shall state the special record date, the payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 
1 

Include if a PIK Note issued in Physical Form.

2 

Insert in Global Notes only.

3 

Insert bracketed language for Global Notes only.

 

A-1


This Note is one of the [Global][Physical][PIK] Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Indenture.

The obligations under this Note are secured by a security interest in the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents and are unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors.

This Note may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuer at any time and from time to time at the redemption prices set forth in Section 3.02(a) of the Indenture.

This Note is subject to mandatory redemption and repurchase at the price set forth in the Indenture.

This Note is a Note Document, is entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and is subject to the requirements of the Indenture. This Note is subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, including, without limitation, Sections 13.01 (Amendments and Waivers), 16.07 (Successors and Assigns) and 16.15 (WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL) thereof, and Noteholders are referred to the Indenture for a complete statement of such terms and provisions. The Indenture also contains certain covenants, events of default and other provisions applicable to this Note. If and to the extent that any provision of this Note limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Indenture, such provision of the Indenture shall control. The Issuer will furnish to any Noteholder upon written request and without charge to such Noteholder a copy of the Indenture.

This Note is a registered obligation, transferable only upon notation in the Register.

The Notes are issued in minimum denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof.

This Note shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

[Signature Page to Note]


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF
  AUTHENTICATION
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as Trustee, certifies that this is
  one of the Notes
  referred to in the Indenture.
By:    
  Authorized Signatory

Dated:

 

A-4


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

INITIAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE: $[___]

The following exchanges, transfers or cancellations of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date

   Amount of Increase
(Decrease) in
Principal Amount of
this Global Note
   Principal Amount of
this Global Note
After Such Increase

(Decrease)
   Signature of
Authorized
Signatory of Trustee

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 
* 

Insert for Global Notes only.

 

A-5


ASSIGNMENT FORM

WOLFSPEED, INC.

Senior Secured Notes due 2030

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, the undersigned Noteholder of the Note identified below assigns (check one):

☐ the entire principal amount of

☐ $5 aggregate principal amount of

the Note identified by CUSIP No. and Certificate No. , and all rights thereunder, to:

Name:                      

Address:                     

Social security or tax id. #:              

and irrevocably appoints:                  

as agent to transfer the within Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him/her.

 

Date:                
   (Legal Name of Noteholder)
By:     
   Name:
   Title:
        Signature Guaranteed:
    
   Participant in a Recognized Signature
   Guarantee Medallion Program
By:     
   Authorized Signatory

 

 
5 

Must be a Notes Multiple.

 

B-1-1


EXHIBIT B-1

FORM OF RESTRICTED NOTE LEGEND

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS (A) AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DESCRIBED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ACQUIRING THIS NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF ONE OR MORE OTHER INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTORS” WITH RESPECT TO WHICH IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION, (B) A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) ACQUIRING THIS NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF ONE OR MORE OTHER “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS” WITH RESPECT TO WHICH IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION, OR (C) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“REGULATION S”), IS NOT ACQUIRING THIS NOTE FOR THE ACCOUNT OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DESCRIBED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ACQUIRING THIS NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF ONE OR MORE OTHER INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTORS” WITH RESPECT TO WHICH IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION, (C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER ACQUIRING THIS NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF ONE OR MORE OTHER QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON THAT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S THAT IS NOT ACTING FOR THE ACCOUNT OR THE BENEFIT OF A “U.S. PERSON” IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER SO REQUESTS), AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

B-1-1


IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OR EXCHANGE, THE TRANSFEREE OR THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS THE REGISTRAR OR TRUSTEE MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER OR EXCHANGE COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE FIRST LIEN/SECOND LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AMONG U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS FIRST LIEN NOTES TRUSTEE AND AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT, U.S. BANK, AS SECOND LIEN CONVERTIBLE NOTES TRUSTEE AND SECOND LIEN CONVERTIBLE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT, U.S. BANK, AS SECOND LIEN RENESAS CONVERTIBLE NOTES TRUSTEE AND SECOND LIEN RENESAS CONVERTIBLE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT, U.S. BANK, AS SECOND LIEN NON-CONVERTIBLE NOTES TRUSTEE AND SECOND LIEN NON-CONVERTIBLE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT, U.S. BANK, AS INITIAL CONTROLLING SECOND-PRIORITY COLLATERAL AGENT, WOLFSPEED, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION AND THE OTHER PARTIES FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO ENTERED INTO ON THE CLOSING DATE, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE.

 

B-1-2


EXHIBIT B-2

FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND

THIS IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE OF DTC, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS THE OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DTC TO THE ISSUER 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 HEREON 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 SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE WILL 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 NOTE WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE II OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO.

 

B-2-1


EXHIBIT B-3

FORM OF OID LEGEND

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THIS NOTE WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ. OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. A HOLDER MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT AND YIELD TO MATURITY FOR THIS NOTE BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO THE ISSUER AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: 4600 SILICON DRIVE, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, 27703, ATTENTION: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

 

B-3-1


EXHIBIT C-1

FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE FROM TRANSFEROR

WOLFSPEED, INC.,

as the Issuer

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, North Carolina 22703

Attention: Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Treasurer

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association,

as the Trustee

333 Commerce Street, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attention: Wally Jones

Re.: Wolfspeed, Inc.

 

  Re:

Senior Notes due 2030

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025, by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely as the trustee thereunder (the “Trustee”) and the collateral agent thereunder. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this certificate have the meanings set forth or incorporated by reference in the Indenture.

The undersigned (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer (the “Transfer”) the following principal amount of the Transferor’s [beneficial interests in the Global Note][Physical Note] identified in Annex A hereto:

$ 6

to:

               (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor certifies that (check one):

 

1.     Such Transfer is being made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 144A, and, accordingly, the Transferor further certifies that such [beneficial interest][Physical Note] is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing such [beneficial interest][Physical Note] for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A.
 
6 

Must be a Notes Multiple.

 

C-1-1


2.     Such Transfer is being made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 904 of Regulation S.
3.     Such Transfer is being made pursuant to, and in accordance with, any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (including, if available, the exemption provided by Rule 144).

Dated: _____________

 

 
(Name of Transferor)
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Signature Guaranteed:
 
(Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program)
By:    
Authorized Signatory

 

C-1-2


Acknowledged by:
WOLFSPEED, INC., as Issuer
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

C-1-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.

The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following (check one):

 

a.     A beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note identified by:
    CUSIP No.
b.     A Rule 144A Physical Note identified by:
    Certificate No.
c.     A beneficial interest in an IAI Global Note identified by:
    CUSIP No.
d.     An IAI Physical Note identified by:
    Certificate No.
e.     A beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note identified by:
    CUSIP No.
f.     A Regulation S Physical Note identified by:
    Certificate No.

 

2.

After the Transfer, the Transferee will hold the following (check one):

 

a.     A beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note identified by:
    CUSIP No.
b.     A Rule 144A Physical Note identified by:
    Certificate No.
c.     A beneficial interest in an IAI Global Note identified by:
    CUSIP No.
d.     An IAI Physical Note identified by:
    Certificate No.
e.     A beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note identified by:
    CUSIP No.
f.     A Regulation S Physical Note identified by:
    Certificate No.

 

C-1-4


EXHIBIT C-2

FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE FROM TRANSFEREE

WOLFSPEED, INC.,

as the Issuer

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, North Carolina 22703

Attention: Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Treasurer

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association,

as the Trustee

333 Commerce Street, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attention: Wally Jones

Re.: Wolfspeed, Inc.

 

  Re:

Senior Notes due 2030

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025, by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely as the trustee thereunder (the “Trustee”) and the collateral agent thereunder. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this certificate have the meanings set forth or incorporated by reference in the Indenture.

The undersigned (the “Transferee”) certifies, in connection with its proposed acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of:

$              7 aggregate principal amount of Notes certifies as follows:

 

1.

Either (check one):

 

a.     Rule 144A Transaction. The Transferee is acquiring the Notes for the Transferee’s own account or for an account with respect to which the Transferee exercises sole investment discretion, and the Transferee and such account are a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined under Rule 144A) and the Transferee makes the representations set forth in Annex A hereto;
 
7 

Must be a Notes Multiple.


b.     IAI Transaction. The Transferee is acquiring the Notes for the Transferee’s own account or for an account with respect to which the Transferee exercises sole investment discretion, and the Transferee and such account are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined under Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and the Transferee makes the representations set forth in Annex B hereto; or
c.     Regulation S Transaction. The Transferee acknowledges that the Acquisition is being made pursuant to Regulation S and the Transferee makes the representations set forth in Annex C hereto.


Dated: _____________

 

    
(Name of Transferee)   
    
(Address of Transferee)   
    
(Taxpayer ID Number)   

 

By:     
  Name:
  Title:
Acknowledged by:
WOLFSPEED, INC., as Issuer
By:    
Name:  
Title:  


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

The Transferee represents and warrants to you that:

 

  1.

The Transferee is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), acquiring or holding the Notes for its own account or for the account of one or more such “qualified institutional buyers” with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion, in a minimum denomination of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof, and the Transferee is acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. The Transferee has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Notes, and it invests in or purchases securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of its business. The Transferee, and any accounts for which it is acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of Transferee’s or its investment.

 

  2.

The Transferee understands that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction and, accordingly, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. The Transferee agrees on its own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which it is purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes only (a) in the United States to a person that is an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act), purchasing for its own account or for the account of one or more such institutional “accredited investors” with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act, (b) in the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) acquiring such Notes for its own account or the accounts of one or more other “qualified institutional buyers” with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (c) outside the United States to a person that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act that is not acting for the account or the benefit of a “U.S. person” in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (d) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder, in each of cases (a) through (d) in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. In addition, the Transferee will, and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any purchaser of the Note evidenced hereby of the resale restrictions set forth above.


ANNEX B TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

The Transferee represents and warrants to you that:

 

  1.

The Transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act), acquiring or holding the Notes for its own account or for the account of one or more such institutional “accredited investors” with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion, in a minimum denomination of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof, and the Transferee is acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. The Transferee has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and it invests in or purchases securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of its business. The Transferee, and any accounts for which it is acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of the Transferee’s or its investment.

 

  2.

The Transferee understands that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction and, accordingly, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. The Transferee agrees on its own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which it is purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes only (a) in the United States to a person that is an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act), purchasing for its own account or for the account of one or more such institutional “accredited investors” with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act, (b) in the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) acquiring such Notes for its own account or the accounts of one or more other “qualified institutional buyers” with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (c) outside the United States to a person that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act that is not acting for the account or the benefit of a “U.S. person” in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (d) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder, in each of cases (a) through (d) in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. In addition, the Transferee will, and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any purchaser of the Note evidenced hereby of the resale restrictions set forth above.


ANNEX C TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

The Transferee represents and warrants to you that:

 

  1.

The Transferee is (A) not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act and are not acting for the account or the benefit of a “U.S. person”; (B) acquiring the Notes outside the United States in an “offshore transaction” (as defined in Rule 902(h) of Regulation S under the Securities Act) in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act; and (C) not purchasing the Notes as a result of any “directed selling efforts” (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act). The Transferee is acquiring the Notes in a minimum denomination of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof, and it is acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. The Transferee has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and it invests in or purchases securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of its business. The Transferee, and any accounts for which it is acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of the Transferee’s or its investment.

 

  2.

The Transferee understands that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction and, accordingly, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. The Transferee agrees on its own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which it is purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes only (a) in the United States to a person that is an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act), purchasing for its own account or for the account of one or more such institutional “accredited investors” with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act, (b) in the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) acquiring such Notes for its own account or the accounts of one or more other “qualified institutional buyers” with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (c) outside the United States to a person that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act that is not acting for the account or the benefit of a “U.S. person” in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (d) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder, in each of cases (a) through (d) in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. In addition, the Transferee will, and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any purchaser of the Note evidenced hereby of the resale restrictions set forth above.

Exhibit 4.3

FINAL FORM

WOLFSPEED, INC.

as Issuer

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

as Subsidiary Guarantors

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of September 29, 2025

 

 

7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031

THIS INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR

AGREEMENTS (AS DEFINED HEREIN).

 


WOLFSPEED, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025

 

§ 310(a)(1)

   10.09

(a)(2)

   10.09

(a)(3)

   Not Applicable

(a)(4)

   Not Applicable

(a)(5)

   10.09

(b)

   10.09

§ 311(a)

   10.10

(b)

   10.10

(c)

   Not Applicable

§ 312(a)

   2.08

(b)

   2.08

(c)

   2.08

§ 313(a)

   10.10

(b)(1)

   10.10

(b)(2)

   10.10

(c)

   10.10

(d)

   10.10

§ 314(a)

   3.03, 13.01, 13.03

(b)

   Not Applicable

(c)(1)

   13.02

(c)(2)

   13.02

(c)(3)

   Not Applicable

(d)

   Not Applicable

(e)

   13.03

(f)

   Not Applicable

§ 315(a)

   10.01

(b)

   10.05

(c)

   10.01

(d)

   10.01

(e)

   7.04

§ 316(a)(last sentence)

   2.16

(a)(1)(A)

   7.07

(a)(1)(B)

   7.05

(a)(2)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   7.09

(c)

   2.05

§ 317(a)(1)

   7.09

(a)(2)

   7.11

(b)

   2.07

§ 318(a)

   13.16

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.

 

- i -


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

Article 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

     1  

SECTION 1.01.

   DEFINITIONS      1  

SECTION 1.02.

   OTHER DEFINITIONS      40  

SECTION 1.03.

   RULES OF CONSTRUCTION      41  

SECTION 1.04.

   CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT      42  

SECTION 1.05.

   LIMITED CONDITION TRANSACTIONS      43  

Article 2. THE NOTES

     44  

SECTION 2.01.

   FORM, DATING AND DENOMINATIONS      44  

SECTION 2.02.

   EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY      44  

SECTION 2.03.

   INITIAL NOTES, ADDITIONAL NOTES AND PIK NOTES      45  

SECTION 2.04.

   METHOD OF PAYMENT      46  

SECTION 2.05.

   ACCRUAL OF INTEREST; DEFAULTED AMOUNTS; WHEN PAYMENT DATE IS NOT A BUSINESS DAY      46  

SECTION 2.06.

   REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT      47  

SECTION 2.07.

   PAYING AGENT TO HOLD PROPERTY IN TRUST      48  

SECTION 2.08.

   HOLDER LISTS      48  

SECTION 2.09.

   LEGENDS      49  

SECTION 2.10.

   TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES      49  

SECTION 2.11.

   EXCHANGE AND CANCELLATION OF NOTES TO BE REPURCHASED PURSUANT TO A REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL OR REDEMPTION      53  

SECTION 2.12.

   [RESERVED]      54  

SECTION 2.13.

   REPLACEMENT NOTES      54  

SECTION 2.14.

   REGISTERED HOLDERS; CERTAIN RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO GLOBAL NOTES      54  

SECTION 2.15.

   CANCELLATION      54  

SECTION 2.16.

   NOTES HELD BY THE ISSUER OR ITS AFFILIATES      54  

SECTION 2.17.

   TEMPORARY NOTES      55  

SECTION 2.18.

   OUTSTANDING NOTES      55  

SECTION 2.19.

   REPURCHASES BY THE ISSUER      56  

SECTION 2.20.

   CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS      56  

SECTION 2.21.

   TAX TREATMENT      56  

SECTION 2.22.

   INTEREST RATE, PAYMENT OF INTEREST; PIK NOTES      57  

Article 3. COVENANTS

     58  

SECTION 3.01.

   CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION      58  

SECTION 3.02.

   PAYMENT ON NOTES      58  

SECTION 3.03.

   REPORTS      59  

SECTION 3.04.

   RULE 144A INFORMATION      61  

SECTION 3.05.

   [RESERVED]      61  

 

- ii -


SECTION 3.06.

   [RESERVED]      61  

SECTION 3.07.

   COMPLIANCE AND DEFAULT CERTIFICATES      61  

SECTION 3.08.

   STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS      61  

SECTION 3.09.

   CORPORATE EXISTENCE      61  

SECTION 3.10.

   [RESERVED]      62  

SECTION 3.11.

   FURTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS      62  

SECTION 3.12.

   INDEBTEDNESS      62  

SECTION 3.13.

   LIENS      68  

SECTION 3.14.

   SALE AND LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS      69  

SECTION 3.15.

   RESTRICTED PAYMENTS      69  

SECTION 3.16.

   ASSET DISPOSITIONS      72  

SECTION 3.17.

   DISPOSITION OF MATERIAL IP      75  

SECTION 3.18.

   TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES      76  

SECTION 3.19.

   [RESERVED]      78  

SECTION 3.20.

   DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES      78  

SECTION 3.21.

   FURTHER ASSURANCES; ADDITIONAL SECURITY      80  

SECTION 3.22.

   POST-CLOSING      83  

Article 4. REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION

     83  

SECTION 4.01.

   NO SINKING FUND      83  

SECTION 4.02.

   RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE THE ISSUER TO REPURCHASE NOTES UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL      84  

SECTION 4.03.

   RIGHT OF THE ISSUER TO REDEEM THE NOTES      88  

SECTION 4.04.

   MANDATORY AHYDO REDEMPTION      90  

Article 5. [RESERVED]

     90  

Article 6. SUCCESSORS

     90  

SECTION 6.01.

   WHEN THE ISSUER AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS MAY MERGE, ETC.      90  

SECTION 6.02.

   SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED      92  

Article 7. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     92  

SECTION 7.01.

   EVENTS OF DEFAULT      92  

SECTION 7.02.

   ACCELERATION      95  

SECTION 7.03.

   SOLE REMEDY FOR A FAILURE TO REPORT      95  

SECTION 7.04.

   OTHER REMEDIES      96  

SECTION 7.05.

   WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS      97  

SECTION 7.06.

   [RESERVED]      97  

SECTION 7.07.

   CONTROL BY MAJORITY      97  

SECTION 7.08.

   LIMITATION ON SUITS      97  

SECTION 7.09.

   ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO INSTITUTE SUIT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAYMENT      98  

SECTION 7.10.

   COLLECTION BY TRUSTEE      98  

SECTION 7.11.

   PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST ISSUER      98  

SECTION 7.12.

   TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM      98  

 

- iii -


SECTION 7.13.

   [RESERVED]      99  

SECTION 7.14.

   SUMS RECEIVED BY DEBTORS AND THIRD-PARTY SECURITY PROVIDERS      99  

SECTION 7.15.

   PRIORITIES      99  

SECTION 7.16.

   UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS      100  

SECTION 7.17.

   COLLATERAL AGENT EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT      100  

Article 8. AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

     101  

SECTION 8.01.

   WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS      101  

SECTION 8.02.

   WITH THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS      103  

SECTION 8.03.

   [RESERVED]      104  

SECTION 8.04.

   NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS      104  

SECTION 8.05.

   REVOCATION, EFFECT AND SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS; SPECIAL RECORD DATES; ETC.      104  

SECTION 8.06.

   NOTATIONS AND EXCHANGES      105  

SECTION 8.07.

   TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      105  

Article 9. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

     105  

SECTION 9.01.

   TERMINATION OF ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS      105  

SECTION 9.02.

   APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY      108  

SECTION 9.03.

   REPAYMENT TO ISSUER      108  

SECTION 9.04.

   REINSTATEMENT      108  

Article 10. TRUSTEE

     109  

SECTION 10.01.

   DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE      109  

SECTION 10.02.

   RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE      110  

SECTION 10.03.

   INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE      111  

SECTION 10.04.

   TRUSTEES DISCLAIMER      111  

SECTION 10.05.

   NOTICE OF DEFAULTS      112  

SECTION 10.06.

   COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY      112  

SECTION 10.07.

   REPLACEMENT OF THE TRUSTEE      113  

SECTION 10.08.

   SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.      114  

SECTION 10.09.

   ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION      114  

SECTION 10.10.

   REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE      115  

Article 11. COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

     115  

SECTION 11.01.

   COLLATERAL AGENT      115  

SECTION 11.02.

   DELEGATION OF DUTIES      122  

SECTION 11.03.

   SECURITY DOCUMENTS      123  

SECTION 11.04.

   AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN      123  

SECTION 11.05.

   RELEASE OR SUBORDINATION OF LIENS      125  

SECTION 11.06.

   POWERS EXERCISABLE BY RECEIVER OR TRUSTEE      126  

SECTION 11.07.

   RELEASE UPON TERMINATION OF THE ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS      127  

SECTION 11.08.

   RIGHT TO REALIZE ON COLLATERAL AND ENFORCE GUARANTEES      127  

SECTION 11.09.

   PARALLEL DEBT (COVENANT TO PAY THE COLLATERAL AGENT)      128  

 

- iv -


Article 12. GUARANTEES

     129  

SECTION 12.01.

   SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES      129  

SECTION 12.02.

   EXECUTION AND DELIVERY      131  

SECTION 12.03.

   [RESERVED]      131  

SECTION 12.04.

   RELEASES OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES      131  

SECTION 12.05.

   INSTRUMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONEY      132  

SECTION 12.06.

   LIMITATION ON SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR LIABILITY      133  

SECTION 12.07.

   “TRUSTEETO INCLUDE PAYING AGENT      133  

Article 13. MISCELLANEOUS

     133  

SECTION 13.01.

   NOTICES      133  

SECTION 13.02.

   DELIVERY OF OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT      135  

SECTION 13.03.

   STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL      135  

SECTION 13.04.

   RULES BY THE TRUSTEE, THE REGISTRAR AND THE PAYING AGENT      136  

SECTION 13.05.

   NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS      136  

SECTION 13.06.

   GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      137  

SECTION 13.07.

   SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION      137  

SECTION 13.08.

   NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS      137  

SECTION 13.09.

   SUCCESSORS      137  

SECTION 13.10.

   FORCE MAJEURE      137  

SECTION 13.11.

   U.S.A      138  

SECTION 13.12.

   CALCULATIONS      138  

SECTION 13.13.

   SEVERABILITY      138  

SECTION 13.14.

   COUNTERPARTS      138  

SECTION 13.15.

   TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.      139  

Article 14. INTERCREDITOR ARRANGEMENTS

     139  

SECTION 14.01.

   INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS      139  

SECTION 14.02.

   ADDITIONAL INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS      139  

 

Exhibits

  

Exhibit A: Form of Note

   A-1

Exhibit B: Form of Global Note Legend

   B2-1

Exhibit C: Form of Supplemental Indenture

   C-1

Exhibit D: Agreed Security Principles

   D-1

 

- v -


Schedules

  

Schedule 1.01(A)

   Certain Excluded Equity Interests

Schedule 1.01(B)

   Dispositions

Schedule 1.01(C)

   Immaterial Subsidiaries

Schedule 1.01(D)

   Investments

Schedule 1.01(E)

   Liens

Schedule 3.12(B)

   Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 3.18

   Existing Affiliate Transactions

Schedule 3.22

   Post-Closing Actions

 

- vi -


INDENTURE, dated as of September 29, 2025, among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below) party hereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely as the trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”) and as the collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) hereunder.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on June 30, 2025, the Issuer and its wholly owned subsidiary, Wolfspeed Texas LLC, commenced voluntary cases, jointly administered under the caption In re Wolfspeed, Inc., et al., Case No. 25-90163 (CML) (the “Chapter 11 Cases”), under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) (the “Bankruptcy Court”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate (Docket No. 8), dated June 27, 2025 (as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time, and together with all appendices, exhibits and supplements thereto, the “Bankruptcy Plan”) relating to the reorganization under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code of the Issuer and its wholly owned subsidiary, Wolfspeed Texas LLC, which Bankruptcy Plan was confirmed by order, dated September 8, 2025, of the Bankruptcy Court (the “Confirmation Order”), certain holders of Convertible Notes Claims (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan) are to be issued the Notes (as defined herein) in an initial aggregate principal amount equal to $296,401,000 (the “Initial Notes”);

WHEREAS, (a) all acts and things necessary to make (i) the Notes, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent, as provided in this Indenture, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Issuer; (ii) the Guarantees of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors; and (iii) this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors, according to its terms, have been done and performed, and (b) the execution of this Indenture and the issuance hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized.

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises set forth herein, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors covenant and agree with the Trustee and Collateral Agent for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:

Article 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.01. DEFINITIONS.

Account Control Agreement” means (a) with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account held or located in the United States, a customary account control agreement which provides for the Collateral Agent to have “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code or Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) of Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, as applicable and (b) with respect to any other Deposit Account or Securities Account, such agreement as is necessary to obtain a perfected security

 

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interest under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction over such Deposit Account or Securities Account and which provides for the Collateral Agent to have the equivalent of “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code or Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) (to the extent such equivalent concept exists under the laws of the jurisdiction where such Deposit Account or Securities Account, as applicable, is held or located) of such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, as applicable.

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specific Person: (a)(i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person or any Subsidiary of such Person; and (b) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing.

Affiliate” means, when used with respect to a specified person, another person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the person specified.

Agreed Security Principles” means the principles set forth in Exhibit D.

Asset Disposition” means: (i) any sale, lease, conveyance or other Disposition (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of all or any part of its assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, or by operation of law) (provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall not be an “Asset Disposition” but instead shall be governed by Section 6.01) or (ii) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of the Issuer, or the sale by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Issuer, in each case, in one transaction or in a series of related transactions (in each case, other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares to be held by third parties to meet applicable legal requirements); provided that the term “Asset Disposition” shall not include any of the following:

(A) (i) the Disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (ii) the acquisition or lease (pursuant to an operating lease) of any other asset in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary or, with respect to operating leases, otherwise for fair market value on market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), (iii) the Disposition of surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (iv) the Disposition of tools, equipment and similar property in exchange for, or the proceeds of the Disposition of which will be applied towards the purchase price of, new or replacement tools, equipment or similar property or (v) the Disposition of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

(B) the Specified IP Disposition; provided that the net proceeds in respect thereof are applied in accordance with the First Lien Notes Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(C) Dispositions (i) to the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise), (ii) [reserved] or (iii) by any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(D) so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted by Section 3.14; provided that if such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction results in a Capitalized Lease Obligation, such Capitalized Lease Obligation is permitted by Section 3.12 and any Lien made the subject of such Capitalized Lease Obligation is permitted by Section 3.13;

(E) any Restricted Payments permitted by Section 3.15 and any Permitted Investments;

(F) Dispositions of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(G) other Dispositions of assets to a person that is not an Affiliate of any Note Party; provided that (i) at the time of the execution of the definitive documentation for such Disposition, no Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) the requirements of Section 3.16(A) shall apply to such Disposition and (iii) the Net Proceeds thereof, if any, are applied in accordance with Section 3.16(B);

(H) [Reserved];

(I) leases or subleases or licenses or sublicenses of any real or personal property (including licenses of Intellectual Property) in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(J) Dispositions or abandonment of Intellectual Property of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries determined in good faith by the management of the Issuer to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries;

(K) commencing with the Issuer’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, other Dispositions for fair market value as determined in good faith by the Issuer (acting in its reasonable discretion) with an aggregate value per fiscal year not in excess of the greater of (x) $12,000,000 and (y) 6.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that this clause (K) may not be used in combination with any other clause of this definition of “Asset Disposition” in connection with any Disposition (or portion thereof) or series of related Dispositions (or portion thereof);

(L) dedications or dispositions of roads constituting Real Property, or the granting of easements, rights of way, rights of access and/or similar rights in Real Property, to any Governmental Authority, utility providers, cable or other communication providers and/or other parties providing services or benefits to any project that, would not reasonably be expected to interfere in any material respect with the operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that upon request by the Issuer accompanied by the documents required by Section 11.05, the Collateral Agent shall (i) release its Mortgage on the portions of such Real Property dedicated or disposed of or (ii) subordinate its Mortgage on such Real Property to such easement, right of way, right of access or similar agreement, in each case, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and the Issuer;

 

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(M) Dispositions contractually committed as of, or contemplated as of, the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(B); and

(N) to the extent constituting an Asset Disposition, any termination, settlement or extinguishment of Hedging Agreements or other contractual obligations.

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 3.16 or the definition of “Asset Disposition”, other than with respect to clause (K) of the definition of “Asset Disposition”, a Disposition need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Dispositions (or portion thereof) described in the above clauses but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

Authorized Denomination” means, with respect to a Note, a principal amount thereof equal to $1.00 or any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Issuer or a committee of such board duly authorized to act on behalf of such board.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City (and in respect of payments, the place of payment) are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any person in respect of any period, the aggregate of all expenditures incurred by such person during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “additions to property, plant or equipment” or similar items reflected in the statement of cash flows of such person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease or finance lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP; provided that obligations of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, either existing on the Issue Date or created thereafter that (a) initially were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer as capital lease or finance lease obligations and were subsequently recharacterized as capital lease or finance lease obligations or, in the case of a special purpose or other entity becoming consolidated with the Issuer and its Subsidiaries were required to be characterized as capital lease or finance obligations upon such consolidation, in either case, due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, or (b) did not exist on the Issue Date and were required to be characterized as capital lease or finance lease obligations but would not have been required to be treated as capital lease or finance lease obligations on the Issue Date had they existed at that time, shall for all purposes not be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

 

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Cash Equivalents” shall mean:

(A) direct obligations of the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(B) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank, trust company or other financial institution that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $500,000,000 and whose long-term debt, or whose parent holding company’s long-term debt, is rated A (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(C) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 185 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (A) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (B) above;

(D) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of P-1 (or higher) according to Moody’s, or A-1 (or higher) according to S&P or F1 or higher by Fitch (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(E) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, issued and fully guaranteed by any State, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s or A by Fitch (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(F) shares of mutual funds whose investment guidelines restrict 95% of such funds’ investments to those satisfying the provisions of clauses (A) through (E) above;

(G) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500,000,000;

(H) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits in an aggregate face amount not in excess of 0.5% of Consolidated Total Assets;

(I) any Investments permitted by the Issuer’s investment policy (other than any Investment permitted by Section IX thereof), as in effect on the Issue Date; and

(J) instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (A) through (I) above denominated in any foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and commonly used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States of America to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Note Party or any Subsidiary, in each case, organized in such jurisdiction.

 

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Cash Interest” means interest payable on the Notes in the form of cash.

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide to the Issuer or any Subsidiary cash management services for collections, treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), any demand deposit, payroll, trust or operating account relationships, commercial credit cards, merchant card, purchase or debit cards, non-card e-payables services, and other cash management services, including electronic funds transfer services, lockbox services, stop payment services and wire transfer services.

Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, assets or property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, assets or property or as compensation for such casualty or condemnation event.

Change of Control” means any of the following events:

(A) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) pursuant to which a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Issuer or its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, or their respective employee benefit plans, or Renesas, becomes the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of Common Stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the Common Stock; provided, however, that, for purposes of this clause (A), no person or group will be deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such person or group until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange in such offer;

(B) the consummation of (i) any sale, lease or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than solely to one or more of the Issuer’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; or (ii) any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of merger, consolidation, share exchange, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition, liquidation or otherwise) (other than changes solely resulting from a subdivision or combination of the Common Stock or solely a change in the par value or nominal value of the Common Stock) all of the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitute solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property; provided, however, that any transaction described in clause (B)(ii) above pursuant to which the Persons that directly or indirectly “beneficially owned” (as defined below) all classes of the Issuer’s common equity immediately before such transaction directly or indirectly “beneficially own,” immediately after such transaction, more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, in substantially the same proportions vis-a-vis each other as immediately before such transaction will be deemed not to be a Change of Control pursuant to this clause (B);

 

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(C) the Issuer’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer;

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the distribution of securities pursuant to the Bankruptcy Plan shall in no event be deemed a Change of Control.

For the purpose of this Indenture, whether a Person is a “beneficial owner” and whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

Change of Control Repurchase Date” means the date fixed for the repurchase of any Notes by the Issuer pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

Change of Control Repurchase Notice” means a notice (including a notice substantially in the form of the “Change of Control Repurchase Notice” set forth in Exhibit A) containing the information, or otherwise complying with the requirements, set forth in Section 4.02(F)(i) and Section 4.02(F)(ii).

Change of Control Repurchase Price” means the cash price payable by the Issuer to repurchase any Note upon its Repurchase Upon Change of Control, calculated pursuant to Section 4.02(D).

CHIPS Act” means Title XCIX — Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283), as amended by the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Division A of Pub. L. 117-167).

CHIPS Program Office” means United States Department of Commerce, CHIPS Program Office.

Close of Business” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

Collateral” means all the “Collateral” (or similar term) as defined in any Security Document and shall also include the Mortgaged Properties, and all other property that is subject to any Lien in favor of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Subagent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to any Security Document.

Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent, together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.

Collateral Agreement” means the Collateral Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, and as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, among the Issuer, each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral Agent.

 

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Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means the requirement that (in each case subject to the Agreed Security Principles, Sections 3.21(A)(iii), (iv) and (vii), Section 3.22 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement):

(A) on the Issue Date, (x) the Collateral Agent shall have received from the Issuer and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor an executed counterpart to the Collateral Agreement and each other Security Documents required to be executed by the Issuer and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral Agreement on the Issue Date in order to secure the Note Obligations thereunder and (y) the Trustee shall have received from each Subsidiary Guarantor, an executed counterpart to this Indenture, in each case duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person;

(B) on the Issue Date, (i)(x) all outstanding Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, other than Excluded Securities, and (y) all Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, other than Excluded Securities, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests and such notes or other instruments required to be delivered pursuant to the applicable Security Documents, together with stock powers, note powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(C) in the case of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, shall have received (i) a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, a supplement to the Collateral Agreement and supplements to the other Security Documents, if applicable, substantially in the form specified therefor, in each case, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor, such other Security Documents governed by the law of any Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction as are necessary for the grant of a perfected security interest in the Equity Interests of, and assets of, such Subsidiary Guarantor, which shall include, among other things, security over substantially all assets in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is customary, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor;

(D) after the Issue Date, (i) (x) all outstanding Equity Interests of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date and (y) subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), all Equity Interests directly acquired by the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date, other than Excluded Securities, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement or other applicable Security Documents, and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have received all certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(E) on the Issue Date, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 3.22, all documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, and filings with the United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (including any Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property), and all other actions reasonably necessary (including those required by applicable Requirements of Law) to be delivered, filed,

 

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registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents (in each case, including any supplements thereto) and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents, shall have been delivered, filed, registered or recorded concurrently with, or promptly following, the execution and delivery of each such Security Document;

(F) subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), within the time periods set forth in Section 3.21 with respect to Mortgaged Properties encumbered pursuant to said Section 3.21, the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of each Mortgage to be entered into with respect to each such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Mortgaged Property and suitable for recording or filing in all filing or recording offices that may be necessary or reasonably desirable to create a valid and enforceable Lien subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens, at the time of recordation thereof, (ii) with respect to the Mortgage encumbering each such Mortgaged Property, opinions of counsel in favor of the Collateral Agent regarding the enforceability, due authorization, execution and delivery of the Mortgages and such other matters customarily covered in real estate counsel opinions and customarily given in similar financing transactions, (iii) with respect to each such Mortgaged Property, the Flood Documentation and (iv) such other customary certificates, affidavits and similar deliverables that are customarily given in similar financing transactions in connection with the delivery of a Mortgage reasonably necessary that are available to the Issuer without material expense with respect to any such Mortgage or Mortgaged Property;

(G) [Reserved];

(H) [Reserved]; and

(I) after the Issue Date, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, shall have received (i) such other Security Documents as may be required to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.21 or the Collateral Agreement, and (ii) evidence of compliance with any other requirements of Section 3.21.

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Issuer, par value $0.00125 per share, at the date of this Indenture.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any person for any period, all interest expense, including the amortization of debt discount and premium, the amortization or expensing of all fees and expenses payable in connection with the incurrence of indebtedness, the interest component under Capitalized Lease Obligations, capitalized interest, interest paid in kind and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Agreements, in each case, of such person and its subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding:

(A) extraordinary gains or losses;

 

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(B) net earnings of any business entity (other than a Subsidiary) in which any Note Party or any Subsidiary thereof has an ownership interest unless such net earnings shall have actually been received by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in the form of cash distributions;

(C) any gain or loss from Dispositions not in the ordinary course of business during such period; and

(D) any portion of the net earnings of any Subsidiary which for any reason is unavailable for payment of dividends to the Note Parties.

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the date of determination less the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which are listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of such date as of the last day of the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000,000 (other than any cash that is “restricted” in favor of the First Lien Notes, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes, the Second Lien Renesas Notes and the Notes) to (b) EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended.

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date, the total assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer delivered pursuant to Section 3.03.

Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis consisting of (a) Indebtedness for borrowed money (including the Notes), (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (c) purchase money debt, (d) debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar debt instruments, (e) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price with respect to acquisitions, including, subject to the limitation below, earn-outs (but excluding (i) customary working capital and purchase price adjustments and trade accounts payables and other accrued trade obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and (ii) all earn-out obligations and other similar contingent consideration not yet due and payable), (f) all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all preferred stock of the Subsidiaries of the Issuer, in each case issued to third parties, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its Maximum Fixed Repurchase Price (as defined below) and (g) guarantees of the foregoing; provided, however, that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include Permitted Warrant Transactions. For purposes hereof, the “Maximum Fixed Repurchase Price” of any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock means the price at which such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock could be redeemed or repurchased by the issuer thereof in accordance with its terms or, if such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock cannot be so redeemed or repurchased, the fair market value of such preferred stock, in each case, determined on any date on which Consolidated Total Debt shall be required to be determined.

 

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Contribution Debt” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not greater than 100% (or 50% in the case of Permitted Disqualified Stock) of the aggregate net amount of cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date in excess of $240,000,000 in the aggregate from (x) the issuance or sale of the Issuer’s Qualified Equity Interests and Permitted Disqualified Stock or (y) a contribution to the Issuer’s common equity, in each case after the Issue Date (in each case of (x) and (y), other than proceeds (i) from the sale of Equity Interests by the Issuer to any Subsidiary or contributions to the common equity of the Issuer by any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) from the conversion of any Convertible Notes or the exercise of any Renesas Warrants), in each case, to the extent such proceeds have not otherwise been applied to voluntarily redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 4.03, make any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.15 or any Permitted Investments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (A) Contribution Debt may only be allocated to Section 3.12(B)(xi) and (B) Section 3.12(B)(xi) may not be used to incur any other Indebtedness.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Convertible Notes” means, collectively, (i) the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes, (ii) the Second Lien Renesas Notes and (iii) any other debt securities issued by the Issuer from time to time permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity interests of the Issuer (and cash in lieu of any fractional interests), cash or any combination thereof (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such equity interests).

Core Assets” means any (i) MVF Assets, Siler City Assets or Durham Assets, in each case, excluding any immaterial ordinary course assets utilized in the applicable facility or campus or (ii) Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that directly or indirectly owns any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed that there is no limitation on any MVF Asset, Siler City Asset or Durham Asset moving to and from such locations.

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 333 Commerce Street, Suite 900, Nashville, Tennessee 37201, Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Wolfspeed, Inc., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor trustee (or such other address as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

Credit Facilities” means one or more credit agreements, indentures or debt facilities to which the Issuer and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries is party from time to time (including without limitation the First Lien Notes Indenture), in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, debt securities, bankers acceptances, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case as such agreements or facilities may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise

 

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modified from time to time, including any agreement exchanging, extending the maturity of, refinancing, renewing, replacing, substituting or otherwise restructuring, whether in the bank or debt capital markets (or combination thereof) (including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder or adding or removing Subsidiaries as borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or facility or any successor or replacement agreement or facility.

Default” means any event or condition that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default.

Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company or its successor.

Depositary Participant” means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.

Depositary Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer, exchange or other transaction involving a Global Note or any beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary applicable to such transfer, exchange or transaction.

Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction entered into pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(xviii), so long as (i) the economic terms of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, taken as a whole, are no less favorable to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries than the economic terms of the First Lien Notes Indenture, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer and (ii) the proceeds of such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, regardless of whether such arrangement is structured as a Capitalized Lease Obligation or an obligation under an operating lease, are used to prepay Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien and to pay reasonable and documented fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

Discharged Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that has been defeased (pursuant to a contractual or legal defeasance) or discharged pursuant to the prepayment or deposit of amounts sufficient to satisfy such Indebtedness as it becomes due or irrevocably called for redemption (and regardless of whether such Indebtedness constitutes a liability on the balance sheet of the obligor thereof); provided, however, that such Indebtedness shall be deemed Discharged Indebtedness if the payment or deposit of all amounts required for defeasance or discharge or redemption thereof have been made even if certain conditions thereto have not been satisfied, so long as such conditions are reasonably expected to be satisfied within 95 days after such prepayment or deposit; provided, further, however, that if the conditions referred to in the immediately preceding proviso are not satisfied within 95 days after such prepayment or deposit, such Indebtedness shall cease to constitute Discharged Indebtedness after such 95-day period.

Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any person and transaction, a member of the Board of Directors of such person who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

 

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Dispose” or “Disposed of” means to convey, sell, lease, sub-lease, license, sub-license, sell and leaseback, assign, farm-out, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property, business or asset, in one transaction or a series of transactions, including any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction and any sale or issuance of Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, and including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith. The term “Disposition” shall have a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any person, any Equity Interests of such person that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior redemption or repurchase in full of the Notes and payment in full of all other Note Obligations that are accrued and payable), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash or (d) at the option of the holder thereof, is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in each case of the preceding clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date (provided, that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock). Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) any Equity Interests issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (ii) any class of Equity Interests of such person that by its terms authorizes such person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

DOE Borrower” means any borrower of any DOE Financing.

DOE Financing” means any Indebtedness of any DOE Borrower owing to (x) the United States Department of Energy Loan Programs Office or (y) any financial institution acting as an administrator, facilitator, agent, trustee, servicer, conduit, instrumentality or similar capacity with respect to the United States Department of Energy Loans Programs Office.

DOE Parent Entity” means the Issuer or any other Subsidiary which is a direct or indirect parent company of any DOE Borrower.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) Wolfspeed Texas LLC and (b) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (unless the Issuer has elected to cause such Domestic Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor).

 

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Durham Assets” means any assets of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries (i) located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, Durham, North Carolina and (ii) located at, or used in, Durham, North Carolina from and after the Issue Date (it being understood and agreed that such assets in clauses (i) and (ii) shall at all times constitute “Durham Assets” even if subsequently removed from, or no longer used in, Durham, North Carolina).

EBITDA” means, for any period, in each case for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (other than amounts specifically excluded from Consolidated Net Income under clauses (A) through (C) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income): (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) all non-recurring expenses and charges which do not represent a cash item in such period, (v) expenses in connection with the issuance of stock options or other equity as compensation to employees and/or management of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (vi) costs and expenses, in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 in the aggregate during any four (4) fiscal quarter period, incurred in connection with any investment, acquisition, asset disposition, equity issuance or incurrence, payment, prepayment, refinancing or redemption of Indebtedness (including fees and expenses related to this Indenture and any amendments, supplements and modifications thereof), including the amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses (in each case, whether or not consummated) and (vii) all adjustments used in the calculation of non-GAAP net loss by the Issuer as reported in its filings with the SEC for the relevant period, minus (b) to the extent included in calculating Consolidated Net Income, (i) all non-recurring, non-cash items increasing net income for such period and (ii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (a)(iv) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were incurred plus (or minus) (c) non-cash losses (or gains) arising from the impact of mark-to-market valuation of the Note Parties’ Investment in Lextar Electronics Corporation; provided that (x) in no event shall any fees, costs or expenses of the type referred to as “Start-up and Underutilization Costs” in the Issuer’s filings with the SEC be added back in the calculation of EBITDA, (y) if any Disposition occurs during such period, any EBITDA attributable to the property, business or assets of such Disposition shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA and such Disposition shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the relevant Test Period and (z) if any acquisition or Investment occurs during such period, any EBITDA attributable to the property, business or assets so acquired or invested in shall be included in the calculation of EBITDA and such acquisition or Investment shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the relevant Test Period.

Equity Interests” of any person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity or ownership of such person, including any Preferred Stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest, and any securities or other rights or interests convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing; provided that Equity Interests shall not include any Convertible Notes, Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction.

 

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Escrowed Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) issued to refinance in full any Indebtedness, (ii) in a principal amount no greater than the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness to be so refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest thereon, underwriting discounts and fees, commissions and expenses related to such offering) and (iii) the proceeds of which are funded into an escrow account (pursuant to customary escrow arrangements) pending the release thereof for such refinancing; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, proceeds released from the escrow account and used to refinance the outstanding Indebtedness shall reduce dollar for dollar the amount of “Escrowed Indebtedness” permitted hereunder.

Excluded Account” means (a) any Deposit Account specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of the employees of any Note Party, (b) any tax account (including any sales tax account), (c) any fiduciary, pension, 401(k) or similar trust account holding employee funds, (d) any impound, escrow, trust, cash collateral (including any Deposit Account or Securities Account holding only cash collateral for letters of credit or Hedging Agreements secured by Liens permitted by clauses (AA) or (EE) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”) or similar account and (e) any Deposit Account and Securities Account that has cash or Permitted Investments that do not have a balance at any time exceeding $20,000,000 individually and $50,000,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts constituting Excluded Accounts; provided that no account held by any Note Party over which a Lien has been granted to secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture or the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be an Excluded Account.

Excluded Securities” means any of the following:

(A) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness with respect to which the Issuer reasonably determines in good faith that the cost or other consequences of pledging such Equity Interests or Indebtedness in favor of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents are excessive to the Issuer in relation to the value to be afforded to the Holders thereby;

(B) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Requirement of Law or would require governmental or other regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

(C) any Equity Interests of any person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the extent (i) that a pledge thereof to secure the Note Obligations is prohibited by any organizational documents, joint venture agreement or stockholder agreement of such Subsidiary with an unaffiliated third party without the consent of such third party; provided that this clause (i) shall not apply if (1) such other party is a Note Party or a Subsidiary of any Note Party or (2) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate the Issuer or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and shall only apply for so long as such organizational documents, joint venture agreement or stockholder agreement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, or (ii) a pledge thereof to secure the Note Obligations would give any other party (other than a Note Party or a Subsidiary of a Note Party) to any organizational document or stockholder agreement governing such Equity Interests the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (so long as, in each case of subclause (i) and (ii) of this clause (C), such provision prohibits the granting of a security interest over such Equity Interests generally (and not solely a pledge to secure the Note Obligations));

 

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(D) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Equity Interests could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(E) any Equity Interests that are set forth on Schedule 1.01(A); and

(F) any Margin Stock;

provided that no Equity Interest or Indebtedness held by any Note Party over which a Lien has been granted to secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture or the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be Excluded Securities.

Excluded Subsidiary” means any of the following (except as otherwise provided in clause (b) of the definition of Subsidiary Guarantor):

(A) each Immaterial Subsidiary;

(B) each Subsidiary that is prohibited from Guaranteeing the Note Obligations by a contractual obligation (to the extent such prohibition exists as of the Issue Date or at the time of the acquisition of such Subsidiary (or is a renewal or replacement thereof); provided that such contractual obligation was not entered into or created in contemplation of this Indenture and only for so long as such prohibition exists);

(C) each Subsidiary that is prohibited from Guaranteeing the Note Obligations by any Requirement of Law or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a Governmental Authority to Guarantee the Note Obligations (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received and is in effect);

(D) [reserved];

(E) [reserved];

(F) each not-for-profit Subsidiary or political action committee;

(G) each Subsidiary which is a foreign sales office, to the extent such Subsidiary does not own any material assets;

(H) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, the providing of a Guarantee of the Note Obligations could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer; and

 

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(I) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Issuer reasonably determines in good faith that the cost or other consequences of providing a Guarantee of the Note Obligations are excessive to the Issuer in relation to the value to be afforded to the Holders thereby.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any Note Document, in no event shall any Subsidiary that (x) is a borrower or guarantor of any DOE Financing, (y) owns any Material IP or (z) is a borrower, issuer or guarantor of any First Lien Notes, Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes or Second Lien Renesas Notes (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness), be an Excluded Subsidiary.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

First Lien Notes” means $1,259,210,128 aggregate principal amount of First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2030 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the First Lien Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the First Lien Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

First Lien Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the First Lien Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of First Lien Notes Indenture.

First Lien Notes Indenture” means, an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the trustee and the collateral agent, in relation to the First Lien Notes, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

First Lien Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for First Lien Notes, or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of First Lien Notes Indenture.

First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, made between, among others, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the First Lien Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Collateral Agent and the other parties named therein, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

First-Priority Debt Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

First-Priority Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

Flood Documentation” means, with respect to each Mortgaged Property located in the United States of America or any territory thereof, (i) a completed “life-of-loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination (to the extent a Mortgaged Property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (as defined below), together with a notice about Special Flood Hazard Area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Issuer and the applicable Note Party relating thereto) and (ii) a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, and a declaration page relating to, the insurance policies required by the applicable provisions of the Security Documents, each of which shall (A) be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a “standard” or “New York” lender’s loss payable or mortgagee endorsement (as applicable), (B) name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured and loss payee/mortgagee, (C) identify the address of each property located in an area within the United States identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area (each a “Special Flood Hazard Area”), the applicable flood zone designation and the flood insurance coverage and deductible relating thereto and (D) be otherwise in customary form and substance (as reasonably determined by the Issuer).

Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction” means, as of any date of determination, any jurisdiction in which a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor is formed or incorporated.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (unless the Issuer has elected to cause such Foreign Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor).

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America on the Issue Date, applied on a consistent basis, subject to the provisions of Section 1.03.

Global Note” means a Note that is represented by a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee, and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary.

Global Note Legend” means a legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B.

Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government, court, governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, department, commission, board, bureau, tribunal agency, other authority, instrumentality or regulatory or legislative body.

Gross Cash Proceeds” means the gross cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the applicable event; provided that, to constitute “Gross Cash Proceeds,” the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer from such applicable event may not be less than 95.00% of the gross cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the applicable event.

 

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Guarantee” of or by any person (the “guarantor”) means (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness or other obligation (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness or other obligation to be secured by such a Lien) of any other person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor; provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Issue Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition of assets permitted by this Indenture (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as reasonably determined by such person in good faith.

Hedging Agreement” means any agreement entered into with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction, or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value, or credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reserve repurchase transaction, securities lending transaction, weather index transaction, spot contracts, fixed price physical delivery contracts, or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, in each case of the foregoing, whether or not exchange traded; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.

Holder” means a person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that does not have (i) revenue, determined on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as of such date, in excess of 1% of the aggregate revenue of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period or (ii) total assets, determined on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, at any time, in excess of 1% of the Consolidated Total Assets; provided that (x) the aggregate amount of revenue of all Subsidiaries constituting

 

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Immaterial Subsidiaries, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, shall not exceed 5% of the aggregate revenue of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period and (y) the total assets of all Subsidiaries constituting Immaterial Subsidiaries shall not at any time exceed 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets; provided, further, that (A) the Issuer may elect in its sole discretion to exclude from classification as an Immaterial Subsidiary any Subsidiary that would otherwise meet the definition thereof and (B) for the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer may at any time designate any Subsidiary that complies with the terms of this definition as an “Immaterial Subsidiary”. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this definition, no Subsidiary shall be an Immaterial Subsidiary if such Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, owns any Core Asset or is a borrower or guarantor under any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) (it being understood and agreed that any such Subsidiary, if applicable, may otherwise be deemed an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with the definition thereof). Each Immaterial Subsidiary as of the Issue Date shall be set forth in Schedule 1.01(C).

Indebtedness” of any person means, if and to the extent (other than with respect to clause (i)) the same would constitute indebtedness or a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person, (d) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than such obligations accrued in the ordinary course), (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such person, (f) all net payments that such person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such person is being determined in respect of outstanding Hedging Agreements, (g) the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (h) the principal component of all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (i) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) to (h) above and (j) the amount of all obligations of such person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock); provided that Indebtedness shall not include (A) trade and other ordinary-course payables, accrued expenses, and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) prepaid or deferred revenue, (C) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase prices of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset, (D) earn-out obligations (to the extent permitted hereunder) until such obligations become a liability on the balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP, (E) obligations in respect of Third Party Funds incurred in the ordinary course of business, (F) in the case of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (G) completion guarantees or (H) any Permitted Warrant Transaction. The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness limits the liability of such person in respect thereof.

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

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Intellectual Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreements” means the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, collectively.

Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to a Note, each June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2025 (or commencing on such other date specified in the certificate representing such Note). For the avoidance of doubt, the Maturity Date is an Interest Payment Date.

Interest Period” means the applicable period commencing on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending on and including the day immediately preceding the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (or, with respect to the last Interest Period prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes, the day immediately preceding the Stated Maturity of the Notes), with the exception that the first Interest Period shall commence on and include the Issue Date and end on and include the day immediately preceding the first scheduled Interest Payment Date.

Investment” means (i) the purchase or acquisition (including pursuant to any merger with a person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger) of any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any other person, (ii) the making of any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the Indebtedness of any other person (other than in respect of intercompany liabilities incurred in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries) or (iii) the purchase or acquisition, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of (x) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another person or (y) assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such person.

If the Issuer or any Subsidiary sells or otherwise Disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or Disposition, such person is no longer a Subsidiary, the Issuer will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or Disposition equal to the fair market value of the Issuer’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or Disposed of. The acquisition by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of a person that holds an Investment in a third person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Issuer or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Issue Date” means September 29, 2025.

Issuer” means the Person named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture and, subject to Article 6, its successors and assigns.

Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by one (1) of its Officers and delivered to the Trustee.

 

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Junior Financing” means (i) any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is subordinated in right of payment to the Note Obligations (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or (ii) any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is either unsecured or secured by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(xii) constitute Junior Financing.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, security interest or similar monetary encumbrance in or on such asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided that in no event shall an operating lease or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Transaction” means any Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Equity Interests, Indebtedness or otherwise) the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

Majority Holders” means, at any applicable time and subject to Section 2.16 and Section 2.18, Holders owning more than 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect on the business, property, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operating results or financial condition of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, excluding in any event the effect of filing the Chapter 11 Cases, the events and conditions leading up to and customarily resulting from the commencement and continuation of the Chapter 11 Cases, the effects thereof and any action required to be taken under the Chapter 11 Cases or the Bankruptcy Plan themselves, (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform any of their payment obligations under any Note Document to which the Issuer or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors is a party or (c) a material adverse effect on the validity or enforceability of any of the Note Documents or the rights and remedies of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or the Holders thereunder.

Material IP” means any intellectual property (including any trade secrets) of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (and excluding commercial off the shelf products) that is material to any Product Family of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that Material IP does not include (i) the intellectual property subject to the Specified IP Disposition or (ii) any other expiring intellectual property that the Issuer determines is no longer material to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

 

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Material Real Property” means any parcel or parcels of Real Property now or hereafter owned in fee by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor and having a fair market value (on a per-property basis) of at least $5,000,000, as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith on the Issue Date (or, if acquired after the Issue Date, the date of acquisition); provided that “Material Real Property” shall not include (i) any Real Property in respect of which the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor does not own the land in fee simple or (ii) any Real Property which the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor leases to a third party.

Maturity Date” means June 15, 2031.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and any successor to the ratings business thereof.

Mortgaged Properties” means each Material Real Property encumbered by a Mortgage pursuant to Section 3.21.

Mortgages” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents (including amendments to any of the foregoing) delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties, each, (i) in the case of Material Real Property located in the United States, in a form customary for financing transactions similar to this Indenture and reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer or (ii) in the case of Material Real Property located outside of the United States in such form as is customary for the applicable jurisdiction and reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

MVF” means the Mohawk Valley Fab facility and campus in Marcy, New York.

MVF Assets” means (i) any assets of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, MVF and (ii) any additional assets located at, or used in, MVF from and after the Issue Date (it being understood and agreed that such assets in clauses (i) and (ii) shall at all times constitute “MVF Assets” even if subsequently removed from, or no longer used in, MVF).

Net Income” means, with respect to any person, the net income (loss) of such person, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Net Proceeds” means 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but only as and when received) from any Disposition of, or Casualty Event with respect to, (x) any Core Asset (other than any Disposition under clause (A) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions”), (y) any Non-Core Assets pursuant to clause (G) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions” or (z) any assets or property pursuant to clause (B)(i) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions”, in each case, net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required

 

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debt payments and required payments of other obligations that are secured by the applicable asset or property (including without limitation principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts) (other than pursuant to the Note Documents), other expenses and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) [reserved], (iii) Taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (provided, that if the amount of any such estimated Taxes exceeds the amount of Taxes actually required to be paid in respect of such Disposition or Casualty Event, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Proceeds at the time such Taxes are actually paid) and (iv) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (iii) above) (A) related to any of the applicable assets and (B) retained by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event occurring on the date of such reduction); provided, that, with respect to any Net Proceeds arising from any Casualty Event with respect to any Core Assets, if no Default or Event of Default exists and the Issuer intends to use such proceeds within 12 months of such receipt to acquire assets that reasonably replace or remediate the property or assets subject to such Casualty Event to a similar level of such property or assets as prior to such Casualty Event, such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not, within 12 months of such receipt, so used (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 12 month period, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such expiry without giving effect to this proviso).

Non-Core Assets” means any assets owned by the Issuer or any Subsidiary that do not constitute Core Assets.

Note Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

Note Documents” means (i) this Indenture, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Security Documents, (iv) any Intercreditor Agreement and (v) all other fee letters, documents, certificates, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by or on behalf of a Note Party for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee, the Holders or any other person in connection herewith.

Note Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Issuer of (i) the unpaid principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Notes issued by the Issuer under this Indenture, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for redemption or otherwise and (ii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer owed under or pursuant to this Indenture and each other Note Document, including obligations to pay fees, expense reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), and (b) the due and punctual payment of all obligations of each other Note Party under or pursuant to each of the Note Documents.

 

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Note Parties” means, collectively, the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor and each of them is an “Note Party”.

Notes” means (i) the Initial Notes, (ii) following the issuance of any Additional Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, such Additional Notes and (iii) the PIK Notes, treated as a single class. For the avoidance of doubt, Initial Notes, Additional Notes and PIK Notes shall vote together on all matters as one class, and except as where expressly provided otherwise, shall be deemed to constitute a single class or series for all purposes under this Indenture.

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Group Treasurer, any Treasury Director, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of the Issuer.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate that is signed on behalf of the Issuer by one (1) of its Officers and that meets the requirements of Section 13.03.

Open of Business” means 9:00 a.m., New York City time.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion, from legal counsel (including an employee of, or counsel to, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, and, when applicable, the Collateral Agent, that meets the requirements of Section 13.03, subject to customary qualifications and exclusions.

Parallel Debt Creditor” means the Collateral Agent in its capacity as creditor of the Parallel Debt.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, made between, among others, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Collateral Agent and the other parties named therein, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Issuer’s common stock purchased by the Issuer in connection with the issuance of any Convertible Notes; provided that the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction, does not exceed the net proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of such Convertible Notes issued in connection with the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

Permitted Disqualified Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer that constitutes Disqualified Stock solely due to clause (c) of the definition thereof; provided that (i) such Preferred Stock has been broadly marketed to potential investors and (ii) such Preferred Stock does not provide for scheduled payments of dividends in cash in an amount in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination).

 

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Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap” means an amount equal to the sum of (a) on or prior to June 22, 2026, 4.00% per annum and thereafter, 0.00% per annum plus (b) 300 basis points per annum.

Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(A) any Investment in a Person if, as a result of such Investment, (i) such Person becomes a Note Party, or (ii) such Person (other than the Issuer except as permitted under Section 6.01) either (a) is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into a Note Party and a Note Party is the surviving Person, or (b) transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, a Note Party;

(B) (i) Investments by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; (ii) intercompany loans from the Issuer or any Subsidiary to the Issuer or any Subsidiary; and (iii) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations permitted pursuant to Section 3.12 (except to the extent such Guarantee is expressly subject to Section 3.15); provided that (x) the aggregate amount of Investments made pursuant to this clause (B) by Note Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties and Guarantees made pursuant to this clause (B) by any Note Party of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party in any fiscal year shall not exceed the greater of (x) $12,500,000 and (y) 6.25% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended and (y) any Investment by any Note Party in any Subsidiary in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents shall only be permitted to the extent such Investment was made in reliance on the foregoing clause (x) of this proviso;

(C) any Investments in Cash Equivalents;

(D) Investments arising out of the receipt by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of non-cash consideration for the Disposition of assets permitted under Section 3.16 (other than clause (C) of the definition of “Asset Disposition”);

(E) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (i) in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate outstanding amount (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) not to exceed the greater of (x) $6,000,000 and (y) 3.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended, (ii) in respect of payroll payments and expenses in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice and (iii) in connection with such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer solely to the extent that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Issuer in cash as common equity;

(F) accounts receivable, security deposits and prepayments arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices and any assets or securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and any prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business;

(G) Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(H) Investments existing on, or contractually committed as of, or contemplated as of, the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(D) and any extensions, renewals, replacements or reinvestments thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this clause (H) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing, committed or contemplated on the Issue Date;

(I) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits under clauses (F), (G), (N), (O), (R), (S), (U), (AA), (BB), (EE) and (LL) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(J) Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice by Note Parties into Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties on a transfer pricing basis to fund expenses of such Subsidiaries;

(K) [Reserved];

(L) any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction, to the extent constituting Investments;

(M) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices or Investments acquired by the Issuer or a Subsidiary as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(N) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of a person merged into the Issuer or merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary after the Issue Date, in each case, to the extent that such Investments of the acquired Subsidiary were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(O) other Investments in an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (x) $62,500,000 and (y) 31.25% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that no Investments may be made pursuant to this clause (O) in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, unless such Investment constitutes the acquisition of additional Equity Interests in such non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

(P) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(Q) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with (or that are received in exchange for) Equity Interests of the Issuer or the cash proceeds of Equity Interests of the Issuer;

(R) [Reserved];

 

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(S) Investments consisting of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 3.15 (and without duplication of any baskets thereunder);

(T) Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

(U) [Reserved];

(V) [Reserved];

(W) advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of the Issuer or such Subsidiary; and

(X) to the extent constituting Investments, (i) purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or non-exclusive licenses or leases of Intellectual Property in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice and not constituting all or substantially all of the assets of another person and (ii) development and expansion Capital Expenditures (which shall exclude, for the avoidance of doubt, any acquisition of Equity Interests of any person).

Permitted Liens” means:

(A) Liens on property or assets of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(E) and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that such Liens shall secure only those obligations that they secure on the Issue Date (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such obligations permitted by Section 3.12(B)(i)) and shall not subsequently apply to any other property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (B) proceeds and products thereof;

(B) any Lien created under the Note Documents or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property by the terms of the applicable Mortgage filed in connection with the Note Documents;

(C) [Reserved];

(D) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(E) Liens imposed by law, such as landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, supplier’s, construction or other like Liens, securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, the Issuer or any Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP or with respect to which the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(F) (i) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations, (ii) Liens pursuant to Section 8a of the German Partial Retirement Act (Altersteilzeitgesetz) or Section 7d of the German Social Law Act No. 4 (Sozialgesetzbuch IV) and (iii) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(G) deposits and other Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, completion guarantees, bids, leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(H) zoning and other land use restrictions, easements, survey exceptions, servitudes, trackage rights, leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), subleases, licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, reservations of rights, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of Real Property or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its Real Property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar non-monetary encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and title defects or irregularities that are of a minor nature and that, in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(I) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(ix); provided that such Liens (i) only apply to assets permitted under Section 3.12(B)(ix) and (ii) do not apply to any property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than (A) the property or assets acquired, leased, constructed, replaced, repaired or improved with such Indebtedness, (B) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (C) proceeds and products thereof; provided, further, that individual financings provided by one lender (and its Affiliates) may be cross-collateralized to other financings provided by such lender (and its Affiliates);

(J) (i) first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets securing DOE Financing permitted under Section 3.12(B)(xii)(x) and (ii) first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets representing a federal interest and security interest in favor of the United States Department of Commerce, the CHIPS Program Office or any other Governmental Authority of the United States securing obligations permitted under Section 3.12(B)(xii)(y), so long as, in each case, the Note Obligations are secured on a third-priority basis on such assets and such Indebtedness or other obligations is subject to an Intercreditor Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt the parties agree that if first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets were granted pursuant to either of the foregoing clauses, the Lien securing the First-Priority Obligations would be permitted to be secured on a second-priority basis as it relates to the Siler City Assets);

 

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(K) Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(A)(x);

(L) Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Issue Date and pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, Section 3.21 or Section 3.22 and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien; provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (B) proceeds and products thereof; provided, further, that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Indenture;

(M) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under any leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(N) Liens in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice that are contractual rights of set-off and/or pledges of cash collateral (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks and other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposits, sweep accounts, reserve accounts or similar accounts of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, including with respect to credit card charge-backs and similar obligations, (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers, suppliers or service providers of the Issuer or any Subsidiary or (iv) relating to any other Cash Management Agreement permitted by this Indenture;

(O) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice (i) arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision or customary standard terms relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts, (iii) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred and not for speculative purposes, (iv) in respect of Third Party Funds or (v) in favor of credit card companies pursuant to agreements therewith;

(P) Liens securing obligations in respect of trade-related letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations permitted under Section 3.12(B)(vi) or (xv) and covering the property (or the documents of title in respect of such property) financed by such letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations and the proceeds and products thereof;

(Q) leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to Intellectual Property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

 

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(R) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of applicable law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(S) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in respect of any Investment permitted to be made hereunder;

(T) Liens with respect to property or assets of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party securing obligations of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party permitted under Section 3.12;

(U) Liens on any amounts held by a trustee or agent under any indenture or other debt agreement issued in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the release thereof, or under any indenture or other debt agreement pursuant to customary discharge, redemption or defeasance provisions to the extent the relevant Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred and discharged, redeemed or defeased, as applicable, hereunder;

(V) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(W) (i) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii) (other than Indebtedness in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction); provided that such Liens under this clause (i) shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement; and (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided that such Liens under this clause (ii) are limited to the assets or property that is the subject of with such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(X) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix); provided that such Liens shall be pari passu to the Liens securing the Note Obligations or junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and in each case shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements;

(Y) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (and similar instruments under the laws of any other jurisdiction) regarding operating leases or other obligations not constituting Indebtedness;

(Z) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Cash Equivalents under clause (C) of the definition thereof;

(AA) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents securing letters of credit permitted by Section 3.12(B)(xv) or (xvi); provided that such cash and Cash Equivalents do not exceed 105% of the stated face amount of such letters of credit secured thereby;

(BB) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(CC) in the case of Real Property that constitutes a leasehold interest, any Lien to which the fee simple interest (or any superior leasehold interest) is subject;

 

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(DD) [Reserved];

(EE) Liens on deposits securing Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not more than the greater of (x) $240,000,000 and (y) 120.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

(FF) Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit, bank guarantee or bankers’ acceptance issued or created for the account of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices; provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Issuer or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit, bank guarantee or banker’s acceptance to the extent permitted under Section 3.12;

(GG) [Reserved];

(HH) Liens securing Guarantees permitted to be secured by Section 3.12(B)(xiii); provided that any such Liens on any Collateral shall be pari passu with or expressly junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and such Liens shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements;

(II) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business;

(JJ) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(KK) customary payment in lieu of tax arrangements and other similar structures customary in the applicable jurisdiction in which assets or properties are located;

(LL) other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary securing obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of the obligations secured by such Liens, would not exceed the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that any such Liens on any Collateral shall be pari passu with or expressly junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement;

(MM) Liens pursuant to Section 1136 (alone or in conjunction with 1192(1)) of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch); and

(NN) Liens required to be granted under mandatory law in favor of creditors as a consequence of a merger or conversion permitted under the Indenture due to §§ 22, 204 German Transformation Act (Umwandlungsgesetz—UmwG).

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “Refinance” or “Refinancing”), the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided that (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the sum of (i) the principal amount of the Indebtedness so Refinanced, (ii) plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs and fees, commissions and expenses) (any amounts under the subclause (ii), the “Incremental Refinancing Amounts”), (b) the final maturity date of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is after the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (excluding customary amortization) is greater than or equal to the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (c) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment and/or in lien priority to the Note Obligations under this Indenture, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment and/or in lien priority, as applicable, to such Note Obligations on terms not materially less favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced (it being understood that secured Indebtedness may be Refinanced with unsecured Indebtedness), (d) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have obligors that are not (or would not have been) obligated with respect to the Indebtedness being so Refinanced as of the Issue Date (provided that any Note Party may be an obligor for the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of any other Note Party to the extent otherwise permitted under this Indenture), (e)(i) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any Indebtedness if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is unsecured Indebtedness as of the Issue Date, (ii) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any collateral that did not secure the Indebtedness being Refinanced as of the Issue Date and (iii) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may have a higher payment or Lien priority than the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (f) the other terms of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (other than interest rates, fees, floors, funding discounts and redemption or prepayment premiums and other pricing terms) are substantially similar to, or not more restrictive to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries than, the terms applicable to the Notes (except for (1) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date or (2) those that are otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Issuer (or, if more restrictive, the Note Documents are amended, prior to or concurrently with such Refinancing, to contain such more restrictive terms to the extent required to satisfy the foregoing standard)); provided, however, this clause (f) shall not apply to any First-Priority Obligations (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof) and (g) at the time of such Refinancing, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing. Subject to the foregoing conditions, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may also be incurred in respect of any Indebtedness that constitutes Discharged Indebtedness. For the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness that directly or indirectly Refinances (including any previous refinancings) Indebtedness incurred under a fixed dollar basket shall be deemed to utilize capacity under such original fixed dollar basket (other than with respect to Incremental Refinancing Amounts).

Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion” means 300 basis points per annum.

Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap” means (i) with respect to Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(ii), an amount equal to the sum of (a) 12.00% per annum plus (b) the Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion and (ii) with respect to any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix), the Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion.

 

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Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Issuer’s common stock sold by the Issuer substantially concurrently with any purchase by the Issuer of a related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

Person” or “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof. Any division or series of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust will constitute a separate “person” under this Indenture.

Physical Note” means a Note (other than a Global Note) that is represented by a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, registered in the name of the Holder of such Note and duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee.

PIK Interest” means interest payable on the Notes by increasing the aggregate principal amount of an outstanding Global Note or issuing PIK Notes under this Indenture having the same terms as the Initial Notes, subject to the terms of this Indenture and the Notes.

PIK Payment” means any payment of PIK Interest on any Interest Payment Date for the Interest Period ending on and including the day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Product Family” means (a) each product family (as referred to in the Issuer’s most recent Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filings prior to the Issue Date or in any of the Issuer’s Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filings after the Issue Date) and (b) shall also include (i) within the “materials” product family, each of (x) the bare wafers and (y) the epitaxial wafers, lines of business and (ii) within the “power devices” product family, each of (w) dies, (x) the Schottky diodes, (y) the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and (z) the power modules, lines of business.

Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest other than Disqualified Stock.

Qualified Successor Entity” means, with respect to a Business Combination Event, a corporation; provided, however, that a limited liability company, limited partnership or other similar entity shall also constitute a Qualified Successor Entity with respect to such Business Combination Event if either (x) such limited liability company, limited partnership or other similar entity, as applicable, is treated as a corporation or is a direct or indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of, and disregarded as an entity separate from, a corporation, in each case for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (y) the Issuer has received an opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel to the effect that such Business Combination Event will not be treated as an exchange under Section 1001 of the Code, for Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes.

Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee or leased by any Note Party, whether by lease, license, or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

 

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Redemption Date” means the date fixed, pursuant to Section 4.03(E), for the settlement of the redemption of any Notes by the Issuer pursuant to a Redemption.

Redemption Notice Date” means the date on which the Issuer sends the Redemption Notice for a Redemption pursuant to Section 4.03(G).

Redemption Price” means the cash price determined and payable by the Issuer to redeem any Note upon its Redemption, calculated pursuant to Section 4.03(F).

Refinance” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness,” and “Refinanced” shall have a meaning correlative thereto.

Regular Record Date” has the following meaning with respect to an Interest Payment Date: (A) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on June 15, the immediately preceding June 1; (B) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on December 15, the immediately preceding December 1; and (C) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on the Maturity Date, the date falling 15 calendar days prior to the Maturity Date.

Renesas” means Renesas Electronics Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Renesas Warrants” means those certain warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock issued to Renesas Electronics America Inc. by the Issuer on the Issue Date.

Repurchase Upon Change of Control” means the repurchase of any Note by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.02.

Requirement of Law” means, as to any person, any law, treaty, rule, regulation, statute, order, ordinance, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such person or any of its property or assets or to which such person or any of its property or assets is subject.

Responsible Officer” means (A) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee); and (B) with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of, and familiarity with, the particular subject, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereto), as the same may be amended from time to time.

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereto), as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

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S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, and any successor to the ratings business thereof.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes” means $331,375,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture” means an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Trustee, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Renesas Notes” means $203,599,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

Second Lien Renesas Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the Second Lien Renesas Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture” means an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Renesas Notes Trustee, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Second Lien Renesas Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for Second Lien Renesas Notes or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture.

Second-Priority Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor), each Holder and each Subagent appointed pursuant to Section 11.02 by the Trustee with respect to matters relating to the Note Documents or by the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor) with respect to matters relating to any Security Document.

Securities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Uniform Commercial Code.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Security Documents” means the Mortgages, the Collateral Agreement, each foreign collateral agreement, each Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), each Account Control Agreement and each of the security agreements, pledge agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered at any time pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 3.21.

Significant Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person that constitutes a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) of such Person; provided, however, that, if a Subsidiary meets the criteria of clause (1)(iii), but not clause (1)(i) or (1)(ii), of the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Rule 1-02(w) (or, if applicable, the respective successor clauses to the aforementioned clauses), then such Subsidiary will be deemed not to be a Significant Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary’s income from continuing operations before income taxes, exclusive of amounts attributable to any non-controlling interests, for the last completed fiscal year before the date of determination exceeds $20,000,000.

Siler City Assets” means (i) any tangible personal or real property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, the Siler City Facility and (ii) any tangible personal or real property purchased after the Issue Date and located at, or used in, the Siler City Facility from and after the Issue Date which did not fall into any other definition under this Indenture prior to such movement or use; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Siler City Assets shall not include any intangible assets or property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.

Siler City Facility” means the materials facility and campus in Siler City, North Carolina.

Special Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 7.03, as applicable.

Specified Indebtedness” means Indebtedness incurred pursuant to, Section 3.12(B)(ix), Section 3.12(B)(xii) and/or Section 3.12(B)(xxix) or that is secured by a Lien incurred pursuant to paragraph (LL) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Specified IP Disposition” means the Disposition of (whether in a single transaction or multiple transactions) of the assets and property described in item 1 of Schedule 1.01(B).

Stated Interest” means (a) with respect to interest payable in cash, the Cash Interest Rate and (b) with respect to interest payable in the form of PIK Notes, the PIK Interest Rate.

 

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Stated Maturity” means, (1) with respect to any Indebtedness, the date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which the final installment of principal of such Indebtedness is due and payable as set forth in the documentation governing such Indebtedness and (2) with respect to any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, the date specified as the fixed date on which such installment is due and payable as set forth in the documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (A) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, but after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees, as applicable, of such corporation, association or other business entity is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person; and (B) any partnership or limited liability company where (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the capital accounts, distribution rights, equity and voting interests, or of the general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, of such partnership or limited liability company are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or limited liability company interests or otherwise or (ii) such Person or any one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person is a controlling general partner of, or otherwise controls, such partnership or limited liability company. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Subsidiaries herein shall be a reference to Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

Subsidiary Guarantee” means the joint and several guarantee pursuant to Article 12 by a Subsidiary Guarantor of its Guaranteed Obligations.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and (b) any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that may be designated by the Issuer (by way of delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly executed by such Subsidiary) in its sole discretion from time to time to be a guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, whereupon such Subsidiary shall be obligated to comply with the other requirements of Section 3.21(A)(iv) as if it were newly acquired.

Supermajority Holders” means, at any applicable time and subject to Section 2.16 and Section 2.18, Holders owning more than 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

Taxes” means any and all present or future federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes, duties, levies, imposts, charge assessments, deductions, withholdings or other similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or other basis and any interest, fines, penalties or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

Termination Date” means the date on which the principal of and interest on each Note, all Note Obligations, all fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Note Document shall have been paid in full (other than in respect of contingent indemnification and expense reimbursement claims not then due).

 

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Test Period” means, on any date of determination, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer then most recently ended (taken as one accounting period) for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 3.03; provided that prior to the first date financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 3.03, the Test Period in effect shall be the four fiscal quarter period ended June 30, 2025.

Third Party Funds” means any accounts or funds, or any portion thereof, received by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries as agent on behalf of third parties in accordance with a written agreement that imposes a duty upon the Issuer or one or more of its Subsidiaries to collect and remit those funds to such third parties.

Transactions” means, collectively, the transactions to occur pursuant to the Note Documents, including (a) the execution, delivery and performance of the Note Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents, and the issuance of the Notes hereunder and (b) the payment of all fees and expenses to be paid and owing in connection with the foregoing.

Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Trustee” means the Person named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, means such successor.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any person means a subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such person. Unless the context otherwise requires, “Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer.

 

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Section 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS.

 

Term    Defined in
Section

“Additional Intercreditor Agreement”

   14.02(A)

“Additional Notes”

   2.03(B)

“Agent”

   11.02(A)

“AHYDO Redemption Date”

   4.04

“Applicable Terrorism Law”

   13.11

“Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date”

   3.16(E)

“Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date”

   3.16(D)

“Asset Sale Prepayment Date”

   3.16(B)

“Business Combination Event”

   6.01(B)

“Cash Interest Rate”

   2.22(A)

“Change of Control Notice”

   4.02(E)

“Change of Control Repurchase Right”

   4.02(A)

“Corresponding Debt”

   11.09(B)

“Default Interest”

   2.05(B)

“Defaulted Amount”

   2.05(B)

“Event of Default”

   7.01(A)

“Excess Proceeds”

   3.16(C)

“Excluded Property”

   3.21(A)(vii)

“Executed Documentation”

   13.01

“Foreign Collateral”

   11.01(R)

“Guaranteed Obligations”

   12.01(A)(ii)

“Guarantor Business Combination Event”

   6.01(B)

“Indemnified Parties”

   10.06(B)

“Initial Notes”

   2.03(A)

“Issuer Business Combination Event”

   6.01(A)

“LCT Election”

   1.05

“LCT Test Date”

   1.05

“Legal Defeasance Option”

   9.01(B)

“Mandatory Principal Redemption”

   4.04

“Parallel Debt”

   11.09(B)

“Paying Agent”

   2.06(A)

“PIK Interest Rate”

   2.22(A)

“PIK Notes”

   2.22(A)

“Redemption”

   4.03(B)

“Redemption Notice”

   4.03(G)

“Register”

   2.06(B)

 

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Term    Defined in
Section

“Registrar”

   2.06(A)

“Restricted Payments”

   3.15(A)

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction”

   3.14

“Security Document Order”

   11.01(K)

“Specified Courts”

   13.07

“Subagent”

   11.02(A)

“Successor Entity”

   6.01(A)(i)

“Successor Guarantor”

   6.01(B)(i)

Section 1.03. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

For purposes of this Indenture:

(A) “or” is not exclusive and “includes”, “include” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”;

(B) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference in this Indenture or any other Note Document or other agreement or document shall mean such agreement as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

(C) “will” expresses a command;

(D) the “average” of a set of numerical values refers to the arithmetic average of such numerical values;

(E) a merger involving, or a transfer of assets by, a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust will be deemed to include any division of or by, or an allocation of assets to a series of, such limited liability company, limited partnership or trust, or any unwinding of any such division or allocation;

(F) words in the singular include the plural and in the plural include the singular, unless the context requires otherwise;

(G) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture, unless the context requires otherwise;

(H) references to currency mean the lawful currency of the United States of America, unless the context requires otherwise;

(I) the exhibits, schedules and other attachments to this Indenture are deemed to form part of this Indenture;

 

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(J) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, solely for purposes of determining whether any notice, direction, action to be taken or consent to be given under this Indenture or the other Note Documents is authorized, provided or given (as the case may be) by Holders of a sufficient aggregate principal amount of Notes, a beneficial owner of an interest in a Note shall be treated as a Holder, and the Trustee shall be permitted to rely in good faith on customary certificates of such beneficial ownership as evidence of holdings of Notes, which may be in the form of “screenshots” or other reasonable or customary electronic or other evidence of such beneficial owner’s position (and shall not require the provision of DTC proxies, medallion-stamped guarantees or other similar evidence) in connection with any determination with respect to the Holders of Notes giving any notice, direction, action to be taken or consent;

(K) the term “interest,” when used with respect to a Note, includes any Default Interest and Special Interest, unless the context requires otherwise;

(L) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference herein to any Requirement of Law means such Requirement of Law as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time;

(M) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis with that used in preparing the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended 2025, as in effect on the Issue Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant contained herein, Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded; and

(N) references to “principal amount” of the Notes includes any increase in the principal amount of outstanding Global Notes and any PIK Notes issued as a result of a PIK Payment.

Section 1.04. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Trust Indenture Act to be part of and govern this Indenture, the Trust Indenture Act provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the Trust Indenture Act provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

(A) “Commission” means the SEC;

(B) “default” means Event of Default;

(C) “indenture securities” means the Notes;

(D) “indenture security holder” means a Holder;

(E) “indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

 

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(F) “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

(G) “obligor” on the indenture securities means each Note Party and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

Section 1.05. LIMITED CONDITION TRANSACTIONS.

When calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture or compliance with any provision of this Indenture in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments), and determining compliance with Defaults and Events of Default, in each case, at the option of the Issuer (the Issuer’s election to exercise such option, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination for availability under any such basket or ratio and whether any such action or transaction is permitted (or any requirement or condition therefor is complied with or satisfied (including, without limitation, as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default)) under this Indenture shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (or, if applicable, the date of delivery of an irrevocable notice or similar event) (the “LCT Test Date”), and if, after giving effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries would have been permitted to take such actions or consummate such transactions on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions), such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions) shall be deemed to have been complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes under the indenture (in the case of Indebtedness, for example, whether such Indebtedness is committed, issued or otherwise incurred at the LCT Test Date or at any time thereafter); provided that compliance with such ratios, tests or baskets (and any related requirements and conditions) shall not be determined or tested at any time after the applicable LCT Test Date for such Limited Condition Transaction or any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments).

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer has made an LCT Election, (1) if any of the ratios, tests or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date have been exceeded or otherwise failed to have been complied with as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, test or basket, including due to fluctuations in EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets of the Issuer or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, such baskets, tests or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been complied with as a result of such fluctuations; (2) if any related requirements

 

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and conditions (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default) for which compliance or satisfaction was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date not have been complied with or satisfied (including due to the occurrence or continuation of a Default or Event of Default), such requirements and conditions will not be deemed to have been failed to be complied with or satisfied (and such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed not to have occurred or be continuing); and (3) in calculating the availability under any ratio, test or basket in connection with any action or transaction unrelated to such Limited Condition Transaction following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement or date for redemption, purchase or repayment specified in an irrevocable notice for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated, expires or passes, as applicable, without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio, test or basket shall be determined or tested giving pro forma effect to such Limited Condition Transaction.

Article 2. THE NOTES

Section 2.01. FORM, DATING AND DENOMINATIONS.

The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A. Any Additional Notes and PIK Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A. The Notes will bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09 and may bear notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage or the Depositary. Each Note will be dated as of the date of its authentication.

Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Issuer Order delivered to the Trustee in connection with the issuance and authentication thereof, the Notes will be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes. Physical Notes may be exchanged for Global Notes, and Global Notes may be exchanged for Physical Notes, only as provided in Section 2.10.

The Notes will be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and only in Authorized Denominations.

Each certificate representing a Note will bear a unique registration number that is not affixed to any other certificate representing another outstanding Note.

The terms contained in the Notes constitute part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Issuer and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, agree to such terms and to be bound thereby; provided, however, that, to the extent that any provision of any Note conflicts with the provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture will control for purposes of this Indenture and such Note.

Section 2.02. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY.

(A) Due Execution by the Issuer. At least one (1) duly authorized Officer will sign the Notes on behalf of the Issuer by manual, electronically (including “.pdf” or DocuSign or other electronic signature platform) or facsimile signature. A Note’s validity will not be affected by the failure of any Officer whose signature is on any Note to hold, at the time such Note is authenticated, the same or any other office at the Issuer.

 

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(B) Authentication by the Trustee and Delivery.

(i) No Note will be valid until it is authenticated by the Trustee. A Note will be deemed to be duly authenticated only when an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication of such Note.

(ii) The Trustee will cause an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) to manually sign the certificate of authentication of a Note only if (1) the Issuer delivers such Note to the Trustee; (2) such Note is executed by the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.02(A); and (3) the Issuer delivers a Issuer Order to the Trustee that (a) requests the Trustee to authenticate such Note; and (b) sets forth the name of the Holder of such Note and the date as of which such Note is to be authenticated. If such Issuer Order also requests the Trustee to deliver such Physical Note to any Holder, then the Trustee will promptly electronically deliver such Note in accordance with such Issuer Order.

(iii) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. A duly appointed authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so under this Indenture, and a Note authenticated as provided in this Indenture by such an agent will be deemed, for purposes of this Indenture, to be authenticated by the Trustee. Each duly appointed authenticating agent will have the same rights to deal with the Issuer as the Trustee would have if it were performing the duties that the authentication agent was validly appointed to undertake.

Section 2.03. INITIAL NOTES, ADDITIONAL NOTES AND PIK NOTES

(A) Initial Notes. On the Issue Date, there will be originally issued (i) $296,401,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, subject to the provisions of this Indenture (including Section 2.02). Notes issued pursuant to this Section 2.03(A), and any Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof, are referred to in this Indenture as the “Initial Notes.”

(B) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture and only so long as permitted by the terms of this Indenture, the Issuer may deliver (i) additional notes (the “Additional Notes”) executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication or (ii) the PIK Notes executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officer’s Certificate for the authentication and delivery of such Additional Notes and PIK Notes, as the case may be, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order of the Issuer shall authenticate and deliver such Additional Notes and PIK Notes, as the case may be. The Additional Notes shall have the same terms and conditions as the Initial Notes and PIK Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.03(A) (including the benefit of the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Collateral) in all respects except for the issue date, the issue price, the date of the first payment of interest, and, if applicable, restrictions on transfer in respect of such Additional Notes, and upon issuance, the Additional Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single class

 

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with the previously outstanding Notes and vote together as one class on all matters with respect to the Notes; provided that if the Additional Notes and any Notes that are resold after such Notes have been purchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries are not fungible with the Initial Notes and any PIK Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will be assigned a separate CUSIP and ISIN number or no CUSIP number.

(C) For the avoidance of doubt, unless represented by PIK Notes, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under any Note (as reflected in the Register) shall include any increase in the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Notes as a result of any PIK Payments.

Section 2.04. METHOD OF PAYMENT.

(A) Global Notes. The Issuer will pay, or cause the Paying Agent to pay, the principal (whether due upon maturity on the Maturity Date, Redemption on a Redemption Date or repurchase on a Change of Control Repurchase Date or otherwise) of, cash and interest on any Global Note to the Depositary by wire transfer of immediately available funds no later than the time the same is due as provided in this Indenture.

(B) Physical Notes. The Issuer will pay, or cause the Paying Agent to pay, the principal (whether due upon maturity on the Maturity Date, Redemption on a Redemption Date or repurchase on a Change of Control Repurchase Date or otherwise) of, cash and interest on any Physical Note no later than the time the same is due as provided in this Indenture by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of the Holder, as specified by the Holder.

Section 2.05. ACCRUAL OF INTEREST; DEFAULTED AMOUNTS; WHEN PAYMENT DATE IS NOT A BUSINESS DAY.

(A) Accrual of Interest. Each Note will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the Stated Interest, plus any Special Interest that may accrue pursuant to Section 7.03. Stated Interest on each Note will (i) accrue from, and including, the most recent date to which Stated Interest has been paid or duly provided for (or, if no Stated Interest has theretofore been paid or duly provided for, the date set forth in the certificate representing such Note as the date from, and including, which Stated Interest will begin to accrue in such circumstance) to, but excluding, the date of payment of such Stated Interest; and (ii) be, subject to Sections 4.02(D) and 4.03(F)(but without duplication of any payment of interest), payable semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning on the first Interest Payment Date set forth in the certificate representing such Note, to the Holder of such Note as of the close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date. Stated Interest, and, if applicable, Special Interest, on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

(B) Defaulted Amounts. If the Issuer fails to pay any cash amount (a “Defaulted Amount”) payable on a Note on or before the due date therefor as provided in this Indenture, then, regardless of whether such failure constitutes an Event of Default, (i) such Defaulted Amount will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder of such Note otherwise entitled to such payment; (ii) to the extent lawful, interest (“Default Interest”) will accrue on such Defaulted Amount at a rate per annum equal to the rate per annum at which Cash Interest accrues, from, and including, such due date to, but excluding, the date of payment of such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest; (iii) such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest will be paid as provided either in clause (i) or clause (ii) below, at the Issuer’s election.

 

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(i) Payment of Default Amounts on a Special Payment Date. The Issuer will have the right to pay such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest on a payment date selected by the Issuer to the Holder of such Note as of the close of Business on a special record date selected by the Issuer; provided that such special record date must be no more than fifteen (15), nor less than ten (10), calendar days before such payment date; and at least fifteen (15) calendar days before such special record date, the Issuer will send notice to the Trustee and the Holders that states such special record date, such payment date and the amount of such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest to be paid on such payment date.

(ii) Payment of Default Amount in Any Other Lawful Manner. If not paid in accordance with Section 2.05(B)(i), such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest will be paid by the Issuer in any other lawful manner.

(C) Delay of Payment when Payment Date is Not a Business Day. If the due date for a payment on a Note as provided in this Indenture is not a Business Day, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, such payment may be made on the immediately following Business Day with the same force and effect as if such payment were made on such due date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no interest will accrue on such payment as a result of the related delay). Solely for purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, a day on which the applicable place of payment is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed will be deemed not to be a “Business Day.”

(D) Special Provision for Global Notes. If the first date on which any Special Interest begins to accrue on a Global Note is on or after the fifth (5th) Business Day before a Regular Record Date and before the next Interest Payment Date, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, the amount thereof accruing in respect of the period from, and including, such first date to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date but will instead be deemed to accrue (without duplication) entirely on such Interest Payment Date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no interest will accrue as a result of the related delay).

Section 2.06. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will maintain (i) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”); and (ii) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, then the Trustee will act as such. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

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(B) Duties of the Registrar. The Registrar will keep a record (the “Register”) of the names and addresses of the Holders, the Notes held by each Holder and the transfer, exchange, repurchase and Redemption of Notes. Absent manifest error, the entries in the Register will be conclusive and the Issuer and the Trustee may treat each Person whose name is recorded as a Holder in the Register as a Holder for all purposes. The Register will be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form reasonably promptly.

(C) Co-Agents; Issuer’s Right to Appoint Successor Registrars and Paying Agents. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-Registrars and co-Paying Agents, each of whom will be deemed to be a Registrar or Paying Agent, as applicable, under this Indenture. Subject to Section 2.06(A), the Issuer may change any Registrar or Paying Agent (including appointing itself or any of its Subsidiaries to act in such capacity) without notice to any Holder. The Issuer will notify the Trustee (and, upon request, any Holder) of the name and address of each Note Agent, if any, not a party to this Indenture and will enter into an appropriate agency agreement with each such Note Agent, which agreement will implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Note Agent.

(D) Initial Appointments. The Issuer appoints the Trustee as the initial Paying Agent, and the initial Registrar.

Section 2.07. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD PROPERTY IN TRUST.

The Issuer will require each Paying Agent that is not the Trustee to agree in writing that such Note Agent will (A) hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money and other property held by such Note Agent for payment or delivery due on the Notes; and (B) notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment or delivery. The Issuer, at any time, may, and the Trustee, while any Default continues, may, require a Paying Agent to pay or deliver, as applicable, all money and other property held by it to the Trustee, after which payment or delivery, as applicable, such Note Agent (if not the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) will have no further liability for such money or property. If the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, then (i) it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money and other property held by it as Paying Agent and (ii) references in this Indenture or the Notes to the Paying Agent holding cash or other property, or to the delivery of cash or other property to the Paying Agent, in each case for payment or delivery to any Holders or the Trustee or with respect to the Notes, will be deemed to refer to cash or other property so segregated and held separately, or to the segregation and separate holding of such cash or other property, respectively. Upon the occurrence of any event pursuant to Section 7.01(A)(x) or Section 7.01(A)(xi) with respect to the Issuer (or with respect to any Subsidiary of the Issuer acting as Paying Agent), the Trustee will serve as the Paying Agent for the Notes.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, any PIK Payment due shall be made in accordance with Section 2.22 hereof and, if made in accordance therewith, shall be deemed to comply with this Section 2.07.

Section 2.08. HOLDER LISTS.

(A) If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer and any other obligor of the Notes will furnish to the Trustee, no later than seven (7) Business Days before each Interest Payment Date, and at such other times as the Trustee may request, a list, in such form and as of such date or time as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders, and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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(B) The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 2.08(A) and (ii) received by it in the capacity of Paying Agent (if so acting), and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(C) The Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or any or all series of the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(D) Each and every Holder, by receiving the Notes and holding the same, agrees with the Issuer and the Trustee that neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.08.

Section 2.09. LEGENDS.

(A) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear the Global Note Legend (or any similar legend, not inconsistent with this Indenture, required by the Depositary for such Global Note).

(B) [Reserved].

(C) [Reserved].

(D) Other Legends. A Note may bear any other legend or text, not inconsistent with this Indenture, as may be required by applicable law or by any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which such Note is traded or quoted.

(E) Acknowledgment and Agreement by the Holders. A Holder’s acceptance of any Note bearing any legend required by this Section 2.09 will constitute such Holder’s acknowledgment of, and agreement to comply with, the restrictions set forth in such legend.

Section 2.10. TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES.

(A) Provisions Applicable to All Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) Subject to this Section 2.10, Physical Notes and beneficial interests in Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged from time to time and the Registrar will record each such transfer or exchange in the Register.

(ii) Each Note issued upon transfer or exchange of any other Note (such other Note being referred to as the “old Note” for purposes of this Section 2.10(A)(ii)) or portion thereof in accordance with this Indenture will be the valid obligation of the Issuer, evidencing the same indebtedness, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as such old Note or portion thereof, as applicable.

 

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(iii) The Issuer, the Trustee and the Note Agents will not impose any service charge on any Holder for any transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 2.17 or 8.05 not involving any transfer.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, a Note may not be transferred or exchanged in part unless the portion to be so transferred or exchanged is in an Authorized Denomination.

(v) The Trustee will have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any transfer restrictions imposed under applicable law with respect to any Security.

(vi) Each Note issued upon transfer of, or in exchange for, another Note will bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

(vii) Upon satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Note, the Issuer will cause such transfer or exchange to be effected as soon as reasonably practicable but in no event later than the second (2nd) Business Day after the date of such satisfaction.

(B) Transfers and Exchanges of Global Notes.

(i) Subject to the immediately following sentence, no Global Note may be transferred or exchanged in whole except (x) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary; (y) by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary; or (z) by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. No Global Note (or any portion thereof) may be transferred to, or exchanged for, a Physical Note; provided, however, that a Global Note will be exchanged, pursuant to customary procedures, for one or more Physical Notes if:

(1) (x) the Depositary notifies the Issuer or the Trustee that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Note or (y) the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act and, in each case, the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depositary within ninety (90) days of such notice or cessation;

(2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar has received a written request from the Depositary, or from a holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, to exchange such Global Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, for one or more Physical Notes; or

 

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(3) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, permits the exchange of any beneficial interest in such Global Note for one or more Physical Notes at the request of the owner of such beneficial interest.

(ii) Upon satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Global Note (or any portion thereof):

(1) the Trustee will reflect any resulting decrease of the principal amount of such Global Note by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such Global Note (and, if such notation results in such Global Note having a principal amount of zero, the Issuer may (but is not required to) instruct the Trustee to cancel such Global Note pursuant to Section 2.15);

(2) if required to effect such transfer or exchange, then the Trustee will reflect any resulting increase of the principal amount of any other Global Note by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such other Global Note;

(3) if required to effect such transfer or exchange, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a new Global Note bearing each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

(4) if such Global Note (or such portion thereof), or any beneficial interest therein, is to be exchanged for one or more Physical Notes, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note to be so exchanged; (y) are registered in such name(s) as the Depositary specifies (or as otherwise determined pursuant to customary procedures); and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

(iii) Each transfer or exchange of a beneficial interest in any Global Note will be made in accordance with the Depositary Procedures.

(C) Transfers and Exchanges of Physical Notes.

(i) Subject to this Section 2.10, a Holder of a Physical Note may (x) transfer such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) to one or more other Person(s); (y) exchange such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) for one or more other Physical Notes in Authorized Denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Physical Note (or portion thereof) to be so exchanged; and (z) if then permitted by the Depositary Procedures, transfer such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) in exchange for a beneficial interest in one or more Global Notes; provided, however, that, to effect any such transfer or exchange, such Holder must:

(1) surrender such Physical Note to be transferred or exchanged to the office of the Registrar, together with any endorsements or transfer instruments reasonably required by the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar; and

(2) [Reserved].

 

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(ii) Upon the satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Physical Note (such Physical Note being referred to as the “old Physical Note” for purposes of this Section 2.10(C)(ii)) of a Holder (or any portion of such old Physical Note in an Authorized Denomination):

(1) such old Physical Note will be promptly cancelled pursuant to Section 2.15;

(2) if such old Physical Note is to be so transferred or exchanged only in part, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (a) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such old Physical Note not to be so transferred or exchanged; (b) are registered in the name of such Holder and (c) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09;

(3) in the case of a transfer:

(a) to the Depositary or a nominee thereof that will hold its interest in such old Physical Note (or such portion thereof) to be so transferred in the form of one or more Global Notes, the Trustee will reflect an increase of the principal amount of one or more existing Global Notes by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such Global Note(s), which increase(s) are in Authorized Denominations and aggregate to the principal amount to be so transferred, and which Global Note(s) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; provided, however, that if such transfer cannot be so effected by notation on one or more existing Global Notes (whether because no Global Notes bearing each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09 then exist, because any such increase will result in any Global Note having an aggregate principal amount exceeding the maximum aggregate principal amount permitted by the Depositary or otherwise), then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Global Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so transferred; and (y) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

 

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(b) to a transferee that will hold its interest in such old Physical Note (or such portion thereof) to be so transferred in the form of one or more Physical Notes, the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02 one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so transferred; (y) are registered in the name of such transferee; and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

(4) in the case of an exchange, the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (a) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so exchanged; (b) are registered in the name of the Person to whom such old Physical Note was registered; and (c) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

(D) [Reserved].

(E) Transfers of Notes Subject to Redemption or Repurchase. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note that (i) [reserved]; (ii) is subject to a Change of Control Repurchase Notice validly delivered, and not withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.02(F), except to the extent that any portion of such Note is not subject to such notice or the Issuer fails to pay the applicable Change of Control Repurchase Price when due; or (iii) has been selected for Redemption pursuant to a Redemption Notice, except to the extent that any portion of such Note is not subject to Redemption or the Issuer fails to pay the applicable Redemption Price when due.

Section 2.11. EXCHANGE AND CANCELLATION OF NOTES TO BE REPURCHASED PURSUANT TO A REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL OR REDEMPTION.

(A) Partial Repurchases of Physical Notes Pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control or Redemption. If only a portion of a Physical Note of a Holder is to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control or Redemption, then, as soon as reasonably practicable after such Physical Note is surrendered for such repurchase or Redemption, as applicable, the Issuer will cause such Physical Note to be exchanged, pursuant and subject to Section 2.10(C), for one or more Physical Notes that are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Physical Note that is not to be so repurchased or redeemed, as applicable, and deliver such Physical Note(s) to such Holder; and a Physical Note having a principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so repurchased or redeemed, as applicable, which Physical Note will be repurchased or redeemed, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of this Indenture; provided, however, that the Physical Note referred to in this clause (ii) need not be issued at any time after which such principal amount subject to such repurchase or Redemption, as applicable, is deemed to cease to be outstanding pursuant to Section 2.18.

 

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Section 2.12. [RESERVED].

Section 2.13. REPLACEMENT NOTES.

If a Holder of any Note claims that such Note has been mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a replacement Note upon surrender to the Trustee of such mutilated Note, or upon delivery to the Trustee of evidence of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Issuer. In the case of a lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note, the Issuer and the Trustee may require the Holder thereof to provide such security or indemnity that is reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee to protect the Issuer and the Trustee from any loss that any of them may suffer if such Note is replaced.

Every replacement Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.13 will be an additional obligation of the Issuer and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all other Notes issued under this Indenture.

Section 2.14. REGISTERED HOLDERS; CERTAIN RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO GLOBAL NOTES.

Only the Holder of a Note will have rights under this Indenture as the owner of such Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Depositary Participants will have no rights as such under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or its nominee, or by the Trustee as its custodian, and the Issuer, the Trustee and the Note Agents, and their respective agents, may treat the Depositary as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever; provided, however, that (A) the Holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Depositary Participants and Persons that hold interests in Notes through Depositary Participants, to take any action that such Holder is entitled to take with respect to such Global Note under this Indenture or the Notes; and (B) the Issuer and the Trustee, and their respective agents, may give effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary.

Section 2.15. CANCELLATION.

The Issuer may at any time deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee each Note duly surrendered to them for transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee will promptly cancel all Notes so surrendered to it in accordance with its customary procedures. Without limiting the generality of Section 2.03(B), the Issuer may not originally issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been cancelled upon transfer, exchange or payment.

Section 2.16. NOTES HELD BY THE ISSUER OR ITS AFFILIATES.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer and its Affiliates shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding; except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate, or to be

 

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under common control of any other Person with the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, solely as a result of such Person and/or such other Person being a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the voting power Issuer’s outstanding Common Stock, unless such Person and/or such other Person (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer) has the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Issuer, whether through the ownership of Common Stock of the Issuer, by contract, or otherwise. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

Section 2.17. TEMPORARY NOTES.

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes. The Issuer will promptly prepare, issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Until so exchanged, each temporary Note will in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.

Section 2.18. OUTSTANDING NOTES.

(A) Generally. The Notes that are outstanding at any time will be deemed to be those Notes that, at such time, have been duly executed and authenticated, excluding those Notes (or portions thereof) that have theretofore been (i) cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.15; (ii) assigned a principal amount of zero by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of any a Global Note representing such Note; (iii) paid in full in accordance with this Indenture; or (iv) deemed to cease to be outstanding to the extent provided in, and subject to, clause (B), (C) or (D) of this Section 2.18. Subject to Section 2.16, the Notes do not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds such Notes.

(B) Replaced Notes. If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.13, then such Note will cease to be outstanding at the time of its replacement, unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof reasonably satisfactory to them that such Note is held by a “protected purchaser” under applicable law.

(C) Maturing Notes and Notes Called for Redemption or Subject to Repurchase. If, on a Redemption Date, a Change of Control Repurchase Date or the Maturity Date, the Paying Agent holds money sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price, Change of Control Repurchase Price or principal amount, respectively, together, in each case, with the aggregate interest, in each case due on such date, then (unless there occurs a Default in the payment of any such amount) (i) the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or repurchased, or that mature, on such date will be deemed, as of such date, to cease to be outstanding, except to the extent provided in Sections 4.02(D) or 4.03(F); and (ii) the rights of the Holders of such Notes (or such portions thereof), as such, will terminate with respect to such Notes (or such portions thereof), other than the right to receive the Redemption Price, Change of Control Repurchase Price or principal amount, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, such Notes (or such portions thereof), in each case as provided in this Indenture.

 

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(D) [Reserved].

(E) Cessation of Accrual of Interest. Except as provided in Sections 4.02(D) or 4.03(F), interest will cease to accrue on each Note from, and including, the date that such Note is deemed, pursuant to this Section 2.18, to cease to be outstanding, unless there occurs a default in the payment or delivery of any cash or other property due on such Note.

(F) PIK Payment. For the avoidance of doubt, unless represented by PIK Notes, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under any Note (as reflected in the Register) shall include any increase in the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Notes as a result of a PIK Payment.

Section 2.19. REPURCHASES BY THE ISSUER.

Without limiting the generality of Section 2.15, the Issuer may, from time to time, repurchase Notes in open market purchases or in negotiated transactions without delivering prior notice to Holders. The Issuer may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to the Issuer), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by the Issuer or the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or through a private or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties pursuant to private agreements, including cash-settled swaps or other derivatives, in each case, without prior notice to, or consent of, the Holders. The Issuer will promptly surrender to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes that the Issuer may repurchase. Any Notes that the Issuer may repurchase will be considered “outstanding” under this Indenture (except as provided in Section 2.16) unless and until such time the Issuer causes them to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and, upon receipt of a written order from the Issuer, the Trustee will cancel all Notes so surrendered.

Section 2.20. CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS.

The Issuer may use one or more CUSIP or ISIN numbers to identify any of the Notes, and, if so, the Issuer and the Trustee will use such CUSIP or ISIN number(s) in notices to Holders; provided, however, that (i) the Trustee makes no representation as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP or ISIN number; and (ii) the effectiveness of any such notice will not be affected by any defect in, or omission of, any such CUSIP or ISIN number. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee, in writing, of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN number(s) identifying any Notes.

Section 2.21. TAX TREATMENT.

The Issuer agrees, and each Holder of a Note agrees, and each beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note by its acquisition of such interest is deemed to agree, for U.S. federal income tax purposes to treat the Notes as indebtedness that does not constitute a contingent payment debt instrument within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1275-4. The Issuer and each Holder or beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note shall file all tax returns consistent with, and take no position inconsistent with, the foregoing treatment (whether in audits, tax returns or otherwise) unless required to do so pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

 

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Section 2.22. INTEREST RATE, PAYMENT OF INTEREST; PIK NOTES.

(A) With respect to each Interest Period, interest on the Notes shall, at the option of the Issuer, (i) accrue at a rate per annum equal to 7.00% (the “Cash Interest Rate”) and be payable in the form of Cash Interest, or (ii) accrue at a rate per annum equal to 12.00% (the “PIK Interest Rate”) and be payable in kind. Payment of interest in kind will be paid, (x) if the Notes are represented by one or more Physical Notes, by issuing additional Notes (“PIK Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the relevant amount of interest to be paid in kind (rounded down to the nearest $1.00) and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, authenticate and deliver such PIK Notes in the form of Physical Notes for original issuance to the Holders on the relevant Regular Record Date, as shown by the records of the Registrar and (y) if the Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes registered in the name of, or held by, the Depositary or its nominee on the relevant Regular Record Date, by increasing the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Global Notes by an amount equal to the amount of interest to be paid in kind (rounded down to the nearest $1.00) and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, will increase the principal amount of the outstanding Global Note by such amount. Interest will be calculated based on the outstanding principal of the Notes as of the beginning of the applicable Interest Period rounded down to the nearest $1.00, provided that the Issuer shall be deemed to have elected to pay Cash Interest in accordance with clause (i) of this Section 2.22(A) unless the Issuer gives notice to the Trustee on or prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to an Interest Payment Date that the Issuer has elected to pay interest for the corresponding Interest Period in the form of PIK Interest in accordance with clause (ii) of this Section 2.22(A).

(B) In connection with a PIK Payment in respect of the Notes, the Issuer shall, without the consent of Holders (and without regard to any restrictions or limitations set forth under Section 3.12), either increase the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Global Notes or issue PIK Notes under this Indenture. Any PIK Notes issued shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes, as applicable, and PIK Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise (other than issue date, issue price and, if applicable, the first Interest Payment Date and the first date from which interest will accrue) as the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes, as applicable.

(C) On any Interest Payment Date on which the Issuer makes a PIK Payment by increasing the aggregate principal amount of an outstanding Global Note, the Trustee, or the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee, shall increase the outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Global Note pursuant to Section 2.22(A)(ii)(y) by an amount equal to the PIK Interest payable for the relevant Interest Period on the outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Global Note on such Interest Payment Date, rounded down to the nearest $1.00, to the credit of the Holders on the relevant Regular Record Date and an adjustment will be made on the Register maintained with the Registrar with respect to such Global Note to reflect such increase and such increase shall thereafter be part of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes for all purposes of this Indenture and the other Note Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, following the increase in the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding Global Note as a result of a PIK Payment, such Global Note will bear interest on such increased aggregate principal amount from and after the date of such PIK Payment at the rate applicable to the Notes in the manner set forth in this Section 2.22.

 

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(D) Any PIK Notes issued in certificated form pursuant to Section 2.22(A)(ii)(x) shall be issued in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable Interest Period (rounded down to the nearest $1.00), shall be dated as of the applicable Interest Payment Date and will bear interest from and after such Interest Payment Date. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the PIK Notes in certificated form for original issuance on the Interest Payment Date to the Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date as set forth in an Issuer Order. All PIK Notes issued pursuant to a PIK Payment shall mature on the Stated Maturity of the Notes with respect to the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes, as applicable, shall be governed by, and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of, this Indenture and shall have the same rights and benefits as the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes, as applicable. Any certificated PIK Notes shall be issued with the description “PIK” on the face of such PIK Note but shall be treated for all purposes under this Indenture with the same rights and obligations as the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes, as applicable.

(E) The Issuer shall be responsible for making all calculations required in order to determine the amount of PIK Interest payable on the Notes on any Interest Payment Date. The Issuer shall make the calculations in reasonable detail and in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate or verify the Issuer’s calculations under the Notes and this Indenture. The Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Issuer’s calculations. Upon written request, the Issuer shall promptly provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee and the Paying Agent.

Article 3. COVENANTS

Section 3.01. CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the transactions set forth in the “Contingent Consideration Term Sheet” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan) and contemplated in the Bankruptcy Plan or “Definitive Documents” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan) shall be expressly permitted under this Indenture, and no Default or Event of Default shall occur in connection with the implementation of such transactions.

Section 3.02. PAYMENT ON NOTES.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will pay or cause to be paid in cash (or as applicable by increasing the principal amount of the Notes or issuing PIK Notes) all the principal of, the Change of Control Repurchase Price and Redemption Price for, interest on, and other amounts due with respect to, the Notes on the dates and in the manner set forth in this Indenture and in the Notes.

(B) Deposit of Funds. Before 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on each Redemption Date, Change of Control Repurchase Date or Interest Payment Date, and on the Maturity Date or any other date on which any cash amount is due on the Notes, the Issuer will deposit, or will cause there to be deposited, with the Paying Agent cash, in funds immediately available on such date, sufficient to pay the cash amount due on the applicable Notes on such date. All the funds provided to the Paying Agent must be in U.S. dollars. The Paying Agent will return to the Issuer, as soon as practicable, any money not required for such purpose. PIK Interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee shall have received by electronic delivery or by first class mail

 

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postage prepaid, (i) an Issuer Order to increase the aggregate principal amount of an outstanding Global Note in the amount of the PIK Interest due as set forth in such Issuer Order, or (ii) PIK Notes duly executed by the Issuer together with an Issuer Order requesting the authentication of such PIK Notes by the Trustee in the amount of such PIK Interest due as set forth in such Issuer Order.

Section 3.03. REPORTS.

(A) For so long as the Issuer is subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), copies of any documents or reports that the Issuer is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any such information, documents or reports, or portions thereof, subject to, or with respect to which the Issuer is actively seeking, confidential treatment and any correspondence with the SEC). Any such document or report that the Issuer files with the SEC via the SEC’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee for purposes of this Section 3.03(A) at the time such documents are filed via the EDGAR system.

(B) If the Issuer is not subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall file with the Trustee:

(i) within 105 days after the end of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity showing the financial position of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the consolidated results of their operations during such year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity shall be accompanied by customary management’s discussion and analysis and audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;

(ii) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity showing the financial position of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the consolidated results of their operations during such fiscal quarter and the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year, all of which shall be in reasonable detail, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders’ equity shall be accompanied by customary management’s discussion and analysis and which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity shall be certified by the principal financial officer of the Issuer on behalf of the Issuer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes); and

 

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(iii) within 15 days of the due date specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for reporting companies under the Exchange Act, substantially the same information that would be required to be contained in filings with the SEC on Form 8-K under Items 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 2.01, 4.01, 4.02(a) and (b), 5.01 and 5.02(b) (with respect to the principal executive officer, president, principal financial officer and principal operating officer only) and (c) (with respect to the principal executive officer, president, principal financial officer and principal operating officer only and other than with respect to information otherwise required or contemplated by subclause (3) of such Item or by Item 402 of Regulation S-K) as in effect on the Issue Date if the Issuer were required to file such reports;

provided, that: (a) no such report will be required to include as an exhibit, or to include a summary of the terms of, any employment or compensatory arrangement, agreement, plan or understanding between the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect parent entities or its Subsidiaries or unconsolidated affiliates) and any director, manager or officer, of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect parent entities or its Subsidiaries or unconsolidated affiliates), (b) no such report will be required to comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K with respect to any “non-GAAP” financial information contained therein, (c) no such report will be required to comply with Regulation S-X, including, without limitation, Rules 3-03(e), 3-05, 3-09, 3-10, 3-16, 13-01, 13-02 or Article 11 thereof (or any successor or similar rules), (d) in no event will such reports be required to include as an exhibit copies of any agreements, financial statements or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits under the SEC rules, (f) trade secrets and other information that reasonably could cause competitive harm to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may be excluded from any disclosures and (g) such financial statements or information will not be required to contain any “segment reporting”.

The Issuer will make available the information and reports set forth in this clause (B) to any Holder and to any beneficial owner of the Notes, in each case by posting such information on a password-protected website or online data system that may require a confidentiality acknowledgment, and will make such information readily available to any bona fide prospective investor, any securities analyst (to the extent providing analysis of investment in the Notes) or any market maker in the Notes who agrees to treat such information as confidential.

(C) Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall have no duty to review or analyze reports delivered to it. Delivery of the reports and documents described in Section 3.03(A) or Section 3.03(B) to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate).

 

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Section 3.04. RULE 144A INFORMATION.

At any time the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall, so long as any of the Notes shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, promptly provide to the Trustee and, upon written request, any Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Notes, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes or shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144A.

Section 3.05. [RESERVED].

Section 3.06. [RESERVED].

Section 3.07. COMPLIANCE AND DEFAULT CERTIFICATES.

(A) Annual Compliance Certificate. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of the fiscal year of 2026 and each fiscal year of the Issuer thereafter, the Issuer will deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating (i) that the signatory thereto has supervised a review of the activities of the Note Parties during such fiscal year with a view towards determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred and (ii) whether, to such signatory’s knowledge, a Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing (and, if so, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default and what action any Note Party is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(B) Default Certificate. If a Default or Event of Default occurs, then the Issuer will, within thirty (30) days after its occurrence, deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee describing the same and what action the Issuer or any Note Party is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto; provided, however, that such notice will not be required if such Default or Event of Default has been cured or waived before the date the Issuer is required to deliver such notice.

Section 3.08. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS.

To the extent that it may lawfully do so, each of the Note Parties: (A) agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law (wherever or whenever enacted or in force) that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (B) expressly waives all benefits or advantages of any such law and agrees that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power granted to the Trustee by this Indenture, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 3.09. CORPORATE EXISTENCE.

Subject to Article 6, each Note Party will cause to preserve and keep in full force and effect: (A) its corporate existence in accordance with the organizational or constitutional documents of such Note Party; and (B) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of each Note Party and their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that each Note Party (other than the Issuer except in accordance with Section 6.01) need not preserve or keep in full force and effect any such existence, right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors determines that (i) the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Note Parties, taken as a whole; and (ii) the loss thereof is not, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the Holders.

 

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Section 3.10. [RESERVED].

Section 3.11. FURTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS.

At the Trustee’s request, each Note Party will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to more effectively carry out the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 3.12. INDEBTEDNESS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Issuer will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock, in each case on or after the Issue Date; provided, however, the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue Disqualified Stock and any Subsidiary Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue preferred stock, in each case, if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, tested on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness or issuance of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, would have been no greater than (i) 4.00:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, (ii) 3.75:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, (iii) 3.50:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029 and (iv) 3.25:1.00 thereafter.

(B) The provisions of Section 3.12(A) will not prohibit the Issuer or its Subsidiaries from incurring the following:

(i) Indebtedness existing or committed (including, for the avoidance of doubt, paid-in-kind interest payable on such Indebtedness) on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.12(B) on the Issue Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness Refinanced with Indebtedness owed to a person not affiliated with the Issuer or any Subsidiary);

(ii) (a) Indebtedness represented by the Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $296,401,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap applicable thereto and (b) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (b)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap;

(iii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary pursuant to Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes;

 

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(iv) Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(v) Indebtedness of the Issuer to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Issuer or any other Subsidiary; provided that (a) any such Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party owing to a Note Party is permitted by Section 3.15 and (b) any such Indebtedness of a Note Party owing to a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party is permitted by Section 3.15 and is subordinated to the Note Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Note Documents;

(vi) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(vii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds or other cash management services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Subsidiary prior to or within 30 days after the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of the respective property (real or personal) permitted under this Indenture in order to finance such acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement, in an aggregate principal amount that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(ix), would not exceed the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any time;

(x) solely to the extent the Issuer has received at least $300,000,000 of Gross Cash Proceeds from the issuance or sale of the Issuer’s Qualified Equity Interests after the Issue Date, Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Disqualified Stock;

(xi) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi), would not exceed the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes that have

 

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been issued pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi), have not been reclassified and are converted pursuant to their terms into Qualified Equity Interests after the Issue Date (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the proceeds from the conversion of the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes, the Second Lien Renesas Notes, the exercise of any Renesas Warrants or any refinancing of any of the foregoing shall not be included), and solely to the extent such proceeds have not otherwise been applied to make any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.15 or any Permitted Investment plus (b) the amount of Contribution Debt; provided that (I) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi) shall have a maturity date no earlier than the Maturity Date and shall not permit or require scheduled cash interest payments in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination) and (II) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 3.12(B)(xi) may not exceed the greater of (x) $550,000,000 and (y) 275.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any time;

(xii) Indebtedness and other obligations secured by the Siler City Assets in an outstanding amount not to exceed at any time (1) $750,000,000 of obligations in respect of any DOE Financing, plus (2) $750,000,000 of obligations to the United States Department of Commerce, the CHIPS Program Office or any other Governmental Authority of the United States, in each case under this Section 3.12(B)(xii)(2), in respect of award disbursements received pursuant to governmental grants under the CHIPS Act;

(xiii) Guarantees by the Issuer or any DOE Parent Entity of any DOE Financing;

(xiv) [Reserved];

(xv) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued to support performance obligations and trade letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of other Indebtedness) in the ordinary course of business;

(xvi) Indebtedness in respect of cash collateralized letters of credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any one time;

(xvii) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or any Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase or acquisition price or similar obligations (including earn-outs), in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with any Investments or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary expressly permitted by this Indenture;

(xviii) (a) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien, or resulting from any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided, that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness under this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) does not exceed (x) $1,385,131,140 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the sum of (I)

 

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the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (a) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date mandatorily pursuant to the terms thereof (other than a mandatory prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase with the proceeds of a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction only to the extent that the lease payment obligations arising therefrom constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations) and (II) without duplication of any amount included in subclause (z)(I) above, the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (a) or (b) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date (for the avoidance of doubt, including any voluntary prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase) with the proceeds of any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction that does not otherwise constitute Indebtedness and (b) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (b)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (b) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof mandatorily pursuant to the terms thereof (other than a mandatory prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase with the proceeds of a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction only to the extent that the lease payment obligations arising therefrom constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations); provided, further, (A) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall have no borrower, issuer or obligor in respect thereof that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor, (B) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall not be secured by any assets or property that are not Collateral and (C) Indebtedness resulting from any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall not be secured by any assets or property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than the assets or property that is the subject of such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, and (D) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii)(a)(x) after the Issue Date (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Credit Facilities outstanding on the Issue Date incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii)(a)(x)) shall not have a stated interest rate (excluding default and similar interest) greater than 15.875% per annum;

(xix)

(a) (I) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes issued on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $331,375,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the applicable Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under sub-clause (a)(I) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date and (II) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (a)(II)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the applicable Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under sub-clause (a)(II) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof;

 

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(b) (I) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Renesas Notes issued on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $203,599,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under sub-clause (a)(I) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date and (II) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (b)(II)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the applicable Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under sub-clause (b)(II) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof; and

(c) to the extent regulatory approvals have not been obtained on or prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan), Indebtedness owed to Renesas in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000 plus any paid-in-kind interest paid thereon in an amount not to exceed the applicable Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap, which may be in the form of incremental notes issued under this Indenture or another form of indenture reasonably acceptable to Renesas and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof;

provided that (x) the Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall not be senior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations (it being understand that Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) may be pari passu with the Liens securing the Note Obligations or a lower priority to the Liens securing the Note Obligations, or such Indebtedness may not be secured by any Lien), (y) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall have no borrower, issuer or obligor in respect thereof that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor and (z) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall not be secured by any assets or property that are not Collateral;

(xx) [Reserved];

(xxi) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services; provided that such obligations are incurred in connection with open accounts extended by suppliers on customary trade terms in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices and not in connection with the borrowing of money or any Hedging Agreements;

 

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(xxii) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Issuer or any Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, without duplication of any amounts payable under Section 3.15;

(xxiii) [Reserved];

(xxiv) obligations in respect of Cash Management Agreements;

(xxv) Escrowed Indebtedness;

(xxvi) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such person in connection with any Investment permitted hereunder;

(xxvii) Guarantees of Indebtedness under customer financing lines of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(xxviii) Indebtedness consisting of (i) financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice; and

(xxix) other Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding amount not in excess of the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any one time outstanding.

Except as specifically set forth in herein, no Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to any clause of this Section 3.12(B) may be used to Refinance any Indebtedness that was incurred pursuant to, or outstanding under, any other clause of this Section 3.12(B) (other than Section 3.12(B)(i)); provided that (a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(x) or (xi) may be used to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under any other clause of Section 3.12(B) and (b) no Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to any clause of this Section 3.12 (other than Section 3.12(B)(xii) and Credit Facilities incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii)) may be secured by the Collateral on a senior basis to the Note Obligations.

(C) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, if the use of proceeds from any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness is to fund the repayment of any Indebtedness, then such repayment shall be deemed to have occurred substantially simultaneously with such incurrence or issuance so long as (1) such repayment occurs within one Business Day of such incurrence or issuance and (2) the proceeds thereof are deposited with a trustee, agent or other representative for such Indebtedness being repaid pending such repayment.

 

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(D) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, the amount of any Indebtedness denominated in any currency other than Dollars shall be calculated based on customary currency exchange rates in effect, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) on or prior to the Issue Date, on the Issue Date and, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred or assumed (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) after the Issue Date, on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred or assumed (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness); provided that if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred, assumed or committed to Refinance Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than Dollars (or in a different currency from the Indebtedness being Refinanced), and such Refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such Refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness being Refinanced.

(E) Further, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, (i) Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 3.12(A) and 3.12(B)(i) through (xxix) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof, (B) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 3.12(A) and Section 3.12(B)(i) through (xxix), the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such later time), such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 3.12 and at the time of incurrence, assumption, classification or reclassification will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) shall be treated as having been incurred, assumed or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (w) all Indebtedness outstanding under the First Lien Notes Indenture and in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii), (x) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xix)(a), (y) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xix)(b) and (z) all Indebtedness outstanding under this Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(ii) (and if applicable, Section 3.12(B)(xix)(c)) and, in each case, may not be so reclassified or divided.

Section 3.13. LIENS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any person) of the Issuer or any Subsidiary at the time owned by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof on or after the Issue Date, except Permitted Liens.

(B) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.13, (i) a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in clauses (A) through (NN) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (ii) in the event

 

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that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in clauses (A) through (NN) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”, the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such later time), such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 3.13 and at the time of incurrence, classification or reclassification will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof) without giving pro forma effect to such item (or any portion thereof) when calculating the amount of Liens or Indebtedness that may be incurred, classified or reclassified pursuant to any other clause (or any portion thereof) at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall only be permitted in reliance on clause (W) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and (ii) Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall only be permitted in reliance on clause (X) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”.

Section 3.14. SALE AND LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS.

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter, as part of such transaction, rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred (a “Sale and Lease-Back Transaction”), other than (i) any such transaction with respect to equipment or other personal property to the extent that any Indebtedness arising from such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is permitted under Section 3.12(B)(ix), and (ii) a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

Section 3.15. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any such payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as holders (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Issuer or a Subsidiary); or

 

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(ii) redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any Subsidiary to purchase or acquire) (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer) any of the Issuer’s Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares);

(iii) make any principal payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Junior Financing (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Issuer and any of its Subsidiary Guarantors), except (a) a payment of principal upon the scheduled maturity of such Junior Financing or (b) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition of Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or scheduled maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition; or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment,

(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”).

(B) The provisions of Section 3.15(A) will not prohibit:

(i) Restricted Payments to the Issuer or to any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer (or, in the case of non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of the Issuer or such Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests);

(ii) [Reserved];

(iii) Restricted Payments to purchase or redeem the Equity Interests of the Issuer (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held by then present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or by any Plan or any stockholders’ agreement then in effect upon such person’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or under the terms of any such Plan or any other agreement under which such shares of stock or related rights were issued; provided that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions under this clause (iii) shall not exceed in any fiscal year the greater of (x) $6,000,000 and (y) 3.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended (plus (x) the amount of net proceeds contributed to the Issuer that were (a) received by the Issuer during such fiscal year from sales of Equity Interests of the Issuer to directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements, (b) the amount of net proceeds of any key-man life insurance policies received during such calendar year and (c) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees in such fiscal year that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests), which, if not used in any year, may be carried forward to any subsequent calendar year; provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Subsidiary from present or former directors, consultants, officers and employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 3.15;

 

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(iv) non-cash repurchases of Equity Interests of the Issuer deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options;

(v) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Restricted Payments by the Issuer in the form of regularly scheduled dividends on Permitted Disqualified Stock (other than Permitted Disqualified Stock incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(x));

(vi) Restricted Payments by the Issuer in the form of Equity Interests of the Issuer in connection with the redemption of any Convertible Notes or the exercise of any Renesas Warrants;

(vii) Restricted Payments by the Issuer to pay in cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, upon the exercise of warrants (including the Renesas Warrants) or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of the Issuer or upon the conversion of any Convertible Notes; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made in reliance on this clause (vii) shall not exceed the greater of (x) $300,000 and (y) 0.15% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

(viii) (a) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the entry into, or otherwise pursuant to the terms of, a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and (b) any cash payment made in connection with the exercise or early termination of any Permitted Warrant Transaction;

(ix) any Restricted Payment so long as, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is less than (a) 4.00:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, (b) 3.75:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028 (c) 3.50:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, and (d) 3.25:1.00 thereafter;

(x) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $20,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

(xi) Restricted Payments in respect of any Junior Financing at a price not to exceed the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and underwriting discounts, commissions and reasonable fees and expenses, with the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness expressly permitted under Section 3.12, solely to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has an interest rate and a cash component of any interest rate, in each case, equal to or less than the Junior Financing it Refinanced;

 

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(xii) [Reserved];

(xiii) purchases of all or any portion of any Junior Financing at a price not to exceed the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and reasonable fees and expenses thereon, with the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer; and

(xiv) the conversion or exchange of any Junior Financing to common Equity Interests of the Issuer; provided that, such conversion or exchange is accompanied by permanent reductions of any commitments, if any, with respect to such Junior Financing to the extent of such conversion or exchange, to the extent applicable.

(C) The amount of any Restricted Payment made other than in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents shall be the fair market value thereof (as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith), valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any subsequent write-downs or write-offs thereof.

(D) Any Investment in any person other than a Note Party that is otherwise permitted by this Section 3.15 may be made through intermediate Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties and such intermediate Investments shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the outstanding amount of Investments pursuant to any clause set forth in this Section 3.15 or one or more clauses in the definition of “Permitted Investments”.

(E) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.15, (a) in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (i) through (viii) of Section 3.15(B) or is entitled to be made pursuant to one or more clauses in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” the Issuer will be entitled to divide or classify or later divide or reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) among such clauses (i) through (viii) and the definition of “Permitted Investments” in a manner that complies with this Section 3.15 and (b) an Investment need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of Permitted Investments (or portion thereof) described in the definition thereof but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

Section 3.16. ASSET DISPOSITIONS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Disposition unless:

(i) the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at least equal to the fair market value (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise Disposed of; and

 

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(ii) at least 75% of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition consists of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that for purposes of this Section 3.16(A)(ii) “cash” shall include:

(1) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the Issuer’s or such Subsidiary’s consolidated balance sheet if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the Issuer or such Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Note Obligations) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation or assumption agreement that validly releases the Issuer or such Subsidiary from further liability to all applicable creditors; and

(2) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Issuer or such Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted, in each case, within 180 days after the closing of such Asset Disposition by the Issuer or such Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in that conversion).

(B) Unless and solely in the event there has been a Discharge of First-Priority Obligations (as defined in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement), within 365 days (or such shorter period as the Issuer in its sole election may determine) after the receipt of Net Proceeds from an Asset Disposition (each, an “Asset Sale Prepayment Date”) (other than Net Proceeds from the sale or other disposition of “Building 21” (as described in item 2 of Schedule 1.01(B))), the Issuer may elect to apply or cause to be applied an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from such Asset Disposition:

(i) upon a Disposition of assets that constitutes Collateral, to repay the Second-Priority Obligations (and if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit indebtedness, to correspondingly permanently reduce revolving commitments with respect thereto); provided that in the case of any repayment pursuant to this Section 3.16(B)(i), the Issuer shall make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer) to all holders of such Second-Priority Obligations to purchase (or repay) a pro rata (together with any Second-Priority Obligations repaid pursuant to this Section 3.16(B)(i)) principal amount of the Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of repayment;

(ii) [reserved];

(iii) upon the Disposition of assets that do not constitute Collateral, to repurchase, prepay, redeem or repay Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party, or Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is secured by a Lien on such assets; or

(iv) upon a Disposition of assets that does not constitute Collateral, to either (a) make an investment in, or acquire assets related to or otherwise useful in the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date; and/or (b) make Capital Expenditures in or that are used or useful in the business or to make Capital Expenditures for maintenance, repair or improvement of existing assets in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

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(C) Any Net Proceeds from an Asset Disposition not applied or invested as provided in Section 3.16(B) within the applicable Asset Sale Prepayment Date will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds” on the day immediately after the applicable Asset Sale Prepayment Date; provided that in the case of Section 3.16(B)(iv), a binding commitment letter with a third party shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date such commitment letter is executed so long as the Issuer or a Subsidiary enters into such commitment letter with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of the execution of such commitment letter; provided, further, that if such commitment letter is later terminated or cancelled prior to the application of such Net Proceeds or such Net Proceeds are not so applied within such 180-day period, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

(D) In no event later than 20 Business Days after any date that the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10,000,000 (or such lesser amount as the Issuer shall determine) (an “Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date”), to the extent permitted by the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Issuer shall commence an offer to all Holders (an “Asset Disposition Offer”) to purchase at a price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase and to all holders of other Second-Priority Obligations containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to asset dispositions, in each case, equal to the Excess Proceeds. Upon completion of each Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after completion of an Asset Disposition Offer, the Issuer may use the remaining amount for general corporate purposes and such amount shall no longer constitute Excess Proceeds.

(E) In connection with an Asset Disposition Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Holders, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures (with a copy to the Trustee), a notice stating: (i) that an Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date has occurred and that the Issuer is offering to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds (and identifying other Indebtedness, if any, that is entitled to participate pro rata in the Asset Disposition Offer), at an offer price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase (the “Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date”), which shall be a Business Day, specified in such notice, that is not earlier than 30 days or later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered, (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid interest as of the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, (iii) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest, (iv) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the purchase price for the Notes payable pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, (v) the procedures to be followed by a Holders in order to accept an Asset Disposition Offer or to withdraw such acceptance, and (vi) such other information as may be required by the Indenture and applicable laws and regulations.

(F) On the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, the Issuer will (i) accept for payment the maximum principal amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer that can be purchased out of Excess Proceeds from such Asset Disposition, (ii) deposit with the paying agent the aggregate purchase price of all Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment and any accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes as of the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee all Notes tendered pursuant

 

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to the Asset Disposition Offer. If less than all Notes tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer are accepted for payment by the Issuer for any reason consistent with the Indenture, selection of the Notes to be purchased by the Issuer shall be in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures and, if no such Depositary Procedures apply, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; provided that Notes accepted for payment in part shall only be purchased in Authorized Denominations. The paying agent shall promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment an amount equal to the purchase price for such Notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and deliver to such Holder of Notes accepted for payment in part a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes, and any Note not accepted for payment in whole or in part shall be promptly returned to the Holder of such Note. On and after an Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the purchase price therefor. The Issuer will announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer to Holders of the Notes on or as soon as practicable after the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date.

(G) To the extent applicable, the Issuer will comply, in all material respects, with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any Asset Disposition Offer (including complying with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable) so as to permit effecting such Asset Disposition Offer in the manner set forth in this Indenture; provided, however, that, to the extent that any securities laws or regulations enacted after the Issue Date conflict with this Section 3.16, the Issuer will comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3.16 (nor will such compliance be considered a Default or an Event of Default hereunder) by virtue of such conflict.

Section 3.17. DISPOSITION OF MATERIAL IP.

(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 3.13, 3.15, 3.16 (or the definition of “Asset Disposition”) or 3.18, neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall be permitted to make any Investment of any Material IP into any person (including any Subsidiary) or Dispose of any Material IP (including to any Subsidiary) unless, (i) in the case of an Investment, at all times after giving effect to the consummation of such Investment, such Material IP is subject to first priority Lien securing the Note Obligations and (ii) in the case of a Disposition of any Material IP, such Disposition consists of a non-exclusive license of such Material IP and such Material IP remains subject to at least a first priority Lien securing the Note Obligations; provided that such non-exclusive license shall (x) if to a Subsidiary, be subject to recurring royalties, payment terms or other consideration negotiated consistent with an arm’s length transaction, and (y) otherwise (other than in subclause (x) immediately preceding), be entered into in the ordinary course of business.

(B) The restrictions set forth in Section 3.17(A) shall not apply to the Specified IP Disposition.

 

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Section 3.18. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates on or after the Issue Date, unless such transaction is (i) upon terms that are no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, in any material respect than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate and (ii) if in connection with any transaction or series of transactions with a fair market value greater than $1,200,000, approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Issuer.

(B) The foregoing clause (A) shall not prohibit, to the extent otherwise permitted under this Indenture:

(i) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(ii) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary permitted by clause (E) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(iii) transactions among the Issuer or any Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction (including via merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which the Issuer or a Subsidiary is the surviving entity);

(iv) the payment of fees, reasonable out-of-pocket costs and indemnities to directors, officers, consultants and employees the Issuer and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(v) transactions, agreements and arrangements in existence on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.18 or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof or similar arrangement to the extent such amendment, replacement or arrangement is not adverse to the Holders in any material respect;

(vi) (a) any employment, independent contractor or consulting agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (b) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, consultants, officers or directors, and (c) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto;

(vii) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 3.15 and Permitted Investments;

(viii) [Reserved];

 

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(ix) [Reserved];

(x) transactions for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(xi) any transaction in respect of which the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of the Issuer from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is in the good faith determination of the Issuer qualified to render such letter, which letter states that (a) such transaction is on terms that are substantially no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate or (b) such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, from a financial point of view;

(xii) [Reserved];

(xiii) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(xiv) [Reserved];

(xv) [Reserved];

(xvi) [Reserved];

(xvii) [Reserved];

(xviii) [Reserved];

(xix) [Reserved];

(xx) [Reserved];

(xxi) transactions between the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries and any person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer; provided, however, that (a) such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer on any matter involving such other person and (b) such person is not an Affiliate of the Issuer for any reason other than such director’s acting in such capacity;

(xxii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Article 6; and

(xxiii) intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by an Officer of the Issuer) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries which do not circumvent any provisions of this Indenture.

 

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Section 3.19. [RESERVED].

Section 3.20. DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to:

(i) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Equity Interests to the Issuer or any Subsidiary, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(ii) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any Subsidiary or

(iv) grant any Liens by the Issuer or such Subsidiary that is a Note Party pursuant to the Security Documents,

provided that (x) the priority of any preferred stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock and (y) the subordination of (including the application of any standstill period to) loans or advances made to the Issuer or any Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, shall not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.

(B) The provisions of Section 3.20(A) shall not apply to the following:

(i) restrictions imposed by applicable law;

(ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including under (a) the Note Documents, (b) the First Lien Notes Indenture, (c) the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture, (d) the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture and (e) any other Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.12(B);

(iii) any restriction on a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Equity Interests or assets of a Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(iv) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (iv) imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(xii) or to any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(v) any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

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(vi) any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness or other obligations incurred pursuant to Section 3.12 to the extent such restrictions are not more restrictive in any material respect than the restrictions contained in this Indenture or are market terms at the time of issuance (as reasonably determined by the Issuer);

(vii) customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of Intellectual Property and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(viii) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

(ix) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(x) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any asset permitted under Section 3.16 pending the consummation of such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition;

(xi) customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien, so long as (a) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien, and (b) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 3.20;

(xii) customary net worth provisions contained in Real Property leases entered into by Subsidiaries, so long as the Issuer has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations;

(xiii) any agreement in effect at the time such subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary;

(xiv) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;

(xv) customary restrictions contained in leases, subleases, licenses or Equity Interests or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby as long as such restrictions relate to the Equity Interests and assets subject thereto;

(xvi) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers or counterparties under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business (and including with respect to any cash collateral permitted to be provided to any counterparty under Section 3.13); and

 

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(xvii) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (xvi) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of or similar arrangements or the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (xiii); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings or similar arrangements are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, not more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such dividend, other payment, sale and Lien restrictions than those contained in the dividend, other payment and Lien restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing or similar arrangements or are otherwise in accordance with the terms of the applicable intercreditor agreement.

Section 3.21. FURTHER ASSURANCES; ADDITIONAL SECURITY.

(A) The Issuer will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, subject to the Agreed Security Principles, the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement and to the extent consist with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement:

(i) execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings (provided that if a Mortgage is actually filed, only to the extent a filed Mortgage cannot act as a fixture filing in an applicable jurisdiction), Mortgages and other documents), as are reasonably necessary (or that Trustee and/or Collateral Agent and/or Parallel Debt Creditor may reasonably request) (including, without limitation, those required by applicable law), to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Note Parties and provide to the Collateral Agent and/or Parallel Debt Creditor, from time to time, evidence reasonably necessary to establish the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.

(ii) if any asset (other than Real Property) that has an individual fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer at the time of acquisition) in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or is a semiconductor tool or equipment used in any Product Family of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries is acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date or owned by an entity at the time it becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case other than (x) assets constituting Collateral under a Security Document that become subject to the Lien of such Security Document upon acquisition thereof and (y) assets constituting Excluded Property), the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, will (i) notify the Collateral Agent of such acquisition or ownership and (ii) cause such asset to be subjected to a Lien (subject to any Permitted Liens) securing the Note Obligations by, and take, and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to take, such actions as shall be necessary (or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent) to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in Section 3.21(A)(i), all at the expense of the Note Parties, subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii).

 

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(iii) (a) subject to clause (vii)(H) below, grant and cause each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to grant to the Collateral Agent security interests in, and mortgages on, any Material Real Property of the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, (x) within 90 days after the Issue Date with respect to Material Real Property owned as of the Issue Date and (y) to the extent acquired after the Issue Date, within 90 days after such acquisition pursuant to a Mortgage, which security interest and mortgage shall constitute valid and enforceable Liens subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens and (ii) to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction, record or file, and cause each such Subsidiary Guarantor to record or file, the Mortgage or instruments related thereto in such manner and in such places as is required by law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/or the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties required to be granted pursuant to the Mortgages and pay, and cause each such Subsidiary Guarantor to pay, in full, all Taxes, fees and other charges required to be paid in connection with such recording or filing, in each case subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii). Subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), with respect to each such Mortgage, to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction, the Issuer shall cause the requirements set forth in clause (F) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” to be satisfied with respect to such Material Real Property.

(iv) if any additional direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer is formed or acquired after the Issue Date and if such Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor (with any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary being deemed to constitute the acquisition of a Subsidiary), within 10 Business Days after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired, notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, within (x) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary, 30 days or (y) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, 60 days, in each case, after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or, with respect to clause (F) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”, within 90 days after such formation or acquisition or such longer period as set forth therein ), cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such Subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Note Party, subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii).

(v) [reserved].

(vi) furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt written notice of any change (A) in any Note Party’s corporate or organization name, (B) in any Note Party’s identity or organizational structure, (C) in any Note Party’s organizational identification number, (D) in any Note Party’s jurisdiction of organization or (E) in the location of the chief executive office of any Note Party that is not a registered organization; provided that the Issuer shall not effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within 30 days following such change, under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by such filing, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

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(vii) the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the other provisions of this Section 3.21(A) and the other Note Documents with respect to Collateral are (a) solely in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries (and the assets of and Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiaries), subject in all respects to the Agreed Security Principles and (b) solely in the case of Domestic Subsidiaries (and the assets of, and Equity Interests in, such Domestic Subsidiaries) need not be satisfied by any Excluded Subsidiary or by any Note Party with respect to any of the following (collectively, the “Excluded Property”): (I) any Real Property other than Material Real Property, (II) (x) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and letter of credit rights (in each case, other than to the extent a Lien on such assets or such rights can be perfected by filing a UCC-1) and (y) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $10,000,000, (III) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contractual obligation (with respect to any such contractual obligation, only to the extent such restriction is permitted under Section 3.20 and such restriction is binding on such assets on the Issue Date or on the date of acquisition thereof and not entered into in contemplation thereof (and renewals and replacements thereof)) (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (IV) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Issuer, (V) any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (VI) those assets as to which the Issuer in good faith reasonably determines that the cost or other consequence of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby, (VII) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (VIII) pending “intent to use” trademark applications for which an Amendment to Allege Use or a Statement of Use under Section 1(c) or 1(d) of the Lanham Act has not been filed with or accepted by the United States Trademark Office, (IX) any Excluded Account and any cash and Cash Equivalents maintained in an Excluded Account, (X) any Excluded Securities, (XI) any Third Party Funds and (XII) any equipment or other real or personal property or asset that is subject to a Lien permitted by clause (I) of the definition of Permitted Liens, if permitted by Section 3.12, if the agreement governing such Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) prohibits or requires the consent of any person (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such equipment or other real or personal property or asset and, in each case, such prohibition or requirement is permitted hereunder after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code; provided that the Issuer may in its sole discretion elect to exclude any property from the definition of Excluded Property; provided, further, that no property or assets that secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness)

 

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shall be Excluded Property. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (A) [reserved], (B) no landlord, mortgagee or bailee waivers shall be required, (C) no notice shall be required to be sent to account debtors or other contractual third parties prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, (D) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to, or any other requirements of, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Security Documents shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as otherwise reasonably determined by the Issuer, (E) to the extent any Mortgaged Property is located in a jurisdiction with mortgage recording or similar tax, the amount secured by the Security Document with respect to such Mortgaged Property shall be limited to the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property as determined in good faith by the Issuer (subject to any applicable laws in the relevant jurisdiction or such lesser amount agreed to by the Collateral Agent), (F) the Issuer may make such modifications to the Security Documents, and execute and/or consent to such easements, covenants, rights of way or similar instruments to subordinate the lien of any Mortgage to any such easement, covenant, right of way or similar instrument or record as permitted by the Indenture or may agree to recognize any tenant pursuant to an agreement, as are reasonable or necessary in connection with any project or transactions otherwise permitted hereunder, (G) other than to the extent required by the Collateral Agreement, no control agreement or control, lockbox or similar arrangement shall be required with respect to any deposit accounts, securities accounts or commodities accounts, and (H) no Mortgage (or the filing of recordation thereof) on any Material Real Property acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date shall be required if such Material Real Property is located in a jurisdiction that imposes a mortgage recording tax, documentary tax or similar tax in connection with the filing or recordation thereof (x) at any time prior to the Discharge of First-Priority Obligations (as defined in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement) or (y) at any time after the Discharge of First-Priority Obligations, if the Collateral Agent is not then the Controlling Collateral Agent (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) under the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement.

(viii) Neither the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor) nor the Trustee undertakes any responsibility whatsoever to determine whether any of the foregoing covenants have been satisfied, and neither shall have any liability whatsoever arising out of the failure of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors to satisfy such requirements.

Section 3.22. POST-CLOSING.

(A) The Issuer will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, take all necessary actions to satisfy the requirements set forth in Schedule 3.22.

Article 4. REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION

Section 4.01. NO SINKING FUND.

No sinking fund is required to be provided for the Notes.

 

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Section 4.02. RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE THE ISSUER TO REPURCHASE NOTES UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL.

(A) Right of Holders to Require the Issuer to Repurchase Notes Upon a Change of Control. Subject to the other terms of this Section 4.02, if a Change of Control occurs, then each Holder will have the right (the “Change of Control Repurchase Right”) to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) on the Change of Control Repurchase Date for such Change of Control for a cash purchase price equal to the Change of Control Repurchase Price.

(B) Repurchase Prohibited in Certain Circumstances. If the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or before the Change of Control Repurchase Date for a Repurchase Upon Change of Control (including as a result of the payment of the related Change of Control Repurchase Price, and any related interest pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D), on such Change of Control Repurchase Date), then (i) the Issuer may not repurchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.02; and (ii) the Issuer will cause any Notes theretofore surrendered for such Repurchase Upon Change of Control to be returned to the Holders thereof (or, if applicable with respect to Global Notes, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interest in such Notes in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(C) Change of Control Repurchase Date. The Change of Control Repurchase Date for any Change of Control will be a Business Day of the Issuer’s choosing that is no more than thirty-five (35) and not less than twenty (20) Business Days after the date the Issuer delivers the related Change of Control Notice pursuant to Section 4.02(E).

(D) Change of Control Repurchase Price. The Change of Control Repurchase Price for any Note to be repurchased upon a Repurchase Upon Change of Control following a Change of Control is an amount in cash equal to one hundred and one percent (101%) of the principal amount of such Note plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, the Change of Control Repurchase Date for such Change of Control; provided, however, that if such Change of Control Repurchase Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, then (i) the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such Repurchase Upon Change of Control, to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date, if such Change of Control Repurchase Date is before such Interest Payment Date); and (ii) the Change of Control Repurchase Price will not include accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such Change of Control Repurchase Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day within the meaning of Section 2.05(C) and such Change of Control Repurchase Date occurs on the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date, then (x) accrued and unpaid interest on Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be paid, in accordance with Section 2.05(C), on the next Business Day to Holders as of the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date; and (y) the Change of Control Repurchase Price will include interest on Notes to be repurchased from, and including, such Interest Payment Date.

 

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(E) Change of Control Notice. On or before the twentieth (20th) calendar day after the effective date of a Change of Control, the Issuer will deliver to each Holder, the Trustee and the Paying Agent a notice of such Change of Control (a “Change of Control Notice”). Substantially contemporaneously, the Issuer will either (x) issue a press release through such national newswire service as the Issuer then uses; (y) publish the same through such other widely disseminated public medium as the Issuer then uses, including its website; or (z) file or furnish a Form 8-K (or any successor form) with the SEC, in each case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), containing the information set forth in the Change of Control Notice.

Such Change of Control Notice must state:

(i) briefly, the events causing such Change of Control;

(ii) the effective date of such Change of Control;

(iii) the procedures that a Holder must follow to require the Issuer to repurchase its Notes pursuant to this Section 4.02, including the deadline for exercising the Change of Control Repurchase Right and the procedures for submitting and withdrawing a Change of Control Repurchase Notice;

(iv) the Change of Control Repurchase Date for such Change of Control;

(v) the Change of Control Repurchase Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Change of Control (and, if such Change of Control Repurchase Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, the amount, manner and timing of the interest payment payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D));

(vi) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(vii) [Reserved];

(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) that Notes for which a Change of Control Repurchase Notice has been duly tendered and not duly withdrawn must be delivered to the Paying Agent for the Holder thereof to be entitled to receive the Change of Control Repurchase Price;

(x) [Reserved]; and

(xi) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if any, of the Notes.

Neither the failure to deliver a Change of Control Notice nor any defect in a Change of Control Notice will limit the Change of Control Repurchase Right of any Holder or otherwise affect the validity of any proceedings relating to any Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

 

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(F) Procedures to Exercise the Change of Control Repurchase Right.

(i) Delivery of Change of Control Repurchase Notice and Notes to Be Repurchased. To exercise its Change of Control Repurchase Right for a Note following a Change of Control, the Holder thereof must deliver to the Paying Agent:

(1) before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the related Change of Control Repurchase Date (or such later time as may be required by law), a duly completed, written Change of Control Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note; and

(2) such Note, duly endorsed for transfer (if such Note is a Physical Note) or by book-entry transfer (if such Note is a Global Note).

The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to the Issuer a copy of each Change of Control Repurchase Notice that it receives.

(ii) Contents of Change of Control Repurchase Notices. Each Change of Control Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note must state:

(1) if such Note is a Physical Note, the certificate number of such Note;

(2) the principal amount of such Note to be repurchased, which must be an Authorized Denomination; and

(3) that such Holder is exercising its Change of Control Repurchase Right with respect to such principal amount of such Note;

provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note, then such Change of Control Repurchase Notice must comply with the Depositary Procedures (and any such Change of Control Repurchase Notice delivered in compliance with the Depositary Procedures will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.02(F)).

(iii) Withdrawal of Change of Control Repurchase Notice. A Holder that has delivered a Change of Control Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note may withdraw such Change of Control Repurchase Notice by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent at any time before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the related Change of Control Repurchase Date. Such withdrawal notice must state:

(1) if such Note is a Physical Note, the certificate number of such Note;

(2) the principal amount of such Note to be withdrawn, which must be an Authorized Denomination; and

(3) the principal amount of such Note, if any, that remains subject to such Change of Control Repurchase Notice, which must be an Authorized Denomination;

 

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provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note, then such withdrawal notice must comply with the Depositary Procedures (and any such withdrawal notice delivered in compliance with the Depositary Procedures will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.02(F)).

Upon receipt of any such withdrawal notice with respect to a Note (or any portion thereof), the Paying Agent will (x) promptly deliver a copy of such withdrawal notice to the Issuer; and (y) if such Note is surrendered to the Paying Agent, cause such Note (or such portion thereof in accordance with Section 2.11, treating such Note as having been then surrendered for partial repurchase in the amount set forth in such withdrawal notice as remaining subject to repurchase) to be returned to the Holder thereof (or, if applicable with respect to any Global Note, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interest in such Note in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(G) Payment of the Change of Control Repurchase Price. Without limiting the Issuer’s obligation to deposit the Change of Control Repurchase Price within the time proscribed by Section 3.02(B), the Issuer will cause the Change of Control Repurchase Price for a Note (or portion thereof) to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control to be paid to the Holder thereof on or before the later of (i) the applicable Change of Control Repurchase Date; and (ii) the date (x) such Note is delivered to the Paying Agent (in the case of a Physical Note) or (y) the Depositary Procedures relating to the repurchase, and the delivery to the Paying Agent, of such Holder’s beneficial interest in such Note to be repurchased are complied with (in the case of a Global Note). For the avoidance of doubt, interest payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D) on any Note to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control must be paid pursuant to such proviso regardless of whether such Note is delivered or such Depositary Procedures are complied with pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 4.02(G).

(H) Repurchase by Third Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.02, the Issuer will be deemed to satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.02 if (i) one or more third parties conduct any Repurchase Upon Change of Control and related offer to repurchase Notes otherwise required by this Section 4.02 in a manner that would have satisfied the requirements of this Section 4.02 if conducted directly by the Issuer; and (ii) an owner of a beneficial interest in any Note repurchased by such third party or parties will not receive a lesser amount as a result of withholding or similar taxes than such owner would have received had the Issuer repurchased such Note.

(I) Compliance with Applicable Securities Laws. To the extent applicable, the Issuer will comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with a Repurchase Upon Change of Control (including complying with Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and filing any required Schedule TO, to the extent applicable) so as to permit effecting such Repurchase Upon Change of Control in the manner set forth in this Indenture; provided, however, that, to the extent that any securities laws or regulations enacted after the Issue Date conflict with the Section 4.02, the Issuer will comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.02 (nor will such compliance be considered a Default or an Event of Default hereunder) by virtue of such conflict.

 

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(J) Repurchase in Part. Subject to the terms of this Section 4.02, Notes may be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control in part, but only in Authorized Denominations. Provisions of this Section 4.02 applying to the repurchase of a Note in whole will equally apply to the repurchase of a permitted portion of a Note.

Section 4.03. RIGHT OF THE ISSUER TO REDEEM THE NOTES.

(A) No Right to Redeem Before September 29, 2027. The Issuer may not redeem the Notes at any time before September 29, 2027.

(B) Right to Redeem the Notes on or after September 29, 2027. Subject to the terms of this Section 4.03, the Issuer has the right, at its election, to redeem (a “Redemption”) all, or any portion in an Authorized Denomination, of the Notes, at any time, and from time to time, on a Redemption Date that falls on or after September 29, 2027 and on or before the sixtieth (60th) Business Day immediately before the Maturity Date, for a cash purchase price equal to the Redemption Price.

For the avoidance of doubt, the calling of any Notes for Redemption will constitute a Make-Whole Event with respect to such Notes pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof.

(C) [Reserved].

(D) Redemption Prohibited in Certain Circumstances. If the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or before the Redemption Date (including as a result of the payment of the related Redemption Price, and any related interest pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F), on such Redemption Date), then (i) the Issuer may not call for Redemption or otherwise redeem any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.03; and (ii) the Issuer will cause any Notes theretofore surrendered for such Redemption to be returned to the Holders thereof (or, if applicable with respect to Global Notes, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interests in such Notes in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(E) Redemption Date. The Redemption Date for a Redemption will be a Business Day of the Issuer’s choosing that is no more than sixty (60) Business Days and not less than thirty-five (35) Business Days after the related Redemption Notice Date for such Redemption.

(F) Redemption Price. The Redemption Price for any Note called for Redemption is an amount in cash equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount of such Note plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, the Redemption Date for such Redemption; provided, however, that if such Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, then (i) the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such Redemption, to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date, if such Redemption Date is before such Interest Payment Date); and (ii) the Redemption Price will not include accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such Redemption Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day within the meaning

 

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of Section 2.05(C) and such Redemption Date occurs on the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date, then (x) accrued and unpaid interest on Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be paid, in accordance with Section 2.05(C), on the next Business Day to Holders as of the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date; and (y) the Redemption Price will include interest on Notes to be redeemed from, and including, such Interest Payment Date.

(G) Redemption Notice. To call any Notes for Redemption, the Issuer must (i) deliver to each Holder of such Notes, the Trustee and the Paying Agent a written notice of such Redemption (a “Redemption Notice”); and (ii) substantially contemporaneously therewith, either (x) issue a press release through such national newswire service as the Issuer then uses; (y) publish the same through such other widely disseminated public medium as the Issuer then uses, including its website; or (z) file or furnish a Form 8-K (or any successor form) with the SEC, in each case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), containing the information set forth in the Redemption Notice.

Such Redemption Notice must state:

(i) that such Notes have been called for Redemption, briefly describing the Issuer’s Redemption right under this Indenture;

(ii) the Redemption Date for such Redemption;

(iii) the Redemption Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Redemption (and, if the Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, the amount, manner and timing of the interest payment payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F));

(iv) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(v) [Reserved];

(vi) [Reserved];

(vii) [Reserved]; and

(viii) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if any, of the Notes.

On or before the Redemption Notice Date, the Issuer will deliver a copy of such Redemption Notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent. At the Issuer’s request, given in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least five (5) days prior to the requested date of delivery (or such shorter period of time as may be acceptable to the Trustee), the Trustee shall give such notice in the Issuer’s name; provided, however that in all cases, the text of such Redemption Notice shall be prepared by the Issuer.

(H) [Reserved].

 

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(I) Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed in Part. If less than all Notes then outstanding are called for Redemption, then:

(i) the Notes to be redeemed will be selected by the Issuer as follows: (1) in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures and, if no such Depositary Procedures apply, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; and (2) in the case of Physical Notes, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; and

(ii) [Reserved].

(J) Payment of the Redemption Price. Without limiting the Issuer’s obligation to deposit the Redemption Price by the time proscribed by Section 3.02(B), the Issuer will cause the Redemption Price for a Note (or portion thereof) subject to Redemption to be paid to the Holder thereof on or before the applicable Redemption Date. For the avoidance of doubt, interest payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F) on any Note (or portion thereof) subject to Redemption must be paid pursuant to such proviso.

Section 4.04. MANDATORY AHYDO REDEMPTION.

If the Notes would otherwise constitute “applicable high yield discount obligations” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code, on December 15, 2030 (the “AHYDO Redemption Date”), the Issuer will be required to redeem for cash a portion of each Note then outstanding equal to the “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” (such redemption, a “Mandatory Principal Redemption”). The redemption price for the portion of each Note redeemed pursuant to a Mandatory Principal Redemption will be one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount of such portion plus any accrued interest thereon on the date of redemption. The “Mandatory Principal Redemption Amount” means the portion of a Note required to be redeemed to prevent such Note from being treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code. The Issuer will comply with clause (E) through (J) of Section 4.03 in connection with any Mandatory Principal Redemption.

Article 5. [RESERVED]

Article 6. SUCCESSORS

Section 6.01. WHEN THE ISSUER AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS MAY MERGE, ETC.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will not consolidate with, merge with or into, dissolve or liquidate voluntarily into, or (directly, or indirectly through one or more of its Subsidiaries) sell, lease or otherwise Dispose, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to another Person (a “Issuer Business Combination Event”), unless:

(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person either (x) is the Issuer or (y) if not the Issuer, is a Qualified Successor Entity (such Qualified Successor Entity, the “Successor Entity”) duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that expressly assumes (by executing and delivering to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, at or before the effective time of such Issuer Business Combination Event, a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(E)) and any other amendments to the Security Documents all of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which the Issuer is a party, and the Notes;

 

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(ii) immediately after giving effect to such Issuer Business Combination Event, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(iii) before the effective time of any Issuer Business Combination Event, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that (i) such Issuer Business Combination Event (and, if applicable, the related supplemental indenture) comply with Section 6.01(A); and (ii) all conditions precedent to such Issuer Business Combination Event provided in this Indenture have been satisfied.

(B) Subsidiary Guarantors. Unless otherwise permitted pursuant to this Indenture (including Section 12.04), the Issuer shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into, dissolve or liquidate voluntarily into, or (directly, or indirectly through one or more of its Subsidiaries) sell, lease or otherwise Dispose, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of the consolidated assets (other than to the Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor) (a “Guarantor Business Combination Event” together with a Issuer Business Combination Event, a “Business Combination Event”) unless:

(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Guarantor”) either (x) is the Subsidiary Guarantor or (y) if not the Subsidiary Guarantor, is an entity that expressly assumes (by executing and delivering to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, at or before the effective time of such Guarantor Business Combination Event, a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(B)) and any other amendments to the Security Documents all of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which it is a party, the Notes and its Guarantee;

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such Guarantor Business Combination Event, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(iii) before the effective time of any Guarantor Business Combination Event, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that (i) such Guarantor Business Combination Event (and, if applicable, the related supplemental indenture) comply with Section 6.01(B); and (ii) all conditions precedent to such Guarantor Business Combination Event provided in this Indenture have been satisfied.

(C) For purposes of this Section 6.01, the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer to another Person, which properties and assets, if held by the Issuer instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer to another Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article 6 shall not apply to any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of assets between or among the Issuer and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and, in such an event, the Issuer shall not be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which the Issuer is a party, and the Notes.

 

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Section 6.02. SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED.

At the effective time of any Business Combination Event that complies with Section 6.01, the Successor Entity (if not the Issuer) or the Successor Guarantor (if not the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor), as the case may be, will succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Notes and/or Guarantee, as is applicable, with the same effect as if such Successor Entity or Successor Guarantor, as the case may be, had been named as the Issuer or Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, in this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Notes and such Guarantee; provided that in the case of a lease, the predecessor Issuer will be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Article 7. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 7.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

(A) Definition of Events of Default. “Event of Default” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) a default in the payment when due (whether at maturity, upon Redemption or Repurchase Upon Change of Control or otherwise) of the principal of, or the Redemption Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for, any Note;

(ii) a default in the payment when due of interest on any Note, which default continues for thirty (30) consecutive days;

(iii) the Issuer’s failure to deliver, when required by this Indenture, a Change of Control Notice, and such failure is not cured within five (5) Business Days after its occurrence;

(iv) [Reserved];

(v) [Reserved];

(vi) a default in any Note Party’s obligations under Article 6;

(vii) [Reserved];

(viii) a default in any of the Note Parties’ obligations or agreements under the Note Documents (other than a default set forth in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of this Section 7.01(A)) where such default is not cured or waived within thirty (30) days after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee, or to the Issuer and the Trustee by Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, which notice must specify such default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default”;

 

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(ix) a default by a Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to indebtedness for money borrowed (whether pursuant to one or more agreements or other instruments) of greater than $87,500,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of an Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries, whether such indebtedness exists as of the Issue Date or is thereafter created, either: (x) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity, or (y) constituting a failure to pay the principal of any such indebtedness when due and payable (after the expiration of all applicable grace periods) at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, and, in the case of either subclause (x) or (y), such acceleration is not, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, rescinded or annulled or such indebtedness is not paid or discharged, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding in accordance with this Indenture;

(x) one or more final judgments being rendered against an Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of at least $87,500,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate (excluding any amounts covered by insurance), where such judgment is not discharged or stayed within sixty (60) days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal the same has expired, if no such appeal has commenced; or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;

(xi) a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, either:

(1) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

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

(3) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property (other than that arises from any solvent liquidation or restructuring of such Subsidiary(ies) in the ordinary course of business that shall result in the net assets of such Subsidiary(ies) being transferred to or otherwise vested in such Note Party or any of its other subsidiaries on a pro rata basis or on a basis more favorable to such Note Party);

(4) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(5) takes any comparable action under any foreign Bankruptcy Law; or

(6) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

 

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

(1) is for relief against a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary case or proceeding;

(2) appoints a custodian of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, or for any substantial part of the property of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

(3) orders the winding up or liquidation of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or

(4) grants any similar relief under any foreign Bankruptcy Law,

(5) and, in each case under this Section 7.01(A)(xii), such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for at least sixty (60) days;

(xiii) if the obligation of any Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or any other Note Document to which any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party is limited or terminated by operation of law or by such Subsidiary Guarantor (other than, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or such other Note Documents), or if any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform any obligation under its Guarantee or under any such Note Document, or repudiates or revokes or purports to repudiate or revoke in writing any obligation under its Guarantee, or under any such Note Document, or any Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to exist for any reason (other than as permitted or not prohibited by this Indenture); or

(xiv) any security interest and Liens purported to be created by any Security Document on any of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby having a fair market value in excess of $25,000,000 (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents) shall cease to be in full force and effect or shall cease to give the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created and granted under such Security Documents (including a valid and perfected security interest in and Lien on all of the Collateral thereunder in favor of the Collateral Agent with the priority required by the Security Documents) with respect to any of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby having a fair market value in excess of $25,000,000 (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents), or shall be asserted by or on behalf of any Note Party not to be a valid and perfected security interest in or Lien on the Collateral covered thereby (in each case, except (i) the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of possessory Collateral received by it, which failure is not a direct result of any act, omission, advice or direction of any Note Party, (ii) in connection with a transaction expressly permitted under the Note Documents, in each case solely to the extent such termination or release is permitted under the Note Documents or (iii) as a result of the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance Article 9).

 

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(B) Cause Irrelevant. Each of the events set forth in Section 7.01(A) will constitute an Event of Default regardless of the cause thereof or whether voluntary or involuntary or 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.

Section 7.02. ACCELERATION.

(A) Automatic Acceleration in Certain Circumstances. If an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) occurs with respect to the Issuer (and not solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer), then the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding will immediately become due and payable without any further action or notice by any Person.

(B) Optional Acceleration. Subject to Section 7.03, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) with respect to the Issuer and not solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, then either (i) the Trustee, by notice to the Issuer, or (ii) Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, by notice to each of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, may declare the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding (subject to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent being indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to such Agent’s reasonable satisfaction) to become due and payable immediately. For the avoidance of doubt, if such Event of Default is not continuing at the time such notice is provided (that is, such Event of Default has been cured or waived as of such time), then such notice will not be effective to cause such amounts to become due and payable immediately.

(C) Rescission of Acceleration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the Majority Holders, by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may, on behalf of all Holders, rescind any acceleration of the Notes and its consequences if (i) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) all existing Events of Default (except the non-payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes that has become due solely because of such acceleration) have been cured or waived; and (iii) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under this Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their agents and counsel have been paid. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 7.03. SOLE REMEDY FOR A FAILURE TO REPORT.

(A) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary, to the extent the Issuer elects, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to the Issuer’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 3.03(A) or Section 3.03(B) shall, for the first 180 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default, consist exclusively of the right to receive Special Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for the first 90 days during which such Event of Default is continuing, beginning

 

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on, and including, the date on which such an Event of Default first occurs and 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the next 90 day period during which such Event of Default is continuing. In no event shall the rate of any such Special Interest payable under this Section 7.03 exceed a total rate of 0.50% per annum on any Note, regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to the requirement to pay such Special Interest. If the Issuer so elects, such Special Interest shall be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Notes. On the 181st day after such Event of Default (if the Event of Default relating to the Issuer’s failure to file is not cured or waived prior to such 181st day), the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02. The provisions of this Section 7.03 will not affect the rights of Holders of Notes in the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default other than the Issuer’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 3.03(A) or Section 3.03(B). In the event the Issuer does not elect to pay Special Interest following an Event of Default in accordance with this Section 7.03 or the Issuer elected to make such payment but does not pay the Special Interest when due, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02.

(B) In order to elect to pay Special Interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of any Event of Default described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Issuer must notify all Holders of the Notes and the Trustee of such election prior to the beginning of such 180-day period. Upon the failure to timely give such notice, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02.

(C) If Special Interest accrues on any Note, then, no later than five (5) Business Days before each date on which such Special Interest is to be paid, the Issuer will deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee and the Paying Agent stating (i) that the Issuer is obligated to pay Special Interest on such Note on such date of payment; and (ii) the amount of Special Interest that is payable on such date of payment. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have no duty to determine whether any Special Interest is payable or the amount thereof.

Section 7.04. OTHER REMEDIES.

(A) Trustee May Pursue All Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of any amounts due with respect to the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of this Indenture or the Notes.

(B) Procedural Matters. The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in such proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy following an Event of Default will not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of, or acquiescence in, such Event of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article 7 to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture.

 

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Section 7.05. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

A Default that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (v) or (viii) of Section 7.01(A) (that, in the case of clause (viii) only, results from a Default under any covenant that cannot be amended without the consent of each affected Holder), can be waived only with the consent of each affected Holder. Each other Default or Event of Default may be waived, on behalf of all Holders, by the Majority Holders. If an Event of Default is so waived, then it will cease to exist. If a Default is so waived, then it will be deemed to be cured and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed not to occur. However, no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right arising therefrom.

Section 7.06. [RESERVED].

Section 7.07. CONTROL BY MAJORITY.

Majority Holders may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or exercising any trust or power conferred on it under this Indenture. However, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law, this Indenture or the Notes, or that, subject to Section 10.01, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (provided, however, that neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have any affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction would prejudice any Holder) or may involve the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in liability, unless the Trustee or the Collateral Agent is offered security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent that may result from the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s following such direction.

Section 7.08. LIMITATION ON SUITS.

No Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes (except to enforce its rights to receive the principal of, or the Redemption Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for, or interest on, any Notes) unless:

(A) such Holder has previously delivered to the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(B) Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding deliver a request to the Trustee to pursue such remedy;

(C) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee that may result from the Trustee’s following such request;

(D) the Trustee does not comply with such request within sixty (60) calendar days after its receipt of such request and such offer of security or indemnity; and

 

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(E) during such sixty (60) calendar day period, the Majority Holders do not deliver to the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such request.

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder. The Trustee will have no duty to determine whether any Holder’s use of this Indenture complies with the preceding sentence.

Section 7.09. ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO INSTITUTE SUIT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAYMENT.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes (but without limiting Section 8.01), the right of each Holder of a Note to bring suit for the enforcement of any payment or delivery, as applicable, of the principal of, or the Redemption Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for, or any interest on, such Note on or after the respective due dates therefor provided in this Indenture and the Notes, will not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 7.10. COLLECTION BY TRUSTEE.

The Trustee will have the right, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (v) of Section 7.01(A), to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the total unpaid or undelivered principal of, or Redemption Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for, or interest on, , the Notes, as applicable, and, to the extent lawful, any Default Interest on any Defaulted Amounts, and such further amounts sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including compensation provided for in Section 10.06.

Section 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST ISSUER.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), the Trustee shall be subject to §311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act (excluding any creditor relationship listed in §311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) regarding the collection of claims against the Issuer (or any such other obligor).

Section 7.12. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.

The Trustee has the right to (A) file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes) or its creditors or property and (B) collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims. Each Holder authorizes any custodian in such proceeding to make such payments to the Trustee, and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to the Trustee for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.06. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements, advances and other amounts out of the estate in such proceeding, is denied for any reason, payment of the same will be secured by a lien on, and will be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other

 

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properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding (whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise). Nothing in this Indenture will be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize, consent to, accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 7.13. [RESERVED].

Section 7.14. SUMS RECEIVED BY DEBTORS AND THIRD-PARTY SECURITY PROVIDERS.

Without prejudice to Section 7.11, if the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor receives or recovers any sum which, under the terms of any of the Note Documents, should have been paid to the Collateral Agent, the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor will:

(a) hold an amount of that receipt or recovery equal to the relevant Note Obligations (or, if less, the amount received or recovered) on trust for (or otherwise on behalf and for the account of) the Collateral Agent and promptly pay that amount to the Collateral Agent (or as the Collateral Agent may direct) for application in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

(b) promptly pay an amount equal to the amount (if any) by which the receipt or recovery exceeds the relevant Note Obligations to the Collateral Agent (or as the Collateral Agent may direct) for application in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 7.15. PRIORITIES.

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Collateral Agent and Trustee (acting in any capacity) will pay or deliver in the following order any money or other property that it collects pursuant to this Article 7:

 

  First:

to the Collateral Agent and Trustee (acting in any capacity) and their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under this Indenture or any other Note Documents, including payment of all fees and expenses (including any reasonably incurred and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel; provided that there shall not be more than one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction, and, to the extent necessary, special counsel), compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

  Second:

in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on, , the Notes in default in the order of the date due of the payments of such interest, as the case may be, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon such overdue payments at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

 

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  Third:

in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount (including, if applicable, the payment of Change of Control Repurchase Price) then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on the overdue principal and, to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal (including, if applicable, the Change of Control Repurchase Price) and interest without preference or priority of principal over interest, or of interest over principal or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal (including, if applicable, the Change of Control Repurchase Price) and accrued and unpaid interest; and

 

  Fourth:

the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer (or to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Subsidiary Guarantor, to such Subsidiary Guarantor), or such other Person as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee (acting in any capacity) may fix a record date and payment date for any payment or delivery to the Holders pursuant to this Section 7.15, in which case the Trustee will instruct the Issuer to, and the Issuer will, deliver, at least fifteen (15) calendar days before such record date, to each Holder and the Trustee a notice stating such record date, such payment date and the amount of such payment or nature of such delivery, as applicable.

Section 7.16. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or the Notes or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court, in its discretion, may (A) require the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and (B) assess reasonable costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that this Section 7.16 does not apply to any suit by the Trustee, any suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 7.09, any suit by one or more Holders of more than ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, or any suit by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note.

Section 7.17. COLLATERAL AGENT EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

The Note Parties, jointly and severally, agree to reimburse or pay the Trustee or Collateral Agent for its fees, expenses and indemnities incurred under this Indenture or the Note Documents (including all reasonably incurred and documented fees and disbursements of legal counsel; provided that there shall not be more than one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and, to the extent necessary, special counsel) that may be paid or incurred by the Trustee or Collateral Agent in enforcing, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Note Obligations or Guaranteed Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, the Note Parties under this Indenture or the Security Documents.

 

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Article 8. AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 8.01. WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8.02, the Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement the Note Documents without the consent of any Holder to:

(A) cure any ambiguity or correct any omission, defect or inconsistency in any Note Document;

(B) add guarantees or security with respect to the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents, including for greater certainty, to allow any additional Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture, a joinder to any Security Document and/or a Guarantee with respect to the Notes;

(C) add to the Issuer’s covenants or Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred on the Issuer;

(D) provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents, as applicable, pursuant to, and in compliance with, Article 6;

(E) [Reserved];

(F) [Reserved];

(G) [Reserved];

(H) evidence or provide for the acceptance of the appointment, under this Indenture, of a successor Trustee or Collateral Agent;

(I) effect such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, waiver or consent in respect of the First-Priority Debt Documents that shall apply automatically to the Note Documents without the consent of any Holder in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreements;

(J) provide for the entry into an Additional Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to, and in compliance with, Section 14.02;

(K) comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary in a manner that does not adversely affect the rights of the Holders;

(L) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with any qualification of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect;

 

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(M) make any other change to any Note Document that does not, individually or in the aggregate with all other such changes, adversely affect the rights of the Holders, as such, in any material respect as determined by the Issuer in good faith;

(N) effect, confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge or any guarantee of or Lien securing the Note Obligations when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by the Note Documents;

(O) provide for or confirm the issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to the terms of Section 2.03(B);

(P) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided, however, that compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law;

(Q) mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Note Obligations, in any property or assets (whether or not constituting Collateral), including any which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a Lien is required to be granted to or for the benefit of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any of the Security Documents or any other Note Document;

(R) to add additional junior priority Secured Parties to any Security Documents, to the extent permitted to be so secured by this Indenture;

(S) to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto in connection with the incurrence of any Note Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture;

(T) in the case of any Security Document, to include therein any legend required to be set forth therein pursuant to the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement or to modify any such legend as required by the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement; or

(U) to provide for the succession of any parties to the Security Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature) in connection with an amendment, renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing, restructuring, replacement, supplementing or other modification from time to time of, the First Lien Notes, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes, the Second Lien Renesas Notes or any other agreement that is permitted by this Indenture.

 

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Section 8.02. WITH THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

(A) Generally. Subject to Sections 8.01, 7.05 and 7.09, the immediately following sentence and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent may, with the consent of the Majority Holders, amend or supplement the Note Documents or waive compliance with any provision of the Note Documents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing sentence, but subject to Section 8.01 and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, without the consent of each affected Holder, no amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, or waiver of any provision of the Note Documents, may:

(i) reduce the principal, or extend the stated maturity, of any Note;

(ii) reduce the Redemption Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for any Note or change the times at which, or the circumstances under which, the Notes may or will be redeemed or repurchased by the Issuer;

(iii) reduce the rate, or extend the time for the payment, of interest on any Note;

(iv) [Reserved];

(v) impair the rights of any Holder set forth in Section 7.09 (as such Section is in effect on the Issue Date);

(vi) change the ranking of the Notes in any manner adverse to the Holders;

(vii) make any Note payable in money, or at a place of payment, other than that stated in this Indenture or the Note;

(viii) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to any amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification; or

(ix) make any change to any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification provision of this Indenture or the Notes that requires the consent of each affected Holder.

For the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section 8.02(A), no amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes, or waiver of any provision of this Indenture or the Notes, may change the amount or type of consideration due on any Note (whether on an Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Repurchase Date or the Maturity Date, or otherwise), or the date(s) or time(s) such consideration is payable or deliverable, as applicable, without the consent of each affected Holder.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without the consent of the Supermajority Holders, no amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, or waiver of any provision of the Note Documents, may (i) subordinate the priority with respect to the Guarantees guaranteeing, or the Liens securing, the Note Obligations and then only to the extent not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreements; (ii) release all or substantially all of the Guarantees, or all or substantially all of the Collateral, except as otherwise may be provided or permitted under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Note Documents; or (iii) discharge any Note Party from its Note Obligations, in each case, except as otherwise may be provided or permitted under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Note Documents.

 

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(B) Holders Need Not Approve the Particular Form of any Amendment. A consent of any Holder pursuant to this Section 8.02 need approve only the substance, and not necessarily the particular form, of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.

(C) Subsidiary Guarantors Bound. The Subsidiary Guarantors shall be bound by any supplemental indenture or amendment to the Note Documents entered into by the Issuer and the Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and may but shall not be required to execute any such supplemental indenture or amendment, other than in the case of a joinder of a new Subsidiary Guarantor the execution by such Subsidiary Guarantor.

Section 8.03. [RESERVED].

Section 8.04. NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS.

As soon as reasonably practicable after any amendment, supplement or waiver pursuant to Sections 8.01 or 8.02 becomes effective, the Issuer will send to the Holders and the Trustee notice that (A) describes the substance of such amendment, supplement or waiver in reasonable detail and (B) states the effective date thereof; provided, however, that the Issuer will not be required to provide such notice to the Holders if such amendment, supplement or waiver is included in a periodic or current report filed by the Issuer with the SEC within four (4) Business Days of its effectiveness. The failure to send, or the existence of any defect in, such notice will not impair or affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 8.05. REVOCATION, EFFECT AND SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS; SPECIAL RECORD DATES; ETC.

(A) Revocation and Effect of Consents. The consent of a Holder of a Note to an amendment, supplement or waiver will bind (and constitute the consent of) each subsequent Holder of any Note to the extent the same evidences any portion of the same indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note, subject to the right of any Holder of a Note to revoke (if not prohibited pursuant to Section 8.05(B)) any such consent with respect to such Note by delivering notice of revocation to the Trustee before the time such amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.

(B) Special Record Dates. The Issuer may, but is not required to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent or take any other action in connection with any amendment, supplement or waiver pursuant to this Article 8. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8.05(A), only Persons who are Holders as of such record date (or their duly designated proxies) will be entitled to give such consent, to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, regardless of whether such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date; provided, however, that no such consent will be valid or effective for more than one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days after such record date.

(C) Solicitation of Consents. For the avoidance of doubt, each reference in this Indenture or the Notes to the consent of a Holder will be deemed to include any such consent obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, any Notes.

 

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(D) Effectiveness and Binding Effect. Each amendment or supplement to this Indenture, or waiver of any Default, Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, will become effective in accordance with its terms and, when it becomes effective with respect to any Note (or any portion thereof), will thereafter bind every Holder of such Note (or such portion).

Section 8.06. NOTATIONS AND EXCHANGES.

If any amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, then the Trustee or the Issuer may, in its discretion, require the Holder of such Note to deliver such Note to the Trustee so that the Trustee may place an appropriate notation prepared by the Issuer on such Note and return such Note to such Holder. Alternatively, at its discretion, the Issuer may, in exchange for such Note, issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a new Note that reflects the changed terms. The failure to make any appropriate notation or issue a new Note pursuant to this Section 8.06 will not impair or affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 8.07. TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

The Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, will execute and deliver any amendment or supplement to the Note Documents authorized pursuant to this Article 8, provided, however, that the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, need not (but may, in their respective sole and absolute discretion) execute or deliver any such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents that adversely affects the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be. In executing any amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be will be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.02) will be fully protected in relying on, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, provided in accordance with Section 13.02 and in addition to the documents delivered pursuant to Section 13.03, each stating that (A) the execution and delivery of such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and the other applicable Note Documents; and (B) in the case of the Opinion of Counsel, such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents is valid, binding and enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture.

Article 9. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

Section 9.01. TERMINATION OF ISSUER’s OBLIGATIONS.

(A) Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged, and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued under this Indenture, when:

(i) all Notes then outstanding (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.13) have (i) been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (ii) become due and payable (whether on a Redemption Date, a Change of Control Repurchase Date, the Maturity Date, or otherwise) for an amount of cash that has been fixed;

(ii) the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor has caused there to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, or with the Paying Agent, in each case for the benefit of the Holders, or has otherwise caused there to be delivered to the Holders, cash sufficient to satisfy all amounts or other property due on all Notes then outstanding (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.13);

 

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(iii) the Issuer has performed all other Note Obligations by it under this Indenture; and

(iv) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the conditions precedent to the discharge of this Indenture have been satisfied;

provided, however, that Article 10 and Section 11.01 will survive such discharge and, until no Notes remain outstanding, Section 2.15 and the obligations of the Trustee and the Paying Agent with respect to money or other property deposited with them will survive such discharge.

At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee will acknowledge the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(B) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

(i) The Issuer may at any time terminate:

(1) all of the Note Parties’ obligations under the Notes and this Indenture with respect to the Note Parties (“Legal Defeasance Option”), and

(2) the Note Parties’ obligations under Sections 3.03, 3.07, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18, 3.19 and 3.20, Article 6, and Sections 7.01(A)(vi), 7.01(A)(viii), 7.01(A)(ix), 7.01(A)(x) and 7.01(A)(xiii) (“Covenant Defeasance Option”).

(ii) The Issuer may exercise its Legal Defeasance Option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its Covenant Defeasance Option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) by exercising its Legal Defeasance Option or its Covenant Defeasance Option, the obligations of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligation.

(iii) If the Issuer exercises its Legal Defeasance Option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its Covenant Defeasance Option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 7.01(A)(vi), 7.01(A)(viii), 7.01(A)(ix), 7.01(A)(x) or 7.01(A)(xiii).

 

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(iv) The Issuer may exercise its Legal Defeasance Option or its Covenant Defeasance Option only if:

(1) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants, investment bank or financial advisory firm expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(3) no Default specified in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) with respect to the Issuer shall have occurred or is continuing on the date of such deposit;

(4) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other material agreement or instrument binding on the Issuer;

(5) in the case of the Legal Defeasance Option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their maturity date within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer;

(6) such exercise does not impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(7) in the case of the Covenant Defeasance Option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(8) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance of the Notes to be so defeased as contemplated by this Section 9.01(B) have been complied with; and

(9) before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article 4.

(v) Article 10 and Section 11.01 will survive any defeasance and, until no Notes remain outstanding, Section 2.15 and the obligations of the Trustee and the Paying Agent with respect to money or other property deposited with them will survive such defeasance.

(vi) At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee will acknowledge the defeasance of those obligations that the Issuer terminates.

Section 9.02. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.

The Trustee shall hold in trust money (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article 9. The Trustee shall apply the deposited money through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

Section 9.03. REPAYMENT TO ISSUER.

Subject to applicable unclaimed property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will promptly notify the Issuer if there exists (and, at the Issuer’s request, promptly deliver to the Issuer) any cash or other property held by any of them for payment or delivery on the Notes that remain unclaimed two (2) years after the date on which such payment or delivery was due. After such delivery to the Issuer, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will have no further liability to any Holder with respect to such cash or other property, and Holders entitled to the payment or delivery of such cash or other property must look to the Issuer for payment as a general creditor of the Issuer.

Section 9.04. REINSTATEMENT.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash or other property deposited with it pursuant to Section 9.01 because of any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or other governmental authority that enjoins, restrains or otherwise prohibits such application, then the discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Section 9.01 will be rescinded; provided, however, that if the Issuer thereafter pays or delivers any cash or other property due on the Notes to the Holders thereof, then the Issuer will be subrogated to the rights of such Holders to receive such cash or other property from the cash or other property, if any, held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable.

 

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Article 10. TRUSTEE

Section 10.01. DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(B) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel that are provided to the Trustee and conform to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(C) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its negligent action or negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph will not limit the effect of Section 10.01(B);

(ii) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 7.06.

(D) Each provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (A), (B) and (C) of this Section 10.01, regardless of whether such provision so expressly provides.

(E) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability.

(F) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it, except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds, except to the extent required by law.

 

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Section 10.02. RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document that it believes to be genuine and signed or presented by the proper Person, and the Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in such document.

(B) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel; and the advice of such counsel, or any Opinion of Counsel, will constitute full and complete authorization of the Trustee to take or omit to take any action in good faith in reliance thereon without liability.

(C) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any such agent appointed with due care.

(D) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith and that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture.

(E) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.

(F) The Trustee need not exercise any rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holder unless such Holder has offered the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense that it may incur in complying with such request or direction.

(G) The Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any punitive, special, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(H) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and will be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities under this Indenture, the Collateral Agent and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act under this Indenture; provided, however, that (i) the Collateral Agent and each other agent, custodian, and other Person employed to act under this Indenture shall be liable only to the extent of its gross negligence or willful misconduct and (ii) in and during an Event of Default, only the Trustee (in its capacity as such) and not any other Agent (including for the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent) shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

(I) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated in this Indenture will not be construed as duties.

 

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(J) Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar will 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 Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants, members of the Depositary or owners of beneficial interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements of this Indenture.

(K) Except with respect to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes payable by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.02 and any Default or Event of Default information contained in the Officer’s Certificate delivered to it pursuant to Section 3.06(B), the Trustee will have no duty to monitor the Issuer’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

(L) The Trustee shall at no time have any responsibility or liability for or in respect to the legality, validity or enforceability of any Collateral or any arrangement or agreement between the Issuer and any other Person with respect thereto, or the legality, validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of any security interest created in any of the Collateral or maintenance of any perfection and priority, or for or with respect to the sufficiency of the Collateral following an Event of Default. The Trustee shall have no obligation to give, execute, deliver, file, record, authorize or obtain any financing statements, notices, instruments, documents, agreements, consents or other papers as shall be necessary to (i) create, preserve, perfect or validate the security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents or enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights under the Security Documents with respect to such pledge and security interest. In addition, the Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability (i) in connection with the acts or omissions of the Issuer in respect of the foregoing.

(M) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice at the Corporate Trust Office of any event which is in fact such a default, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture and states on its face that a Default or Event of Default has occurred.

(N) Whether or not expressly incorporated therein, the Trustee shall have the benefit of all of the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee under this Indenture when acting under any other Note Document.

Section 10.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of any Note and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any of its Affiliates with the same rights that it would have if it were not Trustee; provided, however, that if the Trustee acquires a “conflicting interest” (within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), then it must eliminate such conflict within ninety (90) days or resign as Trustee. Each Note Agent will have the same rights and duties as the Trustee under this Section 10.03.

Section 10.04. TRUSTEE’s DISCLAIMER.

The Trustee will not be (A) responsible for, and makes no representation as to, the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes or Note Documents; (B) accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture; (C) responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee; and (D) responsible for any statement or recital in this Indenture, the Notes or Note Documents or any other document relating to the sale of the Notes or this Indenture, other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

 

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Section 10.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs, then the Trustee will send Holders a notice of such Default or Event of Default within ninety (90) days after it occurs or, if it is not actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at such time, promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) after it becomes known to a Responsible Officer; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any Note, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and for so long as it in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of the Holders. The Trustee will not to be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, or knowledge of any cure of any Default or Event of Default, unless written notice of such Default or Event of Default, or of such cure of any Default or Event of Default, has been given by the Issuer or any Holder to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and such notice states on its face that a Default or Event of Default has occurred.

Section 10.06. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY.

(A) The Issuer will, from time to time, pay the Trustee and the Collateral Agent reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and the other Note Documents and services under this Indenture and the other Note Documents. The Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. In addition to the compensation for the Trustee’s and Collateral Agent’s services, the Issuer will reimburse the Trustee and the Collateral Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it under this Indenture, including the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s agents and counsel.

(B) The Issuer will indemnify the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, suits, actions, proceedings at law or in equity, and any other costs, fees or expenses incurred by the Indemnified Parties arising out of or in connection with the acceptance and administration of its duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture and the Note Documents against the Issuer (including this Section 10.06) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, except to the extent any such loss, liability, suit, action, proceeding at law or in equity or other cost, fee or expense may be attributable to such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, will promptly notify the Issuer of any third party claim for which it may seek indemnity, but the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s failure to so notify the Issuer will not relieve the Issuer of its obligations under

 

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this Section 10.06(B). The Issuer will defend such claim, and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent will cooperate in such defense. If the Trustee or the Collateral Agent is advised by counsel that it may have defenses available to it that are in conflict with the defenses available to the Issuer, or that there is an actual or potential conflict of interest, then the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may retain separate counsel, and the Issuer will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent incurred in evaluating whether such a conflict exists). The Issuer need not pay for any settlement of any such claim made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

(C) The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 10.06 will survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, the repayment of the Notes and the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture.

(D) To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section 10.06, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of, or interest on, particular Notes, which lien will survive the discharge of this Indenture.

(E) If the Trustee or the Collateral Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default pursuant to Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) occurs, then such expenses and the compensation for such services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration for purposes of priority under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 10.07. REPLACEMENT OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.07, a resignation or removal of the Trustee, and the appointment of a successor Trustee, will become effective only upon such successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 10.07.

(B) The Trustee may resign at any time and be discharged from the trust created by this Indenture by so notifying the Issuer. The Majority Holders may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the requested date of removal. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any series of Notes after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes of such series for at least six (6) months;

(ii) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 10.09;

(iii) the Trustee is adjudged to be bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(iv) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(v) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

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(C) If the Trustee resigns or is removed, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, then (i) the Issuer will promptly appoint a successor Trustee; and (ii) at any time within one (1) year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Majority Holders may appoint a successor Trustee to replace such successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

(D) If a successor Trustee does not take office within sixty (60) days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, then the retiring Trustee (at the expense of the Issuer), the Issuer or the Holders of at least ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(E) If the Trustee, after written request by a Holder of at least six (6) months, fails to comply with Section 10.09, then such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(F) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer, upon which notice the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will send notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will, upon payment of all amounts due to it under this Indenture, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, which property will, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to the lien provided for in Section 10.06(D).

(G) For as long as any First-Priority Obligations remain outstanding, the successor Trustee shall concurrently with its appointment as the successor Trustee accede as a party to the Intercreditor Agreements.

Section 10.08. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, sells or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, then such corporation will become the successor Trustee without any further act.

Section 10.09. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION.

There will at all times be a Trustee under this Indenture that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia, that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. Neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary Guarantor nor any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall serve as Trustee under this Indenture.

 

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Section 10.10. REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act (including, without limitation, Sections 313(a), (b) and (c)) at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty (60) days after each July 15 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such July 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve (12) months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted).

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with the SEC and with the Issuer.

Article 11. COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 11.01. COLLATERAL AGENT.

(A) The Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby appoint U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association to act as Collateral Agent, and each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof, irrevocably consents and agrees to such appointment on its behalf. The Collateral Agent shall have the privileges, powers and immunities as set forth in this Indenture and the Security Documents. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(B) The Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that the Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral on behalf of and for the benefit of all of the Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, in each case pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and that the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of all the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, and that the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents in respect of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and actions that may be taken thereunder. The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in the Collateral which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.

 

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(C) Each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof, irrevocably consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure, exercises of remedies and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, agrees to the appointment of the Collateral Agent and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent (i) to enter into the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, and perform its obligations and exercise its rights, powers and discretions under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance therewith, (ii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and (iii) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(D) The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder or under any Security Documents or Intercreditor Agreements to which it is a party, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Collateral Agent shall have no liability for any action taken, or errors in judgment made, in good faith by it or any of its officers, employees or agents, unless it shall have been grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

(E) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to seek and shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Majority Holders as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Except as otherwise provided in the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Majority Holders and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Majority Holders with respect to any action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from taking such action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Majority Holders, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(F) The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee or the Majority Holders (subject to this Section 11.01(F)), subject to the terms of the Security Documents.

(G) Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Affiliates shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof.

 

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(H) If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Note Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and to the extent such proceeds or payments are permitted to be paid to the Trustee or the Holders under the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article 7, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(I) Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have any obligation whatsoever to any of the Holders or to the Trustee, in the case of the Collateral Agent, to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all of the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the value, genuineness, validity, ownership, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreements other than to exercise such rights, authorities and powers pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Majority Holders or as otherwise provided in the Security Documents. Further to the foregoing and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any Security Document or any Intercreditor Agreement, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any Uniform Commercial Code financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent be responsible for, or makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Security Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

(J) The Collateral Agent shall exercise reasonable care in the custody of any Collateral in its possession or control or any income thereon. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which they accord similar property held for its own benefit and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in value of any of the Collateral, including, without limitation, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith. The Collateral Agent shall be permitted to use overnight carriers to transmit possessory collateral and shall be not liable for any items lost or damages in transmit.

 

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(K) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written request of the Issuer signed by an Officer (a “Security Document Order”), the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Security Document to be executed after the Issue Date. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Security Document Order referred to in, this Section 11.01(K), (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Security Document and (iii) certify that all covenants and conditions precedent, if any to the execution and delivery of the Security Document have been compiled with; provided that in no event shall the Collateral Agent be required to enter into a Security Document that it reasonably determines adversely affects the Collateral Agent. The Holders, through their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Security Documents.

(L) Upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of a Security Document Order, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Intercreditor Agreement to be entered into after the Issue Date. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is an Intercreditor Agreement referred to in this Section 11.01(L), (ii) certify that such Intercreditor Agreement complies with the terms of this Indenture and the Note Documents and that all covenants and conditions precedent, if any, under this Indenture and the Note Documents to such execution and delivery have been complied with and (iii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Intercreditor Agreement; provided that in no event shall the Collateral Agent be required to enter into any intercreditor agreement if it reasonably determines that such document adversely affects the Collateral Agent. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such intercreditor agreements and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on such Security Document Order.

(M) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.15 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(N) In acting under this Indenture or any other Note Document, the Collateral Agent shall have all the rights and protections provided hereunder and in the Note Documents as well as the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee (including its rights to be compensated, reimbursed and indemnified under Section 10.06). For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Collateral Agent hereunder, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified prior to taking action, shall survive the satisfaction, discharge or termination of this Indenture or its earlier termination, resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent, in such capacity.

(O) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the Mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has reasonably determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

 

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(P) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Security Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent or the Trustee shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral. In the event that the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §9601, et seq., or otherwise cause the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to incur liability under CERCLA or any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign as the Collateral Agent or the Trustee or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other Person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to the discharge, release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment. If at any time it is necessary or advisable for property to be possessed, owned, operated or managed by any Person (including the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) other than the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors, subject to the terms of the Security Documents, the Majority Holders shall direct the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to appoint an appropriately qualified Person (excluding the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) who they shall designate to possess, own, operate or manage, as the case may be, the property.

(Q) Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to effect or maintain insurance or to renew any policies of insurance or to make any determination or inquire as to the sufficiency of any policies of insurance carried by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or to report, or make or file claims or proof of loss for, any loss or damage insured against or that may occur, or to keep itself informed or advised as to the payment of any taxes or assessments, or to require any such payment to be made.

 

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(R) Without limiting the foregoing, with respect to any Collateral located outside of the United States (“Foreign Collateral”), the Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to directly enforce, or exercise rights and remedies in respect of, or otherwise exercise any judicial action or appear before any court in any jurisdiction outside of the United States. To the extent the Majority Holders determine that it is necessary or advisable in connection with any enforcement or exercise of rights with respect to Foreign Collateral to exercise any judicial action or appear before any such court, the Majority Holders shall be entitled to direct the Collateral Agent to appoint a local agent for such purpose (subject to the receipt of such protections, security and indemnities as the Collateral Agent shall determine in its sole discretion to protect the Collateral Agent from liability).

(S) Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for the actions or omissions of the any other agent under the Intercreditor Agreements, nor shall the Trustee or Collateral Agent be obligated at any time to indemnify any person in connection with the exercise of any remedy under the Security Documents.

(T) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by notice to the Trustee and the Issuer, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent may be removed by the Issuer at any time, upon thirty days written notice to the Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns or is removed under this Indenture, the Issuer shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed and has accepted such appointment within 30 days after the Collateral Agent gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Agent may (at the expense of the Issuer), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Agent or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring or removed Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder, the provisions of this Section 11.01 (and Section 10.06) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring or removed Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation or removal be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(U) If the Collateral Agent consolidates, mergers, converts into or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to another corporation, such successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Collateral Agent.

(V) Permissive rights of the Collateral Agent to do things enumerated in this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements shall not be construed as a duty.

(W) Nothing in this Indenture shall require the Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers hereunder.

(X) The Collateral Agent 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 the Holders, unless the Holders have offered to the Collateral Agent security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with such direction or request.

 

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(Y) In no event shall the Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Collateral Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(Z) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 13.03. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely on and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the advice of counsel or other professionals retained or consulted by the Collateral Agent.

(AA) The Collateral Agent may act through attorneys or agents and shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of any such attorney or agent appointed with due care.

(BB) The Collateral Agent shall not be charged with knowledge of (i) any events or other information, or (ii) any default under this Indenture or any other agreement unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have actual knowledge thereof.

(CC) The Collateral Agent may conclusively rely and shall 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 them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties, not only as to due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein.

(DD) The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority; acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; terrorism; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions; or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility.

(EE) The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 7.07. The Majority Holders may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Collateral Agent or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Collateral Agent. However, the Collateral Agent may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or the Notes, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or that the Collateral Agent determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (provided that the Collateral Agent shall not have an affirmative duty to determine whether any

 

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such action is unduly prejudicial) or would involve the Collateral Agent in personal liability; provided, however, that the Collateral Agent may take any other action deemed proper by the Collateral Agent that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses) that may be caused by taking or not taking such action.

(FF) The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law).

(GG) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary set forth herein, whenever reference is made herein or in any other Note Document to any discretionary action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Collateral Agent or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Collateral Agent, (i) such provision shall refer to the Collateral Agent exercising each of the foregoing at the instruction of the Majority Holders (or such other number or percentage of Holders as is required by the Note Documents) and (ii) it is understood that in all cases, the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any such action if it shall not have received written instruction, advice or concurrence from the Majority Holders (or such other number or percentage of Holders as shall be expressly provided for in any Note Document) in respect of such action.

Section 11.02. DELEGATION OF DUTIES.

(A) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent (each, an “Agent”) may execute any of their respective duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof)) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, attorneys-in-fact or Subagent selected by it with reasonable care. Each Agent may also from time to time, when it deems it to be necessary or desirable, appoint one or more trustees, co-trustees, collateral co-agents, collateral subagents or attorneys-in-fact (each, a “Subagent”) with respect to all or any part of the Collateral; provided, that no such Subagent shall be authorized to take any action with respect to any Collateral unless and except to the extent expressly authorized in writing by the applicable Agent. Should any instrument in writing from the Issuer or any other Note Party be required by any Subagent so appointed by an Agent to more fully or certainly vest in and confirm to such Subagent such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Issuer shall, or shall cause such Note Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by such Agent. If any Subagent, or successor thereto, shall become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Subagent, to the extent permitted by law, shall automatically vest in and be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent until the appointment of a new Subagent.

 

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Section 11.03. SECURITY DOCUMENTS.

(A) The Holders and the other Secured Parties authorize the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to release any Collateral or Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with Section 11.05 or Section 12.04 or if approved, authorized or ratified in accordance with Article 8.

(B) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby authorize and instruct the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to, without any further consent of any Holders or any other Secured Party (other than any consent of the Holders to the form of any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, to the extent required by Article 8 or Article 14), enter into (or acknowledge and consent to) or amend, renew, extend, supplement, restate, replace, waive or otherwise modify (i) the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement or (iii) any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, in each case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness or other obligations that is to be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is expressly permitted (including with respect to priority) under this Indenture and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations to the provisions thereof. The Holders and the other Secured Parties agree that (x) the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer as to whether any such other Liens are expressly permitted and that all covenants and conditions precedent to the execution of such Intercreditor Agreement have been complied with and (y) any Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in compliance with the terms of this Indenture shall be binding on the Secured Parties, and each Holder and the other Secured Parties hereby agrees that it will take no actions contrary to the provisions of, if entered into in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and if applicable, any Intercreditor Agreement. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to any provider of any Indebtedness or other obligations expressly permitted by Section 3.12 to extend credit to the Note Parties and such persons are intended third-party beneficiaries of such provisions.

Section 11.04. AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN.

(A) Each Holder, by its acceptance of Notes, consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document and each Intercreditor Agreement as originally in effect and as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, authorizes and directs the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, the Security Documents and each Intercreditor Agreement permitted hereunder and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to bind the holders of Notes and other holders of Note Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and each Intercreditor Agreement permitted hereunder and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

(B) Subject to the provisions of each Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the holders of Notes any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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(C) Subject to the provisions of Article 7, Section 10.01 and Section 10.02, each Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders, direct, on behalf of the Holders, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(i) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the Liens securing the Note Obligations;

(ii) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(iii) collect and receive payment of any and all Note Obligations.

(D) Subject to the terms of each Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the Liens securing the Note Obligations or the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

(E) Notwithstanding anything contrary under this Indenture, the Holders are deemed to have consented to, and shall be deemed to have directed the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent (as applicable), to execute and deliver any of the following amendments, waivers and other modifications to the Note Documents, in each case, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 8.07, Section 13.02 and Section 13.03:

(i) to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing any Indebtedness replacing the applicable series of First Lien Notes permitted to be incurred under the First-Priority Debt Documents that represent First-Priority Obligations shall be senior to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Note Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, which obligations shall continue to be secured on a second-priority basis on the Collateral;

(ii) to give effect to any amendment, waiver or consent to any of the First-Priority Debt Documents, to the extent applicable to the Collateral (including the release of any Liens on Collateral), that applies automatically to the comparable Security Documents with respect to the security interest of the Holders in such Collateral pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements; and

 

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(iii) upon any cancellation, repayment, redemption or termination of the First Lien Notes and all other First-Priority Obligations without a replacement thereof, and to the extent the Note Obligations have not been discharged in full in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements, to establish that the Liens on the Collateral securing any Note Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall become first priority perfected Lien, except as set forth below under Section 11.05.

Section 11.05. RELEASE OR SUBORDINATION OF LIENS.

(A) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Note Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released: (i) in full upon the occurrence of the Termination Date subject to Section 11.05(D); (ii) upon the Disposition of such Collateral by any Note Party to a person that is not (and is not required to become) a Note Party in a transaction not prohibited by this Indenture (and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) to the extent that such Collateral comprises property leased to a Note Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iv) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Holders (or such other percentage of the Holders whose consent may be required in accordance with Article 8), (v) to the extent that the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture (and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry), (vi) as required by the Trustee to effect any Disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents and (vii) as required by the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement. The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Note Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically subordinated to the Liens securing other Indebtedness or other obligations to the extent expressly contemplated by this Indenture and required by any Intercreditor Agreement permitted by this Indenture. Any such release or subordination shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Note Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Note Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Note Parties, including the proceeds of any Disposition, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Note Documents.

(B) [Reserved].

(C) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby authorize the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence and confirm the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor or the release or subordination of any Collateral pursuant to Section 11.03 and the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.05 and to return to the Issuer all title documents (including share certificates (if any)) held by it in respect of any Collateral, all without the further consent or joinder

 

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of any Holder or any other Secured Party. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Note Document relating to any such Collateral or Subsidiary Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be made. In connection with any release or subordination hereunder, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall promptly (and the Secured Parties hereby authorize the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Issuer and at the Issuer’s expense in connection with the release or subordination of any Liens or release of Guarantees created by any Note Document in respect of such Subsidiary, property or asset; provided that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate containing such certifications as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall reasonably request (and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Note Document, on the Termination Date, upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral (including returning to the Issuer all share certificates (if any) held by it in respect of any Collateral), and to release all obligations under any Note Document, whether or not on the date of such release there may be any contingent indemnification obligations or expense reimbursement claims not then due; provided that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer containing such certifications as the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request (and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry).

(D) Any such release of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such Guaranteed Obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. The Issuer agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (and their respective representatives) in connection with taking such actions to release security interest in all Collateral and all obligations under the Note Documents as contemplated by this Section 11.05(D).

Section 11.06. POWERS EXERCISABLE BY RECEIVER OR TRUSTEE.

(A) In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 11 upon the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the release, subordination, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 11; and if the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent.

 

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Section 11.07. RELEASE UPON TERMINATION OF THE ISSUER’s OBLIGATIONS.

(A) In the event (i) that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that all the Note Obligations (other than any contingent indemnification obligations or expense reimburse claims not then due) have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Note Obligations, and all such Note Obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a discharge of this Indenture occurs under Article 9, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the Holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary at the request and expense of the Issuer to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Section 11.08. RIGHT TO REALIZE ON COLLATERAL AND ENFORCE GUARANTEES.

(A) Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, in case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Note Party, (i) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of any Note Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuer) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise (A) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of any or all of the Note Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Holders and the Trustee and any Subagents allowed in such judicial proceeding, and (B) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and (ii) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under the Note Documents. Nothing contained herein 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 Note Obligations or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

(B) Anything contained in any of the Note Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party hereby agree that (a) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Subsidiary Guarantee, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Trustee, on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Security Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent, and (b) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Collateral Agent or any Holder may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as

 

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agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Note Party or Note Parties in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Supermajority Holders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Note Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other Disposition.

Section 11.09. PARALLEL DEBT (COVENANT TO PAY THE COLLATERAL AGENT).

(A) The Issuer and, subject to Section 12.06, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Collateral Agent amounts equal to any amounts owing from time to time by the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor to any Secured Party under any Note Document as and when those amounts are due and payable.

(B) The Issuer, each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral Agent acknowledges that the obligations of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 11.09(A) above are several and are separate and independent from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the corresponding obligations of the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor to any Secured Party under any Note Document (its “Corresponding Debt”), nor shall it constitute the Collateral Agent and any Note Party as joint creditors of any Corresponding Debt, nor shall the amounts for which the Issuer or each Subsidiary Guarantor is liable under Section 11.09(A) above (its “Parallel Debt”) be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt; provided that:

(i) The Parallel Debt of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be decreased and the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment to the extent that its Corresponding Debt has been paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged; and

(ii) The Corresponding Debt of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be decreased and the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment to the extent that its Parallel Debt has been paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged.

(C) For the purposes of this Section 11.09, the Collateral Agent acts in its own name and not as a trustee, and its claims in respect of the Parallel Debt shall not be held on trust and instead shall be owed to it in its individual capacity. The Collateral granted under the Security Documents to the Collateral Agent to secure the Parallel Debt is granted to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as Parallel Debt Creditor and shall not be held on trust.

(D) All moneys received or recovered by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 11.09, and all amounts received or recovered by the Collateral Agent from or by the enforcement of any Collateral granted to secure the Parallel Debt, shall be applied in accordance with this Indenture.

 

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Article 12. GUARANTEES

Section 12.01. SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.

(A) Subject to this Article 12, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees, on a senior basis, as primary obligors and not as a surety, to each the Collateral Agent for the benefit of each Holder (and its successors and assigns) of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and each of the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Documents and/or the Note Obligations of the Issuer:

(i) that the principal of, interest on, or any other amount payable to the Holders, under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest (including but not limited to any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of applicable Bankruptcy Law after any insolvency proceeding), on the Notes, if any, if lawful; and

(ii) that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or the payment of any other amount payable to the Holders, the same shall be promptly paid in full when due (such obligations in clauses (i) and (ii) being herein collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”).

(B) Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Subsidiary Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the Guaranteed Obligations in the same manner and to the same extent as the Note Obligations.

(C) The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree that their Guaranteed Obligations shall be absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety of Subsidiary Guarantor, all to the fullest extent permitted by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder which remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above, to the fullest extent permitted by law:

(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Subsidiary Guarantors, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(ii) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

(iii) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Indenture, Notes, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

 

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(iv) any Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of any Holder, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected; or

(v) the release of any other Subsidiary Guarantor.

(D) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Note Obligations.

(E) Until terminated in accordance with Section 12.05, each Subsidiary Guarantee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee or other similar officer be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’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 of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

(F) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations may be accelerated as provided in Section 7.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances in Section 7.02) for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Section 7.02, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee. The Subsidiary Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Subsidiary Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees.

(G) Each Subsidiary Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in enforcing any rights under the Note Documents.

 

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(H) Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Section 12.01; provided that no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuer under this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Documents shall have been paid in full in cash.

(I) Each payment to be made by a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

(J) Each Subsidiary Guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held in connection with the Note Documents or any of them.

Section 12.02. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY.

(A) To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 12.01, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture) shall be executed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor by one of its authorized officers.

(B) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 12.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee on the Notes. If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates a Note, the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be valid nevertheless.

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

Section 12.03. [RESERVED].

Section 12.04. RELEASES OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.

(A) The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released:

(i) in connection with (x) any disposition (including by way of merger or consolidation) of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor (or the Equity Interests of the direct parent of such Subsidiary Guarantor) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Note Party, to the extent such sale is permitted under any First-Priority Debt Documents and is not in violation of Section 3.16 or (y) any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of that Subsidiary Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise solely to the extent that such sale or other disposition is permitted pursuant to Section 6.01, in each case, only provided that the applicable guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor under First-Priority Debt Documents is also released under any First-Priority Debt Documents substantially at the same time;

 

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(ii) the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that no Event of Default occurs as a result thereof or has occurred or is continuing;

(iii) upon exercise of the Legal Defeasance Option or Covenant Defeasance Option, or the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the other Note Documents, in each case in accordance with Article 9;

(iv) if such Subsidiary Guarantor is an Immaterial Subsidiary (or would be deemed an Immaterial Subsidiary (as defined in the First Lien Notes Indenture)) under the First Lien Notes Indenture; provided that no Event of Default occurs as a result thereof or has occurred or is continuing;

(v) upon the occurrence of the Termination Date subject to Section 11.05(D);

(vi) if such Subsidiary Guarantor is an Excluded Subsidiary or upon consummation of any transaction not prohibited hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary Guarantor ceasing to constitute a Subsidiary or otherwise becoming an Excluded Subsidiary; or

(vii) in accordance with the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement.

(B) Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any of the conditions described in Section 12.04(A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) has occurred and the conditions precedent to such transactions provided for in this Indenture have been complied with, the Trustee shall promptly execute any documents reasonably requested by the Issuer in order to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest, premium, if any, on, the Notes and for the other obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 12.

Section 12.05. INSTRUMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONEY.

(A) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article 12 constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Holder (to the extent that the Holder is otherwise entitled to exercise rights and remedies hereunder) or the Trustee, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213 to the extent permitted thereunder.

 

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Section 12.06. LIMITATION ON SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR LIABILITY.

(A) Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any bankruptcy law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law or any comparable laws in any other jurisdiction to the extent applicable to any Subsidiary Guarantee. The Guaranteed Obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the Guaranteed Obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law or any comparable laws in any other jurisdiction and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Section 12.07. “TRUSTEETO INCLUDE PAYING AGENT.

(A) In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article 12 shall in each case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully and for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article 12 in place of the Trustee.

Article 13. MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01. NOTICES.

Any notice or communication by any Note Party or the Trustee, Collateral Agent and Note Agent to the other must be provided in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given in writing if delivered in person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission, electronic transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic communication or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or to the other’s address, which initially is as follows:

If to any Note Party:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, North Carolina 27703

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legaldept@wolfspeed.com

If to the Trustee or Collateral Agent:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

333 Commerce Street, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Wolfspeed, Inc.

Facsimile No.: 615-251-0737

 

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Any Note Party, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, by notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses (including facsimile numbers and electronic addresses) for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: (A) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (B) five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (C) when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile, electronic transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic communication; and (D) the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

All notices or communications required to be made to a Holder pursuant to this Indenture must be made in writing and will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing if mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to its address shown on the Register; provided, however, that a notice or communication to a Holder of a Global Note may, but need not, instead be sent pursuant to the Depositary Procedures (in which case, such notice will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing). The failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder, or any defect in such notice or communication, will not affect its sufficiency with respect to any other Holder.

If the Trustee is then acting as the Depositary’s custodian for the Notes, then, at the reasonable request of the Issuer to the Trustee, the Trustee will cause any notice prepared by the Issuer to be sent to any Holder(s) pursuant to the Depositary Procedures, provided such request is evidenced in a Issuer Order delivered, together with the text of such notice, to the Trustee at least two (2) Business Days before the date such notice is to be so sent. For the avoidance of doubt, such Issuer Order need not be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee will not have any liability relating to the contents of any notice that it sends to any Holder pursuant to any such Issuer Order.

If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it will be deemed to have been duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, (A) whenever any provision of this Indenture requires a party to send notice to another party, no such notice need be sent if the sending party and the recipient are the same Person acting in different capacities; and (B) whenever any provision of this Indenture requires a party to send notice to more than one receiving party, and each receiving party is the same Person acting in different capacities, then only one such notice need be sent to such Person.

Facsimile, documents executed, scanned and transmitted electronically and electronic signatures, including those created or transmitted through a software platform or application, will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Indenture and all matters and agreements related thereto, with such facsimile, scanned and electronic signatures having the same legal effect as original signatures. The parties agree that this Indenture or any instrument, agreement or document necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or related hereto or thereto (including addendums, amendments, notices, instructions, communications with

 

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respect to the delivery of securities or the wire transfer of funds or other communications) (“Executed Documentation”) may be accepted, executed or agreed to through the use of an electronic signature in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations in effect from time to time applicable to the effectiveness and enforceability of electronic signatures. Any Executed Documentation accepted, executed or agreed to in conformity with such laws, rules and regulations will be binding on all parties to this Indenture to the same extent as if it were physically executed and each party hereby consents to the use of any third- party electronic signature capture service providers as may be reasonably chosen by a signatory hereto or thereto. When the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a Note Agent acts on any Executed Documentation sent by electronic transmission, the Trustee, Collateral Agent or Note Agent will not be responsible or liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from its reliance upon and compliance with such Executed Documentation, notwithstanding that such Executed Documentation (A) may not be an authorized or authentic communication of the party involved or in the form such party sent or intended to send (whether due to fraud, distortion or otherwise); or (B) may conflict with, or be inconsistent with, a subsequent written instruction or communication; it is understood and agreed that the Trustee, Collateral Agent and each Note Agent will conclusively presume that Executed Documentation that purports to have been sent by an authorized officer of a Person has been sent by an authorized officer of such Person. The party providing Executed Documentation through electronic transmission or otherwise with electronic signatures agrees to assume all risks arising out of such electronic methods, including the risk of the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a Note Agent acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 13.02. DELIVERY OF OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee or to the Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture or the other Note Documents (other than with respect to clause (B) below, the initial authentication of Notes under this Indenture), the Issuer will furnish to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent:

(A) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent that complies with Section 13.03 and states that, in the opinion of the signatory thereto, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture and, as applicable, the other Note Documents, relating to such action have been satisfied; and

(B) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that complies with Section 13.03 and states that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants, if any, have been satisfied.

Section 13.03. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL.

Upon any application or request by the Issuer to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to take or refrain from taking any action under any provision of this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent such certificates and opinions as may be required under the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act made a part of this Indenture and hereunder. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an Officer of the Issuer, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

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Each Officer’s Certificate (other than an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 3.06) or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture or the other Note Documents will include:

(A) a statement that the signatory making such certificate or opinion thereto has read such covenant or condition;

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

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

(D) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such signatory, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Officer of the Issuer or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous.

Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

Section 13.04. RULES BY THE TRUSTEE, THE REGISTRAR AND THE PAYING AGENT.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 13.05. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS.

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of any Note Party, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of such Note Party under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting any Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

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Section 13.06. GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE NOTE PARTIES, THE TRUSTEE AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE HOLDERS BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES.

Section 13.07. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.

Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture or the transactions contemplated by this Indenture may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America or the courts of the State of New York, in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in Section 13.01 will be effective service of process for any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court. Each of the Note Parties, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and Holders (by its acceptance of any Note) irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 13.08. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.

Neither this Indenture nor the Notes may be used to interpret any other indenture, note, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person, and no such indenture, note, loan or debt agreement may be used to interpret this Indenture or the Notes.

Section 13.09. SUCCESSORS.

All agreements of each Note Parties in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture will bind their respective successors.

Section 13.10. FORCE MAJEURE.

The Trustee, Collateral Agent and each Note Agent will not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility under this Indenture, the Notes or any other Note Document by reason of any occurrence beyond its control (including any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, act of terrorism or unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).

 

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Section 13.11. U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT.

In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Terrorism Law”), the Trustee, Collateral Agent and the Note Agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee, Collateral Agent and/or the Note Agents. Accordingly, each of the Note Parties (including any Person that executes an agreement to become a Subsidiary Guarantor) agrees to provide to the Trustee, Collateral Agent or any of the Note Agents (or any additional party that executes an agreement to become party to this Indenture as a trustee, a collateral trustee or a note agent) upon its request from time to time such documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any of the Note Agents (or any such additional party) to comply with Applicable Terrorism Law.

Section 13.12. CALCULATIONS.

The Issuer will be responsible for making all calculations called for under this Indenture or the Notes, including, but not limited to, accrued interest on the Notes.

The Issuer will make all calculations in good faith, and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on all Holders. The Issuer will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee, and the Trustee may rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Issuer’s calculations without independent verification. The Issuer will promptly forward a copy of each such schedule to a Holder upon its written request therefor.

Section 13.13. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Indenture or the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Indenture or the Notes will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.14. COUNTERPARTS.

This Indenture and the Notes may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture or the Notes and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF transmission or similar imaged document transmitted by electronic transmission (including .jpeg file or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, including Orbit, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, or any other similar platform identified by the Issuer and reasonably available at no undue burden or expense to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent) shall be deemed original signatures for all purposes hereunder and shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture or the Notes as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture or Notes for all purposes. Any electronically signed document delivered via email from a person purporting to be an authorized officer shall be considered signed or executed by such authorized officer on behalf of the applicable Person. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such electronic signature without any liability with respect thereto.

 

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Section 13.15. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.

The table of contents and the headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture.

Article 14. INTERCREDITOR ARRANGEMENTS

Section 14.01. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTs.

(A) The Indenture is entered into with the benefit of, and subject to the terms of, the Intercreditor Agreements and each Holder, by accepting a Note, shall be deemed to have agreed to, and accepted the terms and conditions of, the Intercreditor Agreements, to have authorized the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the Intercreditor Agreements on its behalf, and to have agreed that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be bound by the Intercreditor Agreements, as well as this Indenture. The rights, duties and benefits of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are governed by this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent any provision of any of the Intercreditor Agreements conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and be controlling.

Section 14.02. ADDITIONAL INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTs.

(A) At the request of the Issuer, at the time of, or prior to, the incurrence of any Indebtedness that is expressly permitted under this Indenture to share the Collateral or that is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, the Issuer, the relevant Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent will (without the consent of Holders), to the extent authorized and permitted under the then-existing applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s), enter into such amendments, supplements or agreements as necessary to add the obligees of such Indebtedness and/or any representative(s) thereof as party to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s), or an additional intercreditor agreement (each such agreement, an “Additional Intercreditor Agreement”); provided that such amendments, supplements, agreements or such Additional Intercreditor Agreement will not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under the Indenture or any Intercreditor Agreement.

(B) At the written direction of the Issuer and without the consent of the Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, to the extent authorized and permitted under the applicable Intercreditor Agreement, shall upon the written direction of the Issuer from time to time enter into one or more Additional Intercreditor Agreements or amendments or supplements of the Intercreditor Agreement(s) to: (1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency therein; (2) increase the amount of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred or issued under this Indenture of the types covered thereby that may be incurred by the Issuer or any other Note Party that is subject thereto (including the addition of provisions relating to new Indebtedness); (3) add Subsidiary Guarantors thereto; (4) further secure the Notes (including any Additional Notes); (5) allow any

 

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successor Trustee and/or Collateral Agent to accede as a party thereto; or (6) make any other such change thereto that does not adversely affect the rights of holders of the Notes in any material respect; provided that such Additional Intercreditor Agreement will not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under the Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreements.

(C) In executing any execution of the Additional Intercreditor Agreement or the amendments or supplements of an Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with this Section 14.02, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, will be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.02) will be fully protected in relying on, an Officer’s Certificate provided in accordance with Section 13.02, stating that the execution and delivery of such Additional Intercreditor Agreement or such amendments or supplements of the Intercreditor Agreement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and the other Note Documents;

(D) Each Holder, by accepting a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to and accepted the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreements and each Additional Intercreditor Agreement (in each case as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or other Note Documents), to have authorized the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to become a party to any such Intercreditor Agreements, and Additional Intercreditor Agreement(s), and any amendment referred to in Article 8 and the Trustee or the Collateral Agent will not be required to seek the consent of any Holders to perform their respective obligations under and in accordance with this Article 14.

[The Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]

 

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

 

Issuer:
WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:   /s/ Melissa Garrett
 

Name:  Melissa Garrett

 

Title:   Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

Subsidiary Guarantor:
WOLFSPEED TEXAS LLC
By:   /s/ Melissa Garrett
 

Name:  Melissa Garrett

 

Title:   Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture]


Trustee:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent
By:   /s/ Wally Jones
 

Name:  Wally Jones

 

Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture]


Collateral Agent:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Collateral Agent
By:   /s/ Wally Jones
 

Name:  Wally Jones

 

Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF NOTE

[Insert Global Note Legend, if applicable]

[Insert “THIS IS A PIK NOTE”, if applicable]

[THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE NOTES WERE ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT” (“OID”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. NOTEHOLDERS MAY OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF ANY OID, THE ISSUE PRICE, THE ISSUE DATE, AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY RELATING TO THE NOTES BY CONTACTING THE ISSUER.]

Wolfspeed, Inc.

7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031

CUSIP No.: [_][[Insert for a unrestricted CUSIP number:]]

Certificate No. [_]

ISIN No.: [_][[Insert for a unrestricted ISIN number:]]

Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation, for value received, promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [  ] dollars ($[_]) [(as revised by the attached Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note)]† on June 15, 2031 and to pay interest thereon, as provided in the Indenture referred to below, until the principal and all accrued and unpaid interest are paid or duly provided for.

Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on [December 15, 2025], unless otherwise provided in the definition of “Interest Payment Date.”

Regular Record Dates: June 1 and December 1, unless otherwise provided in the definition of “Regular Record Date.”

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

Insert bracketed language for Global Notes Only.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Wolfspeed, Inc. has caused this instrument to be duly executed as of the date set forth below.

 

    WOLFSPEED, INC.
Date:         By:    
        Name:
        Title:

 

A-2


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Date:         By:    
        Authorized Signatory

 

A-3


Wolfspeed, Inc.

7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), designated as its 7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”), all issued or to be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Indenture”), between the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used in this Note without definition have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

The Indenture sets forth the rights and obligations of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders and the terms of the Notes. The Notes are secured pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements (as defined in the Indenture) and the Security Documents referred to in the Indenture and subject to the Liens securing First-Priority Obligations as defined in the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, to the extent that any provision of this Note conflicts with the provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture will control.

1. Interest. This Note will accrue interest at a rate and in the manner set forth in Section 2.05 and Section 2.22 of the Indenture. Stated Interest on this Note will begin to accrue from, and including, [date].

With respect to each Interest Period, interest on the Notes shall, at the option of the Issuer, (i) accrue at a rate per annum equal to 7.00% and be payable in the form of Cash Interest, or (ii) accrue at a rate per annum equal to 12.00% and be payable in kind. Payment of interest in kind shall be (x) if the Notes are represented by one or more Physical Notes, by issuing PIK Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the relevant amount of interest to be paid in kind (rounded down to the nearest $1.00) and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, authenticate and deliver such PIK Notes in the form of Physical Notes for original issuance to the Holders on the relevant Regular Record Date, as shown by the records of the Registrar and (y) if the Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes registered in the name of, or held by, DTC or its nominee on the relevant Regular Record Date, by increasing the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Global Notes by an amount equal to the amount of interest to be paid in kind (rounded down to the nearest $1.00) and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, will increase the principal amount of the outstanding Global Note by such amount. Interest will be calculated based on the outstanding principal of the Notes as of the beginning of the applicable Interest Period rounded down to the nearest $1.00, provided that the Issuer shall be deemed to have elected to pay Cash Interest in accordance with clause (i) above unless the Issuer gives notice to the Trustee on or prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to an Interest Payment Date that the Issuer has elected to pay interest for the corresponding Interest Period in the form of PIK Interest in accordance with clause (ii) above.

 

A-4


2. Maturity. This Note will mature on June 15, 2031, unless earlier repurchased or redeemed.

3. Guarantees. The Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors as provided in Article 12 of the Indenture.

4. Method of Payment. Cash amounts due on this Note will be paid in the manner set forth in Section 2.04 of the Indenture. PIK Payments will be made in the manner set forth in Section 2.22 of the Indenture.

5. Persons Deemed Owners. The Holder of this Note will be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

6. Denominations; Transfers and Exchanges. All Notes will be in registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $1.00 principal amount and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. Subject to the terms of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note may transfer or exchange this Note by presenting it to the Registrar and delivering any required documentation or other materials.

7. Right of Holders to Require the Issuer to Repurchase Notes upon a Change of Control. If a Change of Control occurs, then each Holder will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) for cash in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 4.02 of the Indenture.

8. Redemption of the Notes. The Notes will be subject to Redemption for cash in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 4.03 of the Indenture.

9. Authorized Denominations. Each Note will have a minimum principal amount thereof equal to $1.00 or any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof.

10. [Reserved].

11. When the Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors May Merge, Etc. Article 6 of the Indenture places certain restrictions on the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ ability to be a party to a Business Combination Event.

12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs, then the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding may (and, in certain circumstances, will automatically) become due and payable in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Article 7 of the Indenture.

13. Amendments, Supplements and Waivers. The Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent, may amend or supplement the Note Documents or waive compliance with any provision of the Note Documents in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 7.05 and Article 8 of the Indenture.

 

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14. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture or the Notes or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting any Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

15. Authentication. No Note will be valid until it is authenticated by the Trustee. A Note will be deemed to be duly authenticated only when an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication of such Note.

16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or its assignee, such as TEN COM (tenants in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (custodian), and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

* * *

 

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To request a copy of the Indenture, which the Issuer will provide to any Holder at no charge, please send a written request to the following address:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, North Carolina 27703

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legaldept@wolfspeed.com

 

A-7


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

INITIAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE: $[  ]

The following exchanges, transfers or cancellations of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date  

Amount of Increase

(Decrease) in

Principal Amount of

this Global Note

 

Principal Amount of

this Global Note

After Such Increase

(Decrease)

  

Signature of

Authorized Signatory

of Trustee

 

 
* 

Insert for Global Notes only.

 

A-8


CHANGE OF CONTROL REPURCHASE NOTICE

Wolfspeed, Inc.

7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, by executing and delivering this Change of Control Repurchase Notice, the undersigned Holder of the Note identified below is exercising its Change of Control Repurchase Right with respect to (check one):

 

the entire principal amount of

 

$ ___________* aggregate principal amount of

the Note identified by CUSIP No. and Certificate No.

The undersigned acknowledges that this Note, duly endorsed for transfer, must be delivered to the Paying Agent before the Change of Control Repurchase Price will be paid.

 

Date:        

 

        (Legal Name of Holder)
      By:  

 

        Name:
        Title:

 

   Signature Guaranteed:
  

 

   Participant in a Recognized Signature
   Guarantee Medallion Program
   By:     
      Authorized Signatory
 
* 

Must be an Authorized Denomination.

 

A-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

Wolfspeed, Inc.

7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, the undersigned Holder of the within Note assigns to:

 

Name:          
Address:      

Social security or tax

identification number:

     

the within Note and all rights thereunder irrevocably appoints:

as agent to transfer the within Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him/her.

 

Date:        

 

        (Legal Name of Holder)
      By:  

 

        Name:
        Title:

 

   Signature Guaranteed:
  

 

   Participant in a Recognized Signature
   Guarantee Medallion Program
   By:     
      Authorized Signatory

 

A-10


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND

THIS IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS THE OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER 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 HEREON 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 SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE WILL 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 NOTE WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 2 OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO.

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [], 2025 among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (or its successor) (the “Issuer”),             (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”), under the indenture referred to below.

WHEREAS the Issuer (or its successor) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of September 29, 2025, providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s 7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”); and

WHEREAS, Section 8.01(B) of the Indenture provides that the parties may amend or supplement the Note Documents in order to add Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture, without the consent of the Holders; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the parties in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) as follows:

1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the provisions, including the limitations and conditions, set forth herein and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 12 thereof, and hereby further agrees to accede to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and be bound by the covenants therein applicable to Subsidiary Guarantors.

3. [Limitation on Guarantee. The Issuer, as it deems necessary and appropriate, to insert limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor language applicable to the relevant jurisdiction of such Subsidiary Guarantor.]

4. Releases. The Subsidiary Guarantee of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged in accordance with Section 12.04 of the Indenture.

 

C-1


5. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder shall be bound hereby.

6. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

7. Trustee and Collateral Agent Make No Representation. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent make no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.

8. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

9. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.

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

 

WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent

By:    
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

C-2


U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Collateral Agent
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

AGREED SECURITY PRINCIPLES

 

1.

Agreed Security Principles

 

  (a)

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Indenture to which this Exhibit D is attached.

 

  (b)

An Applicable Acceleration Event (as defined below) is “continuing” unless the relevant demand or notice has been revoked in accordance with the Note Documents.

 

  (c)

The guarantees and security required to be provided under the Note Documents will be given in accordance with the principles set out in this Exhibit D (the Agreed Security Principles). This Exhibit D identifies the Agreed Security Principles and addresses the manner in which the Agreed Security Principles will impact and determine the extent and terms of the guarantees and security proposed to be provided under any Note Documents.

 

  (d)

These Agreed Security Principles shall apply to any security or guarantee to be provided by, or over the Equity Interests in, any Foreign Subsidiary irrespective of where such person is organized or incorporated (and irrespective of what law governs the relevant security agreement).

 

2.

Guarantees

Subject to the guarantee limitations set out in the Note Documents and customary limitations in the relevant jurisdiction, each guarantee will be an upstream, cross-stream and downstream guarantee for the Note Obligations in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Agreed Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction (references to “security” to be read for this purpose as including guarantees).

 

3.

Secured Liabilities

Security documents will secure the Note Obligations in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Agreed Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction.

 

4.

Overriding Principle

 

  (a)

Subject to paragraph (b) below, the parties agree that the overriding intention is for security in respect of the Note Documents only to be granted over (subject, in each case, to any timeframes set out in the Note Documents for granting such security), (i) substantially all assets of each Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor (subject to customary exclusions and the terms of these Agreed Security Principles) in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is available; provided that a floating charge (or similar security) shall not be required to be granted or continue to subsist where to do so would be expected to have an adverse effect on the ability of the grantor to conduct its operations and business (as determined in good faith by such grantor and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes)) and, subject to the Collateral Agent’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with local counsel and at the expense of the Issuer as set forth in the Indenture) the Collateral Agent shall be required (and shall be pre-authorized) to issue a non-crystallization certificate (or

 

D-1


  similar certificate) solely at the request of the applicable grantor in an Officer’s Certificate (a) that such non-crystallization certificate (or similar certificate) is authorized or permitted by the Indenture (including, for purposes of clarity, this schedule), and (b) certifying that no event of default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is not available, (A) Material Real Property, (B) Material IP, (C) material bank accounts, (D) Equity Interests in Subsidiaries, (E) trade receivables, (F) inventory (unless such grant would be expected to have an adverse effect on the ability of the grantor to conduct its operations and business (as determined in good faith by such grantor and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes)) and (F) material intra-group receivables (Material Intercompany Receivables).

 

  (b)

Without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, no guarantees shall be required to be granted by and no security shall be required to be granted by (or over shares, ownership interests or investments in) any Person other than the Issuer and Subsidiaries thereof.

 

5.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction of Security

 

  (a)

All security (other than share security) will be governed by the law of, and secure only assets located in, (i) the jurisdiction of incorporation of the applicable grantor of the security (or, in respect of Equity Interests in a Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of incorporation of that person) and (ii) any other Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction.

 

  (b)

No action in relation to security (including any perfection step, further assurance step, filing or registration) will be required in jurisdictions other than (i) the jurisdiction where the grantor of security is incorporated and (ii) any other Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction, except as provided in Section 5(a) above insofar as it contemplates that security over Equity Interests in Subsidiaries may not be subject to the governing law of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the applicable grantor of security (the Relevant Share Security) in which case (and subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the other provisions of these Agreed Security Principles) security may be perfected in, and only to the extent required by, the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Subsidiary whose Equity Interests are subject to the Relevant Share Security.

 

6.

Excluded Jurisdictions

 

  (a)

The guarantees and security to be provided under the Note Documents in accordance with the Agreed Security Principles are only to be given by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries which are not incorporated in or organized in Japan, Turkey, Taiwan, Hungary, India, Italy, Switzerland, Dubai, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Malaysia and any other jurisdiction agreed between the Issuer and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) (acting reasonably) (together, theExcluded Jurisdictions).

 

  (b)

No guarantees shall be required to be given by and no security shall be required to be given by (or over shares, ownership interests or investments in) any person incorporated in an Excluded Jurisdiction.

 

  (c)

No guarantees or security shall be required to be governed by the law of, nor shall any security or perfection steps be required to be taken in, any Excluded Jurisdiction.

 

D-2


7.

Terms of Security Documents

The following principles will be reflected in the terms of any security taken in connection with the Note Documents:

 

  (a)

security will not be enforceable or crystallise until the Trustee has exercised its rights under the relevant acceleration provisions of the Indenture to declare all or part of the applicable Note to be immediately due and payable (an Applicable Acceleration Event) which is continuing;

 

  (b)

the beneficiaries of the security or any agent will only be able to exercise a power of attorney (or set-off granted to them under the terms of the Note Documents) following the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing;

 

  (c)

notification of receivables security to debtors will only be given (i) with respect to material receivables security and (ii) only if notice is required to perfect the Collateral Agent’s security interest in an applicable Foreign Jurisdiction;

 

  (d)

the security documents should only operate to create security rather than to impose new commercial obligations or repeat clauses in the Indenture (accordingly they should not contain additional representations, undertakings or indemnities (including in respect of insurance, information, inspections, limitations on dispositions, distributions or transfers, maintenance or protection of assets or the payment of fees, costs and expenses)) except to the extent that these are: (1) the same as or consistent with those contained in the Indenture; and (2) required for the creation or perfection of security;

 

  (e)

notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Security Document, the terms of a Security Document shall not operate or be construed so as to prohibit or restrict any transaction, matter or other step (or a grantor of security taking or entering into the same) or dealing in any manner whatsoever in relation to any asset (including all rights, claims, benefits, proceeds and documentation, and contractual counterparties in relation thereto) the subject of (or expressed to be the subject of) the Security Document if not prohibited by the Indenture or where the consent of the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) has been obtained and, subject to the Collateral Agent’s and the Trustee’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with counsel) the Collateral Agent and the Trustee shall promptly enter into such documentation and/or take such other action as is required by a relevant Note Party (acting reasonably) in order to facilitate any such transaction, matter or other step, including by way of executing any confirmation, consent to dealing, release or other similar or equivalent document, provided that any costs and expenses incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent entering into such documentation and/or taking such other action at the request of such Note Party pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Note Party;

 

  (f)

other than to the extent required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, no control agreement (or perfection by control or similar arrangements) or control, lockbox or similar arrangement shall be required with respect to any assets; provided that the foregoing shall not limit the requirement for notices to account banks;

 

D-3


  (g)

Security Documents will, where possible and practical, automatically create security over future assets of the applicable security provider of the same type as those already secured; where local law requires supplemental pledges or notices to be delivered in respect of future acquired assets in order for effective security to be created over that class of asset, such supplemental pledges or notices will be provided only upon request of the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) and at intervals no more frequent than quarterly;

 

  (h)

each Security Document must contain a clause which records that if there is a conflict between the security document and the Indenture or (if applicable) any Intercreditor Agreement specifically entered into in connection with the Indenture then (to the fullest extent permitted by law) the provisions of the Indenture or (as applicable) the Intercreditor Agreement will take priority over the provisions of the security document;

 

  (i)

there will be no “fixed” security over fixed assets, insurance policies, Intellectual Property, bank accounts, cash or receivables (other than Material Intercompany Receivables) or any obligation to hold or pay cash or receivables in a particular account until the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing; provided that “fixed” security over bank accounts shall be required to the extent required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture;

 

  (j)

all security shall only be given in favor of the Collateral Agent and not any other of the secured parties; “parallel debt” provisions will be used where necessary; and

 

  (k)

whether expressly so stated or not, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, under the Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to seek direction and be indemnified prior to taking action shall be deemed to be incorporated, mutatis mutandis in each security document.

 

8.

Intercompany and Trade Receivables

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, any person will be free to deal with, amend, waive, repay, prepay or terminate its Material Intercompany Receivables and trade receivables.

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, no lists of or other information in respect of Material Intercompany Receivables or trade receivables will be required to be provided.

 

  (c)

No security will be granted over any trade receivables which cannot be secured under the terms of the relevant contract.

 

  (d)

If required under local law, security over Material Intercompany Receivables will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

  (e)

Any security over trade receivables (including any list of trade receivables required) shall be structured so as not to cause the relevant Obligor to breach any data protection obligations owed by it in the underlying applicable contracts or under applicable law, and if such structuring is not possible (based on advice of external legal counsel), then such security shall not be required.

 

D-4


9.

Equity Interests

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing and Collateral Agent has given the applicable shareholder written notice, the legal title of the Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) subject to any Security Document will remain with the relevant grantor of the security (unless transfer of title on granting such security is customary in the applicable jurisdiction).

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing and Collateral Agent has given the applicable shareholder written notice, any grantor of share security will be permitted to retain and to exercise all voting rights and powers in relation to any Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) and other related rights charged by it and receive, own and retain all assets and proceeds in relation thereto without restriction or condition. With respect to security over shares in a German company only, to the extent required under German law, the voting rights will remain with the Obligor even after an Enforcement Event has occurred.

 

  (c)

Where customary and applicable as a matter of law and following a request by the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes), as soon as reasonably practicable (taking into account any stamping or other transfer requirements) following the granting of any share security over certificated Equity Interests, the applicable Equity Interest certificate (or other documents evidencing title to the relevant Equity Interests) and a stock transfer form executed in blank (or applicable law equivalent) will be provided to the Collateral Agent.

 

  (d)

No “fixed” security shall be required to be granted over any Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interest) in any person which are not directly owned by its immediate holding company.

 

  (e)

If required under local law, security over Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

10.

Bank Accounts

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event or a Control Triggering Event (with respect to Controlled Accounts only) has occurred and is continuing, any person will be free to deal, operate and transact business in relation to any bank accounts over which it grants security (including opening and closing accounts).

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, unless the Indenture expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use, there will be:

 

  (i)

no “fixed” security over bank accounts, cash or receivables (other than Material Intercompany Receivables), except as required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture; and

 

  (ii)

no obligation to hold, pay or sweep cash or receivables into a particular account.

 

D-5


  (c)

Where “fixed” security is required, if required by local law to perfect that security and if possible without disrupting operation of the account, notice of that security will be served on the account bank by the applicable grantor in relation to applicable accounts within ten (10) Business Days of the creation of that security and the applicable grantor of that security will use its reasonable endeavors to obtain an acknowledgement of that notice within twenty (20) Business Days of service. If the grantor of that security has used its reasonable endeavors but has not been able to obtain acknowledgement or acceptance, its obligation to obtain acknowledgement will cease on the expiry of that twenty (20) Business Day period. Irrespective of whether notice of that security is required for perfection, if the service of notice would prevent any Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor from using a bank account in the course of its business, except as required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, no notice of security will be served until the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing.

 

  (d)

Any security over bank accounts will be subject to any security interests in favour of the account bank which are created either by law or in the standard terms and conditions of the account bank, whether created or arising before or after the security in favour of the Secured Parties has been given. No grantor of security will be required to change its banking arrangements or standard terms and conditions in connection with the granting of bank account security.

 

  (e)

No control agreements (or perfection by control or similar arrangements) shall be required with respect to any Excluded Account.

 

  (f)

If any bank account is required to be opened as a matter of local law in order to perfect any share security required to be granted in accordance with these Agreed Security Principles (i) such bank account shall not be required to be opened prior to the date falling 90 days after such share security is granted and (ii) the Secured Parties authorise, instruct and direct the Collateral Agent to, and the Collateral Agent shall, promptly subject to the Collateral Agent’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with local counsel and at the expense of the Issuer as set forth in the Indenture) enter into any documentation requested by the applicable account bank in connection with such security.

 

  (g)

If required under applicable local law, security over bank accounts will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

  (h)

If the consent of an account bank is required to grant security over a bank account, and such bank account is not required to be subject to an Account Control Agreement by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor shall use its commercially reasonable endeavours to attempt once to obtain the consent of the relevant account bank. If the account bank is not willing to give such consent in the first instance, the Loan Party shall not be required to change its banking arrangements or to replace its account bank.

 

D-6


11.

Additional Principles

The Agreed Security Principles embody the recognition by all parties that there may be certain legal and practical difficulties in obtaining effective or commercially reasonable guarantees and/or security from all relevant Foreign Subsidiaries in each jurisdiction in which it has been agreed that guarantees and security will be granted by those members. In particular:

 

  (a)

general legal and statutory limitations, regulatory restrictions, financial assistance, anti-trust and other competition authority restrictions, corporate benefit, fraudulent preference, equitable subordination, “transfer pricing”, “thin capitalisation” (and in particular, guarantees and security shall not result in all or part of the Note Obligations being considered related debt for thin capitalisation purposes), “earnings stripping”, “exchange control restrictions”, “capital maintenance” rules and “liquidity impairment” rules, tax restrictions, retention of title claims, employee consultation or approval requirements and similar principles may limit the ability of a Foreign Subsidiary to provide a guarantee or security or may require that the guarantee or security be limited as to amount or otherwise and, if so, the guarantee or security will be limited accordingly, provided that, to the extent requested by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) before signing any applicable security or accession document, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary shall use reasonable endeavors (for a period of not more than ten (10) Business Days but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such guarantee or Security Document shall be subject to such limit;

 

  (b)

a key factor in determining whether or not a guarantee or security will be taken (and in respect of the security, the extent of its perfection and/or registration) is the applicable time and cost (including adverse effects on taxes, interest deductibility, stamp duty, registration taxes, notarial costs guarantee fees payable to any person that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof and all applicable legal fees) which will not be disproportionate to the benefit accruing to the Secured Parties of obtaining such guarantee or security, as determined in good faith by Issuer;

 

  (c)

subject always to sections 4 and 6 above, Foreign Subsidiaries will not be required to give guarantees or enter into Security Documents if it is not within the legal capacity of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary or if it would conflict with the fiduciary or statutory duties of their directors or contravene any applicable legal, regulatory or contractual prohibition or restriction, require the consent of any legal or regulatory authority or contractual counterparty or have the potential to result in a material risk of personal or criminal liability for any director or officer of or for the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that, to the extent requested by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (in each case, acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) before signing any applicable Security Document or guaranty document, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary shall, in relation to a contractual restriction only, use reasonable endeavors (for a period of not more than ten (10) Business Days but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such guarantee or Security Document shall be subject to such limit;

 

  (d)

it is expressly acknowledged that it may be either impossible or impractical to create security over certain categories of assets, as determined in good faith by Issuer, in which event security will not be taken over such assets;

 

  (e)

the giving of a guarantee, the granting of security and the registration and/or the perfection of the security granted will not be required if it would have an adverse effect on the ability of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course as otherwise permitted by the Indenture (including dealing with the secured assets and all contractual counterparties or amending, waiving or terminating (or allowing to lapse) any rights, benefits or obligations, in each case prior to an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing), and any requirement under the Agreed Security Principles to seek consent of any person or take or not take any other action shall be subject to this paragraph (e);

 

D-7


  (f)

any security document will only be required to be notarized if required by law in order for the relevant security to become effective or admissible in evidence;

 

  (g)

if not required by the laws of the applicable Foreign Jurisdiction, no title investigations or other diligence on assets will be required and no title insurance will be required;

 

  (h)

to the extent legally effective, all security will be given in favour of the Collateral Agent and not the Secured Parties individually; “parallel debt” provisions will be used where necessary (and included in the Indenture and not the individual security documents);

 

  (i)

neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary will be required to take any action in relation to any guarantees or security as a result of any assignment, sub-participation or transfer by a Secured Party (and neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall bear or otherwise be liable for any taxes, any notarial registration or perfection fees or any other costs, fees or expenses that result from any assignment, sub-participation or transfer by a Secured Party);

 

  (j)

other than a general security agreement and related filing, no perfection, filing or other action will be required with respect to assets of a type not owned by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

  (k)

no translation of any document relating to any security or any asset subject to any security will be required to be prepared or provided to the Secured Parties (or any agent or similar representative appointed by them at the relevant time) unless (i) required for such documents to become effective or admissible in evidence, and (ii) an Applicable Acceleration Event is continuing; provided, however, if the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is asked to sign a document in a language other than English, a courtesy translation shall be provided at the expense of the Issuer (upon which translation the Collateral Agent shall conclusively rely); and

 

  (l)

no security shall be required to be provided over any of the following property:

 

  (i)

any Real Property other than Material Real Property;

 

  (ii)

(x) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and letter of credit rights (in each case, other than to the extent a Lien on such assets or such rights can be perfected by filing of a general notice filing or similar) and (y) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $10,000,000;

 

  (iii)

pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contractual obligation (with respect to any such contractual obligation, only to the extent such restriction is permitted under Section 8.09(c) of the Indenture and such restriction is binding on such assets on the Closing Date or on the date of acquisition thereof and not entered into in contemplation thereof (and renewals and replacements thereof) (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law) or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

 

D-8


  (iv)

assets to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Issuer in consultation with the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes);

 

  (v)

any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law;

 

  (vi)

those assets as to which the Issuer and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) reasonably agree that the cost or other consequence of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby;

 

  (vii)

any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law;

 

  (viii)

pending “intent to use” trademark applications for which an Amendment to Allege Use or a Statement of Use under Section 1(c) or 1(d) of the Lanham Act has not been filed with or accepted by the United States Trademark Office;

 

  (ix)

any Excluded Account and any cash and Permitted Investments maintained in an Excluded Account;

 

  (x)

any Excluded Securities;

 

  (xi)

any Third Party Funds;

 

  (xii)

any equipment or other real or personal property or asset that is subject to a Lien permitted by clause (i) of Section 8.02 of the Indenture if permitted by Section 8.01 of the Indenture, if the agreement governing such Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) prohibits or requires the consent of any person (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such equipment or other real or personal property or asset and, in each case, such prohibition or requirement is permitted hereunder after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

  (xiii)

any other property mutually agreed upon between the Issuer and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes).

 

D-9


12.

Amendment

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between any term of these Agreed Security Principles and any term of a Security Document, the Secured Parties authorise, instruct and direct the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to, and the Collateral Agent and Trustee shall promptly (at the option and upon request of Issuer) and in accordance with Article XIII of the Indenture, enter into such amendments to such Security Document as shall be necessary or desirable to cure such conflict or inconsistency.

 

D-10

Exhibit 4.5

FINAL FORM

WOLFSPEED, INC.

as Issuer

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

as Subsidiary Guarantors

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of September 29, 2025

 

 

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031

THIS INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR

AGREEMENTS (AS DEFINED HEREIN).


WOLFSPEED, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025

 

§ 310(a)(1)

   10.09

(a)(2)

   10.09

(a)(3)

   Not Applicable

(a)(4)

   Not Applicable

(a)(5)

   10.09

(b)

   10.09

§ 311(a)

   10.10

(b)

   10.10

(c)

   Not Applicable

§ 312(a)

   2.08

(b)

   2.08

(c)

   2.08

§ 313(a)

   10.10

(b)(1)

   10.10

(b)(2)

   10.10

(c)

   10.10

(d)

   10.10

§ 314(a)

   3.03, 13.01, 13.03

(b)

   Not Applicable

(c)(1)

   13.02

(c)(2)

   13.02

(c)(3)

   Not Applicable

(d)

   Not Applicable

(e)

   13.03

(f)

   Not Applicable

§ 315(a)

   10.01

(b)

   10.05

(c)

   10.01

(d)

   10.01

(e)

   7.04

§ 316(a)(last sentence)

   2.16

(a)(1)(A)

   7.07

(a)(1)(B)

   7.05

(a)(2)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   7.09

(c)

   2.05

§ 317(a)(1)

   7.09

(a)(2)

   7.11

(b)

   2.07

§ 318(a)

   13.16

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.

 

- i -


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

     1  

SECTION 1.01.

  DEFINITIONS      1  

SECTION 1.02.

  OTHER DEFINITIONS      44  

SECTION 1.03.

  RULES OF CONSTRUCTION      46  

SECTION 1.04.

  CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT      47  

SECTION 1.05.

  LIMITED CONDITION TRANSACTIONS      48  

Article 2. THE NOTES

     49  

SECTION 2.01.

  FORM, DATING AND DENOMINATIONS      49  

SECTION 2.02.

  EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY      49  

SECTION 2.03.

  INITIAL NOTES AND ADDITIONAL NOTES      50  

SECTION 2.04.

  METHOD OF PAYMENT      50  

SECTION 2.05.

  ACCRUAL OF INTEREST; DEFAULTED AMOUNTS; WHEN PAYMENT DATE IS NOT A BUSINESS DAY      51  

SECTION 2.06.

  REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT      52  

SECTION 2.07.

  PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT TO HOLD PROPERTY IN TRUST      53  

SECTION 2.08.

  HOLDER LISTS      53  

SECTION 2.09.

  LEGENDS      54  

SECTION 2.10.

  TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES; CERTAIN TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS      55  

SECTION 2.11.

  EXCHANGE AND CANCELLATION OF NOTES TO BE CONVERTED OR TO BE REPURCHASED PURSUANT TO A REPURCHASE UPON FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE OR REDEMPTION      59  

SECTION 2.12.

  REMOVAL OF TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS      60  

SECTION 2.13.

  REPLACEMENT NOTES      60  

SECTION 2.14.

  REGISTERED HOLDERS; CERTAIN RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO GLOBAL NOTES      60  

SECTION 2.15.

  CANCELLATION      61  

SECTION 2.16.

  NOTES HELD BY THE ISSUER OR ITS AFFILIATES      61  

SECTION 2.17.

  TEMPORARY NOTES      61  

SECTION 2.18.

  OUTSTANDING NOTES      61  

SECTION 2.19.

  REPURCHASES BY THE ISSUER      62  

SECTION 2.20.

  CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS      63  

SECTION 2.21.

  TAX TREATMENT      63  

Article 3. COVENANTS

     63  

SECTION 3.01.

  CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION      63  

SECTION 3.02.

  PAYMENT ON NOTES      63  

SECTION 3.03.

  EXCHANGE ACT REPORTS      64  

SECTION 3.04.

  RULE 144A INFORMATION      64  

SECTION 3.05.

  [RESERVED]      64  

 

- ii -


SECTION 3.06.

  [RESERVED]      64  

SECTION 3.07.

  COMPLIANCE AND DEFAULT CERTIFICATES      64  

SECTION 3.08.

  STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS      65  

SECTION 3.09.

  CORPORATE EXISTENCE      65  

SECTION 3.10.

  [RESERVED]      65  

SECTION 3.11.

  FURTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS      65  

SECTION 3.12.

  INDEBTEDNESS      65  

SECTION 3.13.

  LIENS      72  

SECTION 3.14.

  SALE AND LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS      72  

SECTION 3.15.

  RESTRICTED PAYMENTS      73  

SECTION 3.16.

  ASSET DISPOSITIONS      76  

SECTION 3.17.

  DISPOSITION OF MATERIAL IP      79  

SECTION 3.18.

  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES      79  

SECTION 3.19.

  [RESERVED]      81  

SECTION 3.20.

  DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES      81  

SECTION 3.21.

  FURTHER ASSURANCES; ADDITIONAL SECURITY      83  

SECTION 3.22.

  POST-CLOSING      87  

Article 4. REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION

     87  

SECTION 4.01.

  NO SINKING FUND      87  

SECTION 4.02.

  RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE THE ISSUER TO REPURCHASE NOTES UPON A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE      87  

SECTION 4.03.

  RIGHT OF THE ISSUER TO REDEEM THE NOTES      92  

Article 5. CONVERSION

     94  

SECTION 5.01.

  RIGHT TO CONVERT      94  

SECTION 5.02.

  CONVERSION PROCEDURES      95  

SECTION 5.03.

  SETTLEMENT UPON CONVERSION      97  

SECTION 5.04.

  RESERVE AND STATUS OF COMMON STOCK ISSUED UPON CONVERSION      100  

SECTION 5.05.

  ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONVERSION RATE      100  

SECTION 5.06.

  VOLUNTARY ADJUSTMENTS      111  

SECTION 5.07.

  ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONVERSION RATE IN CONNECTION WITH A MAKE-WHOLE EVENT      111  

SECTION 5.08.

  EXCHANGE IN LIEU OF CONVERSION      113  

SECTION 5.09.

  EFFECT OF COMMON STOCK CHANGE EVENT      114  

SECTION 5.10.

  BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS      116  

SECTION 5.11.

  RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEE AND CONVERSION AGENT      118  

Article 6. SUCCESSORS

     119  

SECTION 6.01.

  WHEN THE ISSUER AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS MAY MERGE, ETC.      119  

SECTION 6.02.

  SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED      120  

 

- iii -


Article 7. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     120  

SECTION 7.01.

  EVENTS OF DEFAULT      120  

SECTION 7.02.

  ACCELERATION      123  

SECTION 7.03.

  SOLE REMEDY FOR A FAILURE TO REPORT      124  

SECTION 7.04.

  OTHER REMEDIES      125  

SECTION 7.05.

  WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS      125  

SECTION 7.06.

  [RESERVED]      125  

SECTION 7.07.

  CONTROL BY MAJORITY      125  

SECTION 7.08.

  LIMITATION ON SUITS      126  

SECTION 7.09.

  ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO INSTITUTE SUIT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAYMENT AND CONVERSION      126  

SECTION 7.10.

  COLLECTION BY TRUSTEE      126  

SECTION 7.11.

  PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST ISSUER      127  

SECTION 7.12.

  TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM      127  

SECTION 7.13.

  [RESERVED]      127  

SECTION 7.14.

  SUMS RECEIVED BY DEBTORS AND THIRD-PARTY SECURITY PROVIDERS      127  

SECTION 7.15.

  PRIORITIES      128  

SECTION 7.16.

  UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS      129  

SECTION 7.17.

  COLLATERAL AGENT EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT      129  

Article 8. AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

     129  

SECTION 8.01.

  WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS      129  

SECTION 8.02.

  WITH THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS      131  

SECTION 8.03.

  [RESERVED]      133  

SECTION 8.04.

  NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS      133  

SECTION 8.05.

  REVOCATION, EFFECT AND SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS; SPECIAL RECORD DATES; ETC.      133  

SECTION 8.06.

  NOTATIONS AND EXCHANGES      133  

SECTION 8.07.

  TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      134  

Article 9. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

     134  

SECTION 9.01.

  TERMINATION OF ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS      134  

SECTION 9.02.

  APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY      137  

SECTION 9.03.

  REPAYMENT TO ISSUER      137  

SECTION 9.04.

  REINSTATEMENT      137  

Article 10. TRUSTEE

     137  

SECTION 10.01.

  DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE      137  

SECTION 10.02.

  RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE      138  

SECTION 10.03.

  INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE      140  

SECTION 10.04.

  TRUSTEES DISCLAIMER      140  

SECTION 10.05.

  NOTICE OF DEFAULTS      140  

SECTION 10.06.

  COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY      141  

SECTION 10.07.

  REPLACEMENT OF THE TRUSTEE      142  

SECTION 10.08.

  SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.      143  

SECTION 10.09.

  ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION      143  

SECTION 10.10.

  REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE      143  

 

- iv -


Article 11. COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

     144  

SECTION 11.01.

  COLLATERAL AGENT      144  

SECTION 11.02.

  DELEGATION OF DUTIES      151  

SECTION 11.03.

  SECURITY DOCUMENTS      151  

SECTION 11.04.

  AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN      151  

SECTION 11.05.

  RELEASE OR SUBORDINATION OF LIENS      153  

SECTION 11.06.

  POWERS EXERCISABLE BY RECEIVER OR TRUSTEE      154  

SECTION 11.07.

  RELEASE UPON TERMINATION OF THE ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS      155  

SECTION 11.08.

  RIGHT TO REALIZE ON COLLATERAL AND ENFORCE GUARANTEES      155  

SECTION 11.09.

  PARALLEL DEBT (COVENANT TO PAY THE COLLATERAL AGENT)      156  

Article 12. GUARANTEES

     157  

SECTION 12.01.

  SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES      157  

SECTION 12.02.

  EXECUTION AND DELIVERY      160  

SECTION 12.03.

  [RESERVED]      160  

SECTION 12.04.

  RELEASES OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES      160  

SECTION 12.05.

  INSTRUMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONEY      161  

SECTION 12.06.

  LIMITATION ON SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR LIABILITY      161  

SECTION 12.07.

  “TRUSTEETO INCLUDE PAYING AGENT      162  

Article 13. MISCELLANEOUS

     162  

SECTION 13.01.

  NOTICES      162  

SECTION 13.02.

  DELIVERY OF OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT      164  

SECTION 13.03.

  STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL      164  

SECTION 13.04.

  RULES BY THE TRUSTEE, THE REGISTRAR AND THE PAYING AGENT      165  

SECTION 13.05.

  NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS      165  

SECTION 13.06.

  GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      165  

SECTION 13.07.

  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION      166  

SECTION 13.08.

  NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS      166  

SECTION 13.09.

  SUCCESSORS      166  

SECTION 13.10.

  FORCE MAJEURE      166  

SECTION 13.11.

  U.S.A      166  

SECTION 13.12.

  CALCULATIONS      167  

SECTION 13.13.

  SEVERABILITY      167  

SECTION 13.14.

  COUNTERPARTS      167  

SECTION 13.15.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.      167  

SECTION 13.16.

  WITHHOLDING TAXES      168  

 

- v -


Article 14. INTERCREDITOR ARRANGEMENTS

     168  

SECTION 14.01.

  INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS      168  

SECTION 14.02.

  ADDITIONAL INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS      168  

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A: Form of Note

     A-1  

Exhibit B-1: Form of Restricted Note Legend

     B1-1  

Exhibit B-2: Form of Global Note Legend

     B2-1  

Exhibit C: Form of Supplemental Indenture

     C-1  

Exhibit D: Agreed Security Principles

     D-1  

Schedules

 

Schedule 1.01(A)    Certain Excluded Equity Interests
Schedule 1.01(B)    Dispositions
Schedule 1.01(C)    Immaterial Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.01(D)    Investments
Schedule 1.01(E)    Liens
Schedule 3.12(B)    Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 3.18    Existing Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 3.22    Post-Closing Actions

 

- vi -


INDENTURE, dated as of September 29, 2025, among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below) party hereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely as the trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”) and as the collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) hereunder.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on June 30, 2025, the Issuer and its wholly owned subsidiary, Wolfspeed Texas LLC, commenced voluntary cases, jointly administered under the caption In re Wolfspeed, Inc., et al., Case No. 25-90163 (CML) (the “Chapter 11 Cases”), under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) (the “Bankruptcy Court”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate (Docket No. 8), dated June 27, 2025 (as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time, and together with all appendices, exhibits and supplements thereto, the “Bankruptcy Plan”) relating to the reorganization under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code of the Issuer and its wholly owned subsidiary, Wolfspeed Texas LLC, which Bankruptcy Plan was confirmed by order, dated September 8, 2025, of the Bankruptcy Court (the “Confirmation Order”), certain holders of Convertible Notes Claims (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan) are to be issued the Notes (as defined herein) in an initial aggregate principal amount equal to $331,375,000 (the “Initial Notes”);

WHEREAS, (a) all acts and things necessary to make (i) the Notes, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent, as provided in this Indenture, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Issuer; (ii) the Guarantees of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors; and (iii) this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors, according to its terms, have been done and performed, and (b) the execution of this Indenture and the issuance hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized.

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises set forth herein, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors covenant and agree with the Trustee and Collateral Agent for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:

Article 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.01. DEFINITIONS.

Account Control Agreement” means (a) with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account held or located in the United States, a customary account control agreement which provides for the Collateral Agent to have “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code or Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) of Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, as applicable and (b) with respect to any other Deposit Account or Securities Account, such agreement as is necessary to obtain a perfected security

 

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interest under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction over such Deposit Account or Securities Account and which provides for the Collateral Agent to have the equivalent of “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code or Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) (to the extent such equivalent concept exists under the laws of the jurisdiction where such Deposit Account or Securities Account, as applicable, is held or located) of such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, as applicable.

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specific Person: (a)(i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person or any Subsidiary of such Person; and (b) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing.

Affiliate” means, when used with respect to a specified person, another person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the person specified.

Agreed Security Principles” means the principles set forth in Exhibit D.

Asset Disposition” means: (i) any sale, lease, conveyance or other Disposition (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of all or any part of its assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, or by operation of law) (provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall not be an “Asset Disposition” but instead shall be governed by Section 6.01) or (ii) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of the Issuer, or the sale by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Issuer, in each case, in one transaction or in a series of related transactions (in each case, other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares to be held by third parties to meet applicable legal requirements); provided that the term “Asset Disposition” shall not include any of the following:

(A) (i) the Disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (ii) the acquisition or lease (pursuant to an operating lease) of any other asset in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary or, with respect to operating leases, otherwise for fair market value on market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), (iii) the Disposition of surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (iv) the Disposition of tools, equipment and similar property in exchange for, or the proceeds of the Disposition of which will be applied towards the purchase price of, new or replacement tools, equipment or similar property or (v) the Disposition of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

(B) the Specified IP Disposition; provided that the net proceeds in respect thereof are applied in accordance with the First Lien Notes Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(C) Dispositions (i) to the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise), (ii) [reserved] or (iii) by any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(D) so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted by Section 3.14; provided that if such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction results in a Capitalized Lease Obligation, such Capitalized Lease Obligation is permitted by Section 3.12 and any Lien made the subject of such Capitalized Lease Obligation is permitted by Section 3.13;

(E) any Restricted Payments permitted by Section 3.15 and any Permitted Investments;

(F) Dispositions of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(G) other Dispositions of assets to a person that is not an Affiliate of any Note Party; provided that (i) at the time of the execution of the definitive documentation for such Disposition, no Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) the requirements of Section 3.16(A) shall apply to such Disposition and (iii) the Net Proceeds thereof, if any, are applied in accordance with Section 3.16(B);

(H) [Reserved];

(I) leases or subleases or licenses or sublicenses of any real or personal property (including licenses of Intellectual Property) in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(J) Dispositions or abandonment of Intellectual Property of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries determined in good faith by the management of the Issuer to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries;

(K) commencing with the Issuer’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, other Dispositions for fair market value as determined in good faith by the Issuer (acting in its reasonable discretion) with an aggregate value per fiscal year not in excess of the greater of (x) $12,000,000 and (y) 6.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that this clause (K) may not be used in combination with any other clause of this definition of “Asset Disposition” in connection with any Disposition (or portion thereof) or series of related Dispositions (or portion thereof);

(L) dedications or dispositions of roads constituting Real Property, or the granting of easements, rights of way, rights of access and/or similar rights in Real Property, to any Governmental Authority, utility providers, cable or other communication providers and/or other parties providing services or benefits to any project that, would not reasonably be expected to interfere in any material respect with the operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that upon request by the Issuer accompanied by the documents required by Section 11.05, the Collateral Agent shall (i) release its Mortgage on the portions of such Real Property dedicated or disposed of or (ii) subordinate its Mortgage on such Real Property to such easement, right of way, right of access or similar agreement, in each case, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and the Issuer;

 

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(M) Dispositions contractually committed as of, or contemplated as of, the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(B); and

(N) to the extent constituting an Asset Disposition, any termination, settlement or extinguishment of Hedging Agreements or other contractual obligations.

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 3.16 or the definition of “Asset Disposition”, other than with respect to clause (K) of the definition of “Asset Disposition”, a Disposition need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Dispositions (or portion thereof) described in the above clauses but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

Authorized Denomination” means, with respect to a Note, a principal amount thereof equal to $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Issuer or a committee of such board duly authorized to act on behalf of such board.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City (and in respect of payments, the place of payment) are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any person in respect of any period, the aggregate of all expenditures incurred by such person during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “additions to property, plant or equipment” or similar items reflected in the statement of cash flows of such person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease or finance lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP; provided that obligations of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, either existing on the Issue Date or created thereafter that (a) initially were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer as capital lease or finance lease obligations and were subsequently recharacterized as capital lease or finance lease obligations or, in the case of a special purpose or other entity becoming consolidated with the Issuer and its Subsidiaries were required to be characterized as capital lease or finance obligations upon such consolidation, in either case, due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, or (b) did not exist on the Issue Date and were required to be characterized as capital lease or finance lease obligations but would not have been required to be treated as capital lease or finance lease obligations on the Issue Date had they existed at that time, shall for all purposes not be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

 

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Cash Equivalents” shall mean:

(A) direct obligations of the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(B) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank, trust company or other financial institution that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $500,000,000 and whose long-term debt, or whose parent holding company’s long-term debt, is rated A (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(C) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 185 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (A) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (B) above;

(D) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of P-1 (or higher) according to Moody’s, or A-1 (or higher) according to S&P or F1 or higher by Fitch (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(E) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, issued and fully guaranteed by any State, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s or A by Fitch (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(F) shares of mutual funds whose investment guidelines restrict 95% of such funds’ investments to those satisfying the provisions of clauses (A) through (E) above;

(G) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500,000,000;

(H) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits in an aggregate face amount not in excess of 0.5% of Consolidated Total Assets;

(I) any Investments permitted by the Issuer’s investment policy (other than any Investment permitted by Section IX thereof), as in effect on the Issue Date; and

(J) instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (A) through (I) above denominated in any foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and commonly used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States of America to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Note Party or any Subsidiary, in each case, organized in such jurisdiction.

 

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Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide to the Issuer or any Subsidiary cash management services for collections, treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), any demand deposit, payroll, trust or operating account relationships, commercial credit cards, merchant card, purchase or debit cards, non-card e-payables services, and other cash management services, including electronic funds transfer services, lockbox services, stop payment services and wire transfer services.

Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, assets or property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, assets or property or as compensation for such casualty or condemnation event.

CHIPS Act” means Title XCIX — Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283), as amended by the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Division A of Pub. L. 117-167).

CHIPS Program Office” means United States Department of Commerce, CHIPS Program Office.

Close of Business” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

Collateral” means all the “Collateral” (or similar term) as defined in any Security Document and shall also include the Mortgaged Properties, and all other property that is subject to any Lien in favor of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Subagent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to any Security Document.

Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent, together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.

Collateral Agreement” means the Collateral Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, and as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, among the Issuer, each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral Agent.

Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means the requirement that (in each case subject to the Agreed Security Principles, Sections 3.21(A)(iii), (iv) and (vii), Section 3.22 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement):

(A) on the Issue Date, (x) the Collateral Agent shall have received from the Issuer and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor an executed counterpart to the Collateral Agreement and each

 

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other Security Documents required to be executed by the Issuer and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral Agreement on the Issue Date in order to secure the Note Obligations thereunder and (y) the Trustee shall have received from each Subsidiary Guarantor, an executed counterpart to this Indenture, in each case duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person;

(B) on the Issue Date, (i)(x) all outstanding Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, other than Excluded Securities, and (y) all Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, other than Excluded Securities, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests and such notes or other instruments required to be delivered pursuant to the applicable Security Documents, together with stock powers, note powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(C) in the case of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, shall have received (i) a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, a supplement to the Collateral Agreement and supplements to the other Security Documents, if applicable, substantially in the form specified therefor, in each case, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor, such other Security Documents governed by the law of any Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction as are necessary for the grant of a perfected security interest in the Equity Interests of, and assets of, such Subsidiary Guarantor, which shall include, among other things, security over substantially all assets in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is customary, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor;

(D) after the Issue Date, (i) (x) all outstanding Equity Interests of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date and (y) subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), all Equity Interests directly acquired by the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date, other than Excluded Securities, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement or other applicable Security Documents, and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have received all certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(E) on the Issue Date, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 3.22, all documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, and filings with the United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (including any Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property), and all other actions reasonably necessary (including those required by applicable Requirements of Law) to be delivered, filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents (in each case, including any supplements thereto) and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents, shall have been delivered, filed, registered or recorded concurrently with, or promptly following, the execution and delivery of each such Security Document;

 

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(F) subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), within the time periods set forth in Section 3.21 with respect to Mortgaged Properties encumbered pursuant to said Section 3.21, the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of each Mortgage to be entered into with respect to each such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Mortgaged Property and suitable for recording or filing in all filing or recording offices that may be necessary or reasonably desirable to create a valid and enforceable Lien subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens, at the time of recordation thereof, (ii) with respect to the Mortgage encumbering each such Mortgaged Property, opinions of counsel in favor of the Collateral Agent regarding the enforceability, due authorization, execution and delivery of the Mortgages and such other matters customarily covered in real estate counsel opinions and customarily given in similar financing transactions, (iii) with respect to each such Mortgaged Property, the Flood Documentation and (iv) such other customary certificates, affidavits and similar deliverables that are customarily given in similar financing transactions in connection with the delivery of a Mortgage reasonably necessary that are available to the Issuer without material expense with respect to any such Mortgage or Mortgaged Property;

(G) [Reserved];

(H) [Reserved]; and

(I) after the Issue Date, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, shall have received (i) such other Security Documents as may be required to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.21 or the Collateral Agreement, and (ii) evidence of compliance with any other requirements of Section 3.21.

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Issuer, par value $0.00125 per share, at the date of this Indenture, subject to Section 5.09.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any person for any period, all interest expense, including the amortization of debt discount and premium, the amortization or expensing of all fees and expenses payable in connection with the incurrence of indebtedness, the interest component under Capitalized Lease Obligations, capitalized interest, interest paid in kind and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Agreements, in each case, of such person and its subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding:

(A) extraordinary gains or losses;

(B) net earnings of any business entity (other than a Subsidiary) in which any Note Party or any Subsidiary thereof has an ownership interest unless such net earnings shall have actually been received by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in the form of cash distributions;

(C) any gain or loss from Dispositions not in the ordinary course of business during such period; and

 

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(D) any portion of the net earnings of any Subsidiary which for any reason is unavailable for payment of dividends to the Note Parties.

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the date of determination less the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which are listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of such date as of the last day of the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000,000 (other than any cash that is “restricted” in favor of the First Lien Notes, the Second Lien Takeback Notes, the Second Lien Renesas Notes and the Notes), to (b) EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended.

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date, the total assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer delivered pursuant to Section 3.03.

Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis consisting of (a) Indebtedness for borrowed money (including the Notes), (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (c) purchase money debt, (d) debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar debt instruments, (e) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price with respect to acquisitions, including, subject to the limitation below, earn-outs (but excluding (i) customary working capital and purchase price adjustments and trade accounts payables and other accrued trade obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and (ii) all earn-out obligations and other similar contingent consideration not yet due and payable), (f) all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all preferred stock of the Subsidiaries of the Issuer, in each case issued to third parties, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its Maximum Fixed Repurchase Price (as defined below) and (g) guarantees of the foregoing; provided, however, that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include Permitted Warrant Transactions. For purposes hereof, the “Maximum Fixed Repurchase Price” of any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock means the price at which such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock could be redeemed or repurchased by the issuer thereof in accordance with its terms or, if such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock cannot be so redeemed or repurchased, the fair market value of such preferred stock, in each case, determined on any date on which Consolidated Total Debt shall be required to be determined.

Contribution Debt” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not greater than 100% (or 50% in the case of Permitted Disqualified Stock) of the aggregate net amount of cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date in excess of $240,000,000 in the aggregate from (x) the issuance or sale of the Issuer’s Qualified Equity Interests and Permitted Disqualified Stock or (y) a contribution to the Issuer’s common equity, in each case after the Issue Date (in each case of (x) and (y), other than proceeds (i) from the sale of Equity Interests by the Issuer to any Subsidiary or contributions to the common equity of the Issuer by any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) from the conversion of any Convertible Notes or the exercise of any Renesas Warrants), in each case, to the extent such proceeds have not otherwise

 

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been applied to voluntarily redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 4.03, make any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.15 or any Permitted Investments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (A) Contribution Debt may only be allocated to Section 3.12(B)(xi) and (B) Section 3.12(B)(xi) may not be used to incur any other Indebtedness.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Conversion Date” means, with respect to a Note, the first Business Day on which the requirements set forth in Section 5.02(A) to convert such Note are satisfied.

Conversion Price” means, as of any time, an amount equal to (A) one thousand dollars ($1,000) divided by (B) the Conversion Rate in effect at such time.

Conversion Rate” means, initially 81.7508 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, provided, however, that the Conversion Rate is subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 5; provided, further, that whenever this Indenture refers to the Conversion Rate as of a particular date without setting forth a particular time on such date, such reference will be deemed to be to the Conversion Rate immediately after the Close of Business on such date.

Conversion Share” means any share of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of any Note.

Convertible Notes” means, collectively, (i) the Notes, (ii) the Second Lien Renesas Notes and (iii) any other debt securities issued by the Issuer from time to time permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity interests of the Issuer (and cash in lieu of any fractional interests), cash or any combination thereof (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such equity interests).

Core Assets” means any (i) MVF Assets, Siler City Assets or Durham Assets, in each case, excluding any immaterial ordinary course assets utilized in the applicable facility or campus or (ii) Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that directly or indirectly owns any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed that there is no limitation on any MVF Asset, Siler City Asset or Durham Asset moving to and from such locations.

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 333 Commerce Street, Suite 900, Nashville, Tennessee 37201, Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Wolfspeed, Inc., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor trustee (or such other address as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

 

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Credit Facilities” means one or more credit agreements, indentures or debt facilities to which the Issuer and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries is party from time to time (including without limitation the First Lien Notes Indenture), in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, debt securities, bankers acceptances, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case as such agreements or facilities may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement exchanging, extending the maturity of, refinancing, renewing, replacing, substituting or otherwise restructuring, whether in the bank or debt capital markets (or combination thereof) (including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder or adding or removing Subsidiaries as borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or facility or any successor or replacement agreement or facility.

Daily Cash Amount” means, with respect to any VWAP Trading Day, the lesser of (A) the applicable Daily Maximum Cash Amount; and (B) the Daily Conversion Value for such VWAP Trading Day.

Daily Conversion Value” means, with respect to any VWAP Trading Day, one-thirtieth (1/30th) of the product of (A) the Conversion Rate on such VWAP Trading Day; and (B) the Daily VWAP per share of Common Stock on such VWAP Trading Day.

Daily Maximum Cash Amount” means, with respect to the conversion of any Note, the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Specified Dollar Amount applicable to such conversion by (B) thirty (30).

Daily Share Amount” means, with respect to any VWAP Trading Day, the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the excess, if any, of the Daily Conversion Value for such VWAP Trading Day over the applicable Daily Maximum Cash Amount by (B) the Daily VWAP for such VWAP Trading Day. For the avoidance of doubt, the Daily Share Amount will be zero for such VWAP Trading Day if such Daily Conversion Value does not exceed such Daily Maximum Cash Amount.

Daily VWAP” means, for any VWAP Trading Day, the per share volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page identified by “WOLF” (or such other ticker symbol for such shares of Common Stock) appended by the suffix “<EQUITY> AQR” (or, if such page is not available, its equivalent successor page) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such VWAP Trading Day (or, if such volume- weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of Common Stock on such VWAP Trading Day, reasonably determined, using a volume-weighted average price method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm selected by the Issuer). The Daily VWAP will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session.

Default” means any event or condition that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default.

 

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Default Settlement Method” means Physical Settlement; provided, however, that subject to Section 5.03(A)(ii), the Issuer may, from time to time, change the Default Settlement Method by sending notice of the new Default Settlement Method to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent.

Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company or its successor.

Depositary Participant” means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.

Depositary Procedures” means, with respect to any conversion, transfer, exchange or other transaction involving a Global Note or any beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary applicable to such conversion, transfer, exchange or transaction.

Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction entered into pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(xviii), so long as (i) the economic terms of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, taken as a whole, are no less favorable to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries than the economic terms of the First Lien Notes Indenture, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer and (ii) the proceeds of such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, regardless of whether such arrangement is structured as a Capitalized Lease Obligation or an obligation under an operating lease, are used to prepay Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien and to pay reasonable and documented fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

Discharged Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that has been defeased (pursuant to a contractual or legal defeasance) or discharged pursuant to the prepayment or deposit of amounts sufficient to satisfy such Indebtedness as it becomes due or irrevocably called for redemption (and regardless of whether such Indebtedness constitutes a liability on the balance sheet of the obligor thereof); provided, however, that such Indebtedness shall be deemed Discharged Indebtedness if the payment or deposit of all amounts required for defeasance or discharge or redemption thereof have been made even if certain conditions thereto have not been satisfied, so long as such conditions are reasonably expected to be satisfied within 95 days after such prepayment or deposit; provided, further, however, that if the conditions referred to in the immediately preceding proviso are not satisfied within 95 days after such prepayment or deposit, such Indebtedness shall cease to constitute Discharged Indebtedness after such 95-day period.

Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any person and transaction, a member of the Board of Directors of such person who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

Dispose” or “Disposed of” means to convey, sell, lease, sub-lease, license, sub-license, sell and leaseback, assign, farm-out, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property, business or asset, in one transaction or a series of transactions, including any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction and any sale or issuance of Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, and including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith. The term “Disposition” shall have a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

 

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Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any person, any Equity Interests of such person that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior redemption or repurchase in full of the Notes and payment in full of all other Note Obligations that are accrued and payable), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash or (d) at the option of the holder thereof, is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in each case of the preceding clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date (provided, that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock). Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) any Equity Interests issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (ii) any class of Equity Interests of such person that by its terms authorizes such person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

DOE Borrower” means any borrower of any DOE Financing.

DOE Financing” means any Indebtedness of any DOE Borrower owing to (x) the United States Department of Energy Loan Programs Office or (y) any financial institution acting as an administrator, facilitator, agent, trustee, servicer, conduit, instrumentality or similar capacity with respect to the United States Department of Energy Loans Programs Office.

DOE Parent Entity” means the Issuer or any other Subsidiary which is a direct or indirect parent company of any DOE Borrower.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) Wolfspeed Texas LLC and (b) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (unless the Issuer has elected to cause such Domestic Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor).

Durham Assets” means any assets of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries (i) located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, Durham, North Carolina and (ii) located at, or used in, Durham, North Carolina from and after the Issue Date (it being understood and agreed that such assets in clauses (i) and (ii) shall at all times constitute “Durham Assets” even if subsequently removed from, or no longer used in, Durham, North Carolina).

 

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EBITDA” means, for any period, in each case for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (other than amounts specifically excluded from Consolidated Net Income under clauses (A) through (C) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income): (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) all non-recurring expenses and charges which do not represent a cash item in such period, (v) expenses in connection with the issuance of stock options or other equity as compensation to employees and/or management of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (vi) costs and expenses, in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 in the aggregate during any four (4) fiscal quarter period, incurred in connection with any investment, acquisition, asset disposition, equity issuance or incurrence, payment, prepayment, refinancing or redemption of Indebtedness (including fees and expenses related to this Indenture and any amendments, supplements and modifications thereof), including the amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses (in each case, whether or not consummated) and (vii) all adjustments used in the calculation of non-GAAP net loss by the Issuer as reported in its filings with the SEC for the relevant period, minus (b) to the extent included in calculating Consolidated Net Income, (i) all non-recurring, non-cash items increasing net income for such period and (ii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (a)(iv) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were incurred plus (or minus) (c) non-cash losses (or gains) arising from the impact of mark-to-market valuation of the Note Parties’ Investment in Lextar Electronics Corporation; provided that (x) in no event shall any fees, costs or expenses of the type referred to as “Start-up and Underutilization Costs” in the Issuer’s filings with the SEC be added back in the calculation of EBITDA, (y) if any Disposition occurs during such period, any EBITDA attributable to the property, business or assets of such Disposition shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA and such Disposition shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the relevant Test Period and (z) if any acquisition or Investment occurs during such period, any EBITDA attributable to the property, business or assets so acquired or invested in shall be included in the calculation of EBITDA and such acquisition or Investment shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the relevant Test Period.

Equity Interests” of any person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity or ownership of such person, including any Preferred Stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest, and any securities or other rights or interests convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing; provided that Equity Interests shall not include any Convertible Notes, Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction.

Escrowed Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) issued to refinance in full any Indebtedness, (ii) in a principal amount no greater than the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness to be so refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest thereon, underwriting discounts and fees, commissions and expenses related to such offering) and (iii) the proceeds of which are funded into an escrow account (pursuant to customary escrow arrangements) pending the release thereof for such refinancing; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, proceeds released from the escrow account and used to refinance the outstanding Indebtedness shall reduce dollar for dollar the amount of “Escrowed Indebtedness” permitted hereunder.

 

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Excluded Account” means (a) any Deposit Account specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of the employees of any Note Party, (b) any tax account (including any sales tax account), (c) any fiduciary, pension, 401(k) or similar trust account holding employee funds, (d) any impound, escrow, trust, cash collateral (including any Deposit Account or Securities Account holding only cash collateral for letters of credit or Hedging Agreements secured by Liens permitted by clauses (AA) or (EE) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”) or similar account and (e) any Deposit Account and Securities Account that has cash or Permitted Investments that do not have a balance at any time exceeding $20,000,000 individually and $50,000,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts constituting Excluded Accounts; provided that no account held by any Note Party over which a Lien has been granted to secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture or the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be an Excluded Account.

Excluded Securities” means any of the following:

(A) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness with respect to which the Issuer reasonably determines in good faith that the cost or other consequences of pledging such Equity Interests or Indebtedness in favor of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents are excessive to the Issuer in relation to the value to be afforded to the Holders thereby;

(B) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Requirement of Law or would require governmental or other regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

(C) any Equity Interests of any person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the extent (i) that a pledge thereof to secure the Note Obligations is prohibited by any organizational documents, joint venture agreement or stockholder agreement of such Subsidiary with an unaffiliated third party without the consent of such third party; provided that this clause (i) shall not apply if (1) such other party is a Note Party or a Subsidiary of any Note Party or (2) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate the Issuer or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and shall only apply for so long as such organizational documents, joint venture agreement or stockholder agreement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, or (ii) a pledge thereof to secure the Note Obligations would give any other party (other than a Note Party or a Subsidiary of a Note Party) to any organizational document or stockholder agreement governing such Equity Interests the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (so long as, in each case of subclause (i) and (ii) of this clause (C), such provision prohibits the granting of a security interest over such Equity Interests generally (and not solely a pledge to secure the Note Obligations));

 

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(D) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Equity Interests could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(E) any Equity Interests that are set forth on Schedule 1.01(A); and

(F) any Margin Stock;

provided that no Equity Interest or Indebtedness held by any Note Party over which a Lien has been granted to secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture or the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be Excluded Securities.

Excluded Subsidiary” means any of the following (except as otherwise provided in clause (b) of the definition of Subsidiary Guarantor):

(A) each Immaterial Subsidiary;

(B) each Subsidiary that is prohibited from Guaranteeing the Note Obligations by a contractual obligation (to the extent such prohibition exists as of the Issue Date or at the time of the acquisition of such Subsidiary (or is a renewal or replacement thereof); provided that such contractual obligation was not entered into or created in contemplation of this Indenture and only for so long as such prohibition exists);

(C) each Subsidiary that is prohibited from Guaranteeing the Note Obligations by any Requirement of Law or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a Governmental Authority to Guarantee the Note Obligations (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received and is in effect);

(D) [reserved];

(E) [reserved];

(F) each not-for-profit Subsidiary or political action committee;

(G) each Subsidiary which is a foreign sales office, to the extent such Subsidiary does not own any material assets;

(H) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, the providing of a Guarantee of the Note Obligations could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer; and

(I) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Issuer reasonably determines in good faith that the cost or other consequences of providing a Guarantee of the Note Obligations are excessive to the Issuer in relation to the value to be afforded to the Holders thereby.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any Note Document, in no event shall any Subsidiary that (x) is a borrower or guarantor of any DOE Financing, (y) owns any Material IP or (z) is a borrower, issuer or guarantor of any First Lien Notes, Second Lien Renesas Notes or Second Lien Takeback Notes (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness), be an Excluded Subsidiary.

Ex-Dividend Date” means, with respect to an issuance, dividend or distribution on the Common Stock, the first date on which shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such issuance, dividend or distribution (including pursuant to due bills or similar arrangements required by the relevant stock exchange). For the avoidance of doubt, any alternative trading convention on the applicable exchange or market in respect of the Common Stock under a separate ticker symbol or CUSIP number will not be considered “regular way” for this purpose.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exempted Fundamental Change” means any Fundamental Change with respect to which, in accordance with Section 4.02(K), the Issuer does not offer to repurchase any Notes.

First Lien Notes” means $1,259,210,128 aggregate principal amount of First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2030 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the First Lien Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the First Lien Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

First Lien Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the First Lien Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of First Lien Notes Indenture.

First Lien Notes Indenture” means, an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the trustee and the collateral agent, in relation to the First Lien Notes, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

First Lien Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for First Lien Notes, or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of First Lien Notes Indenture.

First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, made between, among others, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the First Lien Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Collateral Agent and the other parties named therein, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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First-Priority Debt Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

First-Priority Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

Flood Documentation” means, with respect to each Mortgaged Property located in the United States of America or any territory thereof, (i) a completed “life-of-loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination (to the extent a Mortgaged Property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (as defined below), together with a notice about Special Flood Hazard Area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Issuer and the applicable Note Party relating thereto) and (ii) a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, and a declaration page relating to, the insurance policies required by the applicable provisions of the Security Documents, each of which shall (A) be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a “standard” or “New York” lender’s loss payable or mortgagee endorsement (as applicable), (B) name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured and loss payee/mortgagee, (C) identify the address of each property located in an area within the United States identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area (each a “Special Flood Hazard Area”), the applicable flood zone designation and the flood insurance coverage and deductible relating thereto and (D) be otherwise in customary form and substance (as reasonably determined by the Issuer).

Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction” means, as of any date of determination, any jurisdiction in which a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor is formed or incorporated.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (unless the Issuer has elected to cause such Foreign Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor).

Fundamental Change” means any of the following events:

(A) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Issuer or its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, or their respective employee benefit plans, or Renesas, files a Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) or any report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of Common Stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the Common Stock; provided, however, that, for purposes of this clause (A), no person or group will be deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such person or group until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange in such offer;

 

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(B) the consummation of (i) any sale, lease or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than solely to one or more of the Issuer’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; or (ii) any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of merger, consolidation, share exchange, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition, liquidation or otherwise) (other than changes solely resulting from a subdivision or combination of the Common Stock or solely a change in the par value or nominal value of the Common Stock) all of the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitute solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property; provided, however, that any transaction described in clause (B)(ii) above pursuant to which the Persons that directly or indirectly “beneficially owned” (as defined below) all classes of the Issuer’s common equity immediately before such transaction directly or indirectly “beneficially own,” immediately after such transaction, more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, in substantially the same proportions vis-a-vis each other as immediately before such transaction will be deemed not to be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (B);

(C) the Issuer’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer;

(D) the Common Stock is not listed on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Market or The NASDAQ Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors) (each, the “Stock Exchange”); or

(E) any event or circumstance that constitutes, or results in any “fundamental change,” “change of control” or any comparable term under, and as defined in, the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture or the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture;

provided, however, that (i) a transaction or event described in clause (A) or (B) above will not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least ninety percent (90%) of the consideration received or to be received by the holders of Common Stock (excluding cash payments for fractional shares or pursuant to dissenters rights), in connection with such transaction or event, consists of ordinary shares or shares of common stock or other corporate common equity listed on any of the Stock Exchanges, or that will be so listed when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or event, and such transaction or event constitutes an Common Stock Change Event whose Reference Property consists of such consideration and (ii) notwithstanding the foregoing, the distribution of securities pursuant to the Bankruptcy Plan shall in no event be deemed a Fundamental Change.

For the purposes of this definition, any transaction or event described in both clause (A) and in clause (B) above (without regard to the proviso in clause (B) above) will be deemed to occur solely pursuant to clause (B) above (subject to such proviso).

For the purpose of this Indenture, whether a Person is a “beneficial owner” and whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

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Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” means the date fixed for the repurchase of any Notes by the Issuer pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change.

Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” means a notice (including a notice substantially in the form of the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” set forth in Exhibit A) containing the information, or otherwise complying with the requirements, set forth in Section 4.02(F)(i) and Section 4.02(F)(ii).

Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” means the cash price payable by the Issuer to repurchase any Note upon its Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, calculated pursuant to Section 4.02(D).

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America on the Issue Date, applied on a consistent basis, subject to the provisions of Section 1.03.

Global Note” means a Note that is represented by a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee, and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary.

Global Note Legend” means a legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B-2.

Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government, court, governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, department, commission, board, bureau, tribunal agency, other authority, instrumentality or regulatory or legislative body.

Gross Cash Proceeds” means the gross cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the applicable event; provided that, to constitute “Gross Cash Proceeds,” the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer from such applicable event may not be less than 95.00% of the gross cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the applicable event.

Guarantee” of or by any person (the “guarantor”) means (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness or other obligation (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness or other obligation to be secured by such a Lien) of any other person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor; provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity

 

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obligations in effect on the Issue Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition of assets permitted by this Indenture (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as reasonably determined by such person in good faith.

Hedging Agreement” means any agreement entered into with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction, or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value, or credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reserve repurchase transaction, securities lending transaction, weather index transaction, spot contracts, fixed price physical delivery contracts, or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, in each case of the foregoing, whether or not exchange traded; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.

Holder” means a person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that does not have (i) revenue, determined on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as of such date, in excess of 1% of the aggregate revenue of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period or (ii) total assets, determined on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, at any time, in excess of 1% of the Consolidated Total Assets; provided that (x) the aggregate amount of revenue of all Subsidiaries constituting Immaterial Subsidiaries, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, shall not exceed 5% of the aggregate revenue of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period and (y) the total assets of all Subsidiaries constituting Immaterial Subsidiaries shall not at any time exceed 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets; provided, further, that (A) the Issuer may elect in its sole discretion to exclude from classification as an Immaterial Subsidiary any Subsidiary that would otherwise meet the definition thereof and (B) for the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer may at any time designate any Subsidiary that complies with the terms of this definition as an “Immaterial Subsidiary”. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this definition, no Subsidiary shall be an Immaterial Subsidiary if such Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, owns any Core Asset or is a borrower or guarantor under any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) (it being understood and agreed that any such Subsidiary, if applicable, may otherwise be deemed an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with the definition thereof). Each Immaterial Subsidiary as of the Issue Date shall be set forth in Schedule 1.01(C).

Indebtedness” of any person means, if and to the extent (other than with respect to clause (i)) the same would constitute indebtedness or a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person, (d) all obligations of such person issued or assumed

 

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as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than such obligations accrued in the ordinary course), (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such person, (f) all net payments that such person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such person is being determined in respect of outstanding Hedging Agreements, (g) the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (h) the principal component of all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (i) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) to (h) above and (j) the amount of all obligations of such person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock); provided that Indebtedness shall not include (A) trade and other ordinary-course payables, accrued expenses, and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) prepaid or deferred revenue, (C) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase prices of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset, (D) earn-out obligations (to the extent permitted hereunder) until such obligations become a liability on the balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP, (E) obligations in respect of Third Party Funds incurred in the ordinary course of business, (F) in the case of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (G) completion guarantees or (H) any Permitted Warrant Transaction. The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness limits the liability of such person in respect thereof.

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Intellectual Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreements” means the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, collectively.

Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to a Note, each June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2025 (or commencing on such other date specified in the certificate representing such Note). For the avoidance of doubt, the Maturity Date is an Interest Payment Date.

Investment” means (i) the purchase or acquisition (including pursuant to any merger with a person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger) of any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any other person, (ii) the making of any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the Indebtedness of any other person (other than in respect of intercompany liabilities incurred in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries) or (iii) the purchase or acquisition, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of (x) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another person or (y) assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such person.

 

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If the Issuer or any Subsidiary sells or otherwise Disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or Disposition, such person is no longer a Subsidiary, the Issuer will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or Disposition equal to the fair market value of the Issuer’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or Disposed of. The acquisition by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of a person that holds an Investment in a third person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Issuer or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Issue Date” means September 29, 2025.

Issuer” means the Person named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture and, subject to Article 6, its successors and assigns.

Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by one (1) of its Officers and delivered to the Trustee.

Junior Financing” means (i) any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is subordinated in right of payment to the Note Obligations (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or (ii) any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is either unsecured or secured by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(xii) constitute Junior Financing.

Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock for any Trading Day means the closing sale price per share of Common Stock (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the last bid price and the last ask price per share of Common Stock or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average last bid prices and the average last ask prices per share of Common Stock) on such Trading Day as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed. If the Common Stock is not listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on such Trading Day, then the Last Reported Sale Price will be the last quoted bid price per share of Common Stock on such Trading Day in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted on such Trading Day, then the Last Reported Sale Price will be the average of the mid-point of the last bid price and the last ask price per share of Common Stock on such Trading Day from each of at least three (3) nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Issuer. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will have any duty to determine the Last Reported Sale Price.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, security interest or similar monetary encumbrance in or on such asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided that in no event shall an operating lease or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

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Limited Condition Transaction” means any Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Equity Interests, Indebtedness or otherwise) the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

Majority Holders” means, at any applicable time and subject to Section 2.16 and Section 2.18, Holders owning more than 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

Make-Whole Event” means (A) a Fundamental Change (determined after giving effect to the proviso immediately after clause (E) of the definition thereof, but without regard to the proviso to clause (B)(ii) of such definition) (an event referred to in this clause (A), a “Make-Whole Fundamental Change”); or (B) the sending of a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 4.03(G) in respect of a Redemption; provided, however, that the sending of a Redemption Notice for a Redemption of less than all of the outstanding Notes will constitute a Make-Whole Event only with respect to the Notes called (or deemed to be called pursuant to Section 4.03(K)) for Redemption pursuant to such Redemption Notice and not with respect to any other Notes.

Make-Whole Event Conversion Period” has the following meaning:

(A) in the case of a Make-Whole Event pursuant to clause (A) of the definition thereof, the period from, and including, the Make-Whole Event Effective Date of such Make-Whole Event to, and including, the thirty fifth (35th) Trading Day after such Make-Whole Event Effective Date (or, if such Make-Whole Event also constitutes a Fundamental Change (other than an Exempted Fundamental Change), to, but excluding, the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date); and

(B) in the case of a Make-Whole Event pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof, the period from, and including, the Redemption Notice Date for the related Redemption to, and including, the second (2nd) Business Day immediately before the related Redemption Date;

provided, however, that if the Conversion Date for the conversion of a Note that has been called (or deemed, pursuant to Section 4.03(K), to be called) for Redemption occurs during the Make- Whole Event Conversion Period for both a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurring pursuant to clause (A) of the definition of “Make-Whole Event” and a Make-Whole Event resulting from such Redemption pursuant to clause (B) of such definition, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.07, solely for purposes of such conversion, (x) such Conversion Date will be deemed to occur solely during the Make-Whole Event Conversion Period for the Make-Whole Event with the earlier Make-Whole Event Effective Date; and (y) the Make-Whole Event with the later Make-Whole Event Effective Date will be deemed not to have occurred.

Make-Whole Event Effective Date” means (A) with respect to a Make-Whole Event pursuant to clause (A) of the definition thereof, the date on which such Make-Whole Event occurs or becomes effective; and (B) with respect to a Make-Whole Event pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof, the applicable Redemption Notice Date.

Make-Whole Fundamental Change” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Make-Whole Event.

 

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Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Market Disruption Event” means, with respect to any date, the occurrence or existence, during the one-half hour period ending at the scheduled close of trading on such date on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or other market on which the Common Stock is listed for trading or trades, of any material suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect on the business, property, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operating results or financial condition of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, excluding in any event the effect of filing the Chapter 11 Cases, the events and conditions leading up to and customarily resulting from the commencement and continuation of the Chapter 11 Cases, the effects thereof and any action required to be taken under the Chapter 11 Cases or the Bankruptcy Plan themselves, (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform any of their payment obligations under any Note Document to which the Issuer or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors is a party or (c) a material adverse effect on the validity or enforceability of any of the Note Documents or the rights and remedies of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or the Holders thereunder.

Material IP” means any intellectual property (including any trade secrets) of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (and excluding commercial off the shelf products) that is material to any Product Family of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that Material IP does not include (i) the intellectual property subject to the Specified IP Disposition or (ii) any other expiring intellectual property that the Issuer determines is no longer material to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

Material Real Property” means any parcel or parcels of Real Property now or hereafter owned in fee by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor and having a fair market value (on a per-property basis) of at least $5,000,000, as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith on the Issue Date (or, if acquired after the Issue Date, the date of acquisition); provided that “Material Real Property” shall not include (i) any Real Property in respect of which the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor does not own the land in fee simple or (ii) any Real Property which the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor leases to a third party.

Maturity Date” means June 15, 2031.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and any successor to the ratings business thereof.

Mortgaged Properties” means each Material Real Property encumbered by a Mortgage pursuant to Section 3.21.

 

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Mortgages” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents (including amendments to any of the foregoing) delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties, each, (i) in the case of Material Real Property located in the United States, in a form customary for financing transactions similar to this Indenture and reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer or (ii) in the case of Material Real Property located outside of the United States in such form as is customary for the applicable jurisdiction and reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

MVF” means the Mohawk Valley Fab facility and campus in Marcy, New York.

MVF Assets” means (i) any assets of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, MVF and (ii) any additional assets located at, or used in, MVF from and after the Issue Date (it being understood and agreed that such assets in clauses (i) and (ii) shall at all times constitute “MVF Assets” even if subsequently removed from, or no longer used in, MVF).

Net Income” means, with respect to any person, the net income (loss) of such person, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Net Proceeds” means 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but only as and when received) from any Disposition of, or Casualty Event with respect to, (x) any Core Asset (other than any Disposition under clause (A) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions”), (y) any Non-Core Assets pursuant to clause (G) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions” or (z) any assets or property pursuant to clause (B)(i) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions”, in each case, net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required debt payments and required payments of other obligations that are secured by the applicable asset or property (including without limitation principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts) (other than pursuant to the Note Documents), other expenses and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) [reserved], (iii) Taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (provided, that if the amount of any such estimated Taxes exceeds the amount of Taxes actually required to be paid in respect of such Disposition or Casualty Event, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Proceeds at the time such Taxes are actually paid) and (iv) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (iii) above) (A) related to any of the applicable assets and (B) retained by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event occurring on the date of such reduction); provided, that, with respect to any Net Proceeds arising from any Casualty Event with respect to any Core Assets, if no Default or Event of Default exists and the Issuer intends to use such proceeds within 12 months of such receipt to acquire assets that reasonably replace or remediate the property

 

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or assets subject to such Casualty Event to a similar level of such property or assets as prior to such Casualty Event, such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not, within 12 months of such receipt, so used (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 12 month period, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such expiry without giving effect to this proviso).

Non-Core Assets” means any assets owned by the Issuer or any Subsidiary that do not constitute Core Assets.

Note Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent.

Note Documents” means (i) this Indenture, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Security Documents, (iv) any Intercreditor Agreement and (v) all other fee letters, documents, certificates, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by or on behalf of a Note Party for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee, the Holders or any other person in connection herewith.

Note Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Issuer of (i) the unpaid principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Notes issued by the Issuer under this Indenture, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for redemption or otherwise and (ii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer owed under or pursuant to this Indenture and each other Note Document, including obligations to pay fees, expense reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), and (b) the due and punctual payment of all obligations of each other Note Party under or pursuant to each of the Note Documents.

Note Parties” means, collectively, the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor and each of them is an “Note Party”.

Notes” means (i) the Initial Notes and (ii) following the issuance of any Additional Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, such Additional Notes, treated as a single class. For the avoidance of doubt, Initial Notes and Additional Notes shall vote together on all matters as one class, and except as where expressly provided otherwise, shall be deemed to constitute a single class or series for all purposes under this Indenture.

Observation Period” means, with respect to any Note to be converted, (A) subject to clause (B) below, if the Conversion Date for such Note occurs on or before the thirty fifth (35th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date, the thirty (30) consecutive VWAP Trading Days beginning on, and including, the third (3rd) VWAP Trading Day immediately after such Conversion Date; (B) if such Conversion Date occurs on or after the date the Issuer has sent a Redemption Notice calling all or any Notes for Redemption pursuant to Section 4.03(G) and before the related Redemption Date, the thirty (30) consecutive VWAP Trading Days beginning on, and including, the thirty first (31st) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before such Redemption Date; and (C) subject to clause (B) above, if such Conversion Date occurs after the thirty fifth (35th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date, the thirty (30) consecutive VWAP Trading Days beginning on, and including, the thirty first (31st) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date.

 

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Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Group Treasurer, any Treasury Director, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of the Issuer.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate that is signed on behalf of the Issuer by one (1) of its Officers and that meets the requirements of Section 13.03.

Open of Business” means 9:00 a.m., New York City time.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion, from legal counsel (including an employee of, or counsel to, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, and, when applicable, the Collateral Agent, that meets the requirements of Section 13.03, subject to customary qualifications and exclusions.

Parallel Debt Creditor” means the Collateral Agent in its capacity as creditor of the Parallel Debt.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, made between, among others, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Collateral Agent and the other parties named therein, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Issuer’s common stock purchased by the Issuer in connection with the issuance of any Convertible Notes; provided that the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction, does not exceed the net proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of such Convertible Notes issued in connection with the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

Permitted Disqualified Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer that constitutes Disqualified Stock solely due to clause (c) of the definition thereof; provided that (i) such Preferred Stock has been broadly marketed to potential investors and (ii) such Preferred Stock does not provide for scheduled payments of dividends in cash in an amount in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination).

Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap” means an amount equal to the sum of (a) on or prior to June 22, 2026, 4.00% per annum and thereafter, 0.00% per annum plus (b) 300 basis points per annum.

 

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Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(A) any Investment in a Person if, as a result of such Investment, (i) such Person becomes a Note Party, or (ii) such Person (other than the Issuer except as permitted under Section 6.01) either (a) is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into a Note Party and a Note Party is the surviving Person, or (b) transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, a Note Party;

(B) (i) Investments by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; (ii) intercompany loans from the Issuer or any Subsidiary to the Issuer or any Subsidiary; and (iii) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations permitted pursuant to Section 3.12 (except to the extent such Guarantee is expressly subject to Section 3.15); provided that (x) the aggregate amount of Investments made pursuant to this clause (B) by Note Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties and Guarantees made pursuant to this clause (B) by any Note Party of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party in any fiscal year shall not exceed the greater of (x) $12,500,000 and (y) 6.25% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended and (y) any Investment by any Note Party in any Subsidiary in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents shall only be permitted to the extent such Investment was made in reliance on the foregoing clause (x) of this proviso;

(C) any Investments in Cash Equivalents;

(D) Investments arising out of the receipt by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of non-cash consideration for the Disposition of assets permitted under Section 3.16 (other than clause (C) of the definition of “Asset Disposition”);

(E) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (i) in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate outstanding amount (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) not to exceed the greater of (x) $6,000,000 and (y) 3.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended, (ii) in respect of payroll payments and expenses in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice and (iii) in connection with such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer solely to the extent that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Issuer in cash as common equity;

(F) accounts receivable, security deposits and prepayments arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices and any assets or securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and any prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business;

(G) Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(H) Investments existing on, or contractually committed as of, or contemplated as of, the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(D) and any extensions, renewals, replacements or reinvestments thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this clause (H) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing, committed or contemplated on the Issue Date;

 

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(I) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits under clauses (F), (G), (N), (O), (R), (S), (U), (AA), (BB), (EE) and (LL) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(J) Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice by Note Parties into Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties on a transfer pricing basis to fund expenses of such Subsidiaries;

(K) [Reserved];

(L) any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction, to the extent constituting Investments;

(M) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices or Investments acquired by the Issuer or a Subsidiary as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(N) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of a person merged into the Issuer or merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary after the Issue Date, in each case, to the extent that such Investments of the acquired Subsidiary were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(O) other Investments in an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (x) $62,500,000 and (y) 31.25% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that no Investments may be made pursuant to this clause (O) in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, unless such Investment constitutes the acquisition of additional Equity Interests in such non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

(P) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(Q) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with (or that are received in exchange for) Equity Interests of the Issuer or the cash proceeds of Equity Interests of the Issuer;

(R) [Reserved];

(S) Investments consisting of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 3.15 (and without duplication of any baskets thereunder);

(T) Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

 

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(U) [Reserved];

(V) [Reserved];

(W) advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of the Issuer or such Subsidiary; and

(X) to the extent constituting Investments, (i) purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or non-exclusive licenses or leases of Intellectual Property in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice and not constituting all or substantially all of the assets of another person and (ii) development and expansion Capital Expenditures (which shall exclude, for the avoidance of doubt, any acquisition of Equity Interests of any person).

Permitted Liens” means:

(A) Liens on property or assets of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(E) and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that such Liens shall secure only those obligations that they secure on the Issue Date (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such obligations permitted by Section 3.12(B)(i)) and shall not subsequently apply to any other property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (B) proceeds and products thereof;

(B) any Lien created under the Note Documents or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property by the terms of the applicable Mortgage filed in connection with the Note Documents;

(C) [Reserved];

(D) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(E) Liens imposed by law, such as landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, supplier’s, construction or other like Liens, securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, the Issuer or any Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP or with respect to which the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(F) (i) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations, (ii) Liens pursuant to Section 8a of the German Partial Retirement Act (Altersteilzeitgesetz) or Section 7d of the German Social Law Act No. 4 (Sozialgesetzbuch IV) and (iii) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

 

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(G) deposits and other Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, completion guarantees, bids, leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(H) zoning and other land use restrictions, easements, survey exceptions, servitudes, trackage rights, leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), subleases, licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, reservations of rights, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of Real Property or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its Real Property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar non-monetary encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and title defects or irregularities that are of a minor nature and that, in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(I) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(ix); provided that such Liens (i) only apply to assets permitted under Section 3.12(B)(ix) and (ii) do not apply to any property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than (A) the property or assets acquired, leased, constructed, replaced, repaired or improved with such Indebtedness, (B) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (C) proceeds and products thereof; provided, further, that individual financings provided by one lender (and its Affiliates) may be cross-collateralized to other financings provided by such lender (and its Affiliates);

(J) (i) first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets securing DOE Financing permitted under Section 3.12(B)(xii)(x) and (ii) first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets representing a federal interest and security interest in favor of the United States Department of Commerce, the CHIPS Program Office or any other Governmental Authority of the United States securing obligations permitted under Section 3.12(B)(xii)(y), so long as, in each case, the Note Obligations are secured on a third-priority basis on such assets and such Indebtedness or other obligations is subject to an Intercreditor Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt the parties agree that if first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets were granted pursuant to either of the foregoing clauses, the Lien securing the First-Priority Obligations would be permitted to be secured on a second-priority basis as it relates to the Siler City Assets);

(K) Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(A)(x);

 

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(L) Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Issue Date and pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, Section 3.21 or Section 3.22 and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien; provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (B) proceeds and products thereof; provided, further, that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Indenture;

(M) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under any leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(N) Liens in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice that are contractual rights of set-off and/or pledges of cash collateral (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks and other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposits, sweep accounts, reserve accounts or similar accounts of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, including with respect to credit card charge-backs and similar obligations, (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers, suppliers or service providers of the Issuer or any Subsidiary or (iv) relating to any other Cash Management Agreement permitted by this Indenture;

(O) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice (i) arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision or customary standard terms relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts, (iii) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred and not for speculative purposes, (iv) in respect of Third Party Funds or (v) in favor of credit card companies pursuant to agreements therewith;

(P) Liens securing obligations in respect of trade-related letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations permitted under Section 3.12(B)(vi) or (xv) and covering the property (or the documents of title in respect of such property) financed by such letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations and the proceeds and products thereof;

(Q) leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to Intellectual Property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(R) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of applicable law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(S) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in respect of any Investment permitted to be made hereunder;

 

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(T) Liens with respect to property or assets of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party securing obligations of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party permitted under Section 3.12;

(U) Liens on any amounts held by a trustee or agent under any indenture or other debt agreement issued in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the release thereof, or under any indenture or other debt agreement pursuant to customary discharge, redemption or defeasance provisions to the extent the relevant Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred and discharged, redeemed or defeased, as applicable, hereunder;

(V) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(W) (i) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii) (other than Indebtedness in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction); provided that such Liens under this clause (i) shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement; and (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided that such Liens are under this clause (ii) limited to the assets or property that is the subject of such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(X) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix); provided that such Liens shall be pari passu to the Liens securing the Note Obligations or junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and in each case shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements;

(Y) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (and similar instruments under the laws of any other jurisdiction) regarding operating leases or other obligations not constituting Indebtedness;

(Z) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Cash Equivalents under clause (C) of the definition thereof;

(AA) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents securing letters of credit permitted by Section 3.12(B)(xv) or (xvi); provided that such cash and Cash Equivalents do not exceed 105% of the stated face amount of such letters of credit secured thereby;

(BB) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(CC) in the case of Real Property that constitutes a leasehold interest, any Lien to which the fee simple interest (or any superior leasehold interest) is subject;

(DD) [Reserved];

(EE) Liens on deposits securing Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not more than the greater of (x) $240,000,000 and (y) 120.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

 

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(FF) Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit, bank guarantee or bankers’ acceptance issued or created for the account of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices; provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Issuer or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit, bank guarantee or banker’s acceptance to the extent permitted under Section 3.12;

(GG) [Reserved];

(HH) Liens securing Guarantees permitted to be secured by Section 3.12(B)(xiii); provided that any such Liens on any Collateral shall be pari passu with or expressly junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and such Liens shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements;

(II) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business;

(JJ) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(KK) customary payment in lieu of tax arrangements and other similar structures customary in the applicable jurisdiction in which assets or properties are located;

(LL) other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary securing obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of the obligations secured by such Liens, would not exceed the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that any such Liens on any Collateral shall be pari passu with or expressly junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement;

(MM) Liens pursuant to Section 1136 (alone or in conjunction with 1192(1)) of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch); and

(NN) Liens required to be granted under mandatory law in favor of creditors as a consequence of a merger or conversion permitted under the Indenture due to §§ 22, 204 German Transformation Act (Umwandlungsgesetz—UmwG).

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “Refinance” or “Refinancing”), the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided that (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the sum of (i) the principal amount of the Indebtedness so Refinanced, plus (ii) unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs and fees, commissions and expenses) (any amounts under the subclause (ii), the “Incremental Refinancing Amounts”), (b) the final maturity date of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is after the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and the Weighted Average Life to

 

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Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (excluding customary amortization) is greater than or equal to the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (c) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment and/or in lien priority to the Note Obligations under this Indenture, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment and/or in lien priority, as applicable, to such Note Obligations on terms not materially less favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced (it being understood that secured Indebtedness may be Refinanced with unsecured Indebtedness), (d) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have obligors that are not (or would not have been) obligated with respect to the Indebtedness being so Refinanced as of the Issue Date (provided that any Note Party may be an obligor for the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of any other Note Party to the extent otherwise permitted under this Indenture), (e)(i) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any Indebtedness if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is unsecured Indebtedness as of the Issue Date, (ii) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any collateral that did not secure the Indebtedness being Refinanced as of the Issue Date and (iii) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may have a higher payment or Lien priority than the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (f) the other terms of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (other than interest rates, fees, floors, funding discounts and redemption or prepayment premiums and other pricing terms) are substantially similar to, or not more restrictive to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries than, the terms applicable to the Notes (except for (1) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date or (2) those that are otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Issuer (or, if more restrictive, the Note Documents are amended, prior to or concurrently with such Refinancing, to contain such more restrictive terms to the extent required to satisfy the foregoing standard)); provided, however, this clause (f) shall not apply to any First-Priority Obligations (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof) and (g) at the time of such Refinancing, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing. Subject to the foregoing conditions, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may also be incurred in respect of any Indebtedness that constitutes Discharged Indebtedness. For the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness that directly or indirectly Refinances (including any previous refinancings) Indebtedness incurred under a fixed dollar basket shall be deemed to utilize capacity under such original fixed dollar basket (other than with respect to Incremental Refinancing Amounts).

Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion” means 300 basis points per annum.

Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap” means (i) with respect to Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix)(b), an amount equal to the sum of (a) 12.00% per annum plus (b) the Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion and (ii) with respect to any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(ii) and Section 3.12(B)(xix)(A), the Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion.

Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Issuer’s common stock sold by the Issuer substantially concurrently with any purchase by the Issuer of a related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

 

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Person” or “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof. Any division or series of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust will constitute a separate “person” under this Indenture.

Physical Note” means a Note (other than a Global Note) that is represented by a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, registered in the name of the Holder of such Note and duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee.

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Product Family” means (a) each product family (as referred to in the Issuer’s most recent Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filings prior to the Issue Date or in any of the Issuer’s Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filings after the Issue Date) and (b) shall also include (i) within the “materials” product family, each of (x) the bare wafers and (y) the epitaxial wafers, lines of business and (ii) within the “power devices” product family, each of (w) dies, (x) the Schottky diodes, (y) the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and (z) the power modules, lines of business.

Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest other than Disqualified Stock.

Qualified Successor Entity” means, with respect to a Business Combination Event, a corporation; provided, however, that a limited liability company, limited partnership or other similar entity shall also constitute a Qualified Successor Entity with respect to such Business Combination Event if either (a) such Business Combination Event is an Exempted Fundamental Change; or (b) both of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) either (x) such limited liability company, limited partnership or other similar entity, as applicable, is treated as a corporation or is a direct or indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of, and disregarded as an entity separate from, a corporation, in each case for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or (y) the Issuer has received an opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel to the effect that such Business Combination Event will not be treated as an exchange under Section 1001 of the Code, for Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes; and (ii) such Business Combination Event constitutes a Common Stock Change Event whose Reference Property consists solely of any combination of cash in U.S. dollars and shares of common stock or other corporate common equity interests of an entity that is (x) treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (y) organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and (z) the direct or indirect parent of the limited liability company, limited partnership or similar entity.

Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee or leased by any Note Party, whether by lease, license, or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Redemption Date” means the date fixed, pursuant to Section 4.03(E), for the settlement of the redemption of any Notes by the Issuer pursuant to a Redemption.

Redemption Notice Date” means the date on which the Issuer sends the Redemption Notice for a Redemption pursuant to Section 4.03(G).

 

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Redemption Price” means the cash price determined and payable by the Issuer to redeem any Note upon its Redemption, calculated pursuant to Section 4.03(F).

Refinance” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness,” and “Refinanced” shall have a meaning correlative thereto.

Regular Record Date” has the following meaning with respect to an Interest Payment Date: (A) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on June 15, the immediately preceding June 1; (B) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on December 15, the immediately preceding December 1; and (C) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on the Maturity Date, the date falling 15 calendar days prior to the Maturity Date.

Renesas” means Renesas Electronics Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Renesas Warrants” means those certain warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock issued to Renesas Electronics America Inc. by the Issuer on the Issue Date.

Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change” means the repurchase of any Note by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.02.

Requirement of Law” means, as to any person, any law, treaty, rule, regulation, statute, order, ordinance, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such person or any of its property or assets or to which such person or any of its property or assets is subject.

Responsible Officer” means (A) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee); and (B) with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of, and familiarity with, the particular subject, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Note Legend” means a legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B-1.

Restricted Share Legend” means, with respect to any Conversion Share, a legend substantially to the effect that the offer and sale of such Conversion Share have not been registered under the Securities Act and that such Conversion Share cannot be sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to a transaction that is registered under the Securities Act or that is exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereto), as the same may be amended from time to time.

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereto), as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

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S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, and any successor to the ratings business thereof.

Scheduled Trading Day” means any day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, then “Scheduled Trading Day” means a Business Day.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Second Lien Renesas Notes” means $203,599,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

Second Lien Renesas Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the Second Lien Renesas Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture” means an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Renesas Notes Trustee, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Second Lien Renesas Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for Second Lien Renesas Notes or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Takeback Notes” means $296,401,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

Second Lien Takeback Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the Second Lien Takeback Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture” means an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Takeback Notes Trustee, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Second Lien Takeback Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for Second Lien Takeback Notes or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture.

Second-Priority Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor), each Holder and each Subagent appointed pursuant to Section 11.02 by the Trustee with respect to matters relating to the Note Documents or by the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor) with respect to matters relating to any Security Document.

Securities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Uniform Commercial Code.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Security” means any Note or Conversion Share.

Security Documents” means the Mortgages, the Collateral Agreement, each foreign collateral agreement, each Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), each Account Control Agreement and each of the security agreements, pledge agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered at any time pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 3.21.

Settlement Method” means Cash Settlement, Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement.

Significant Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person that constitutes a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) of such Person; provided, however, that, if a Subsidiary meets the criteria of clause (1)(iii), but not clause (1)(i) or (1)(ii), of the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Rule 1-02(w) (or, if applicable, the respective successor clauses to the aforementioned clauses), then such Subsidiary will be deemed not to be a Significant Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary’s income from continuing operations before income taxes, exclusive of amounts attributable to any non-controlling interests, for the last completed fiscal year before the date of determination exceeds $20,000,000.

Siler City Assets” means (i) any tangible personal or real property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, the Siler City Facility and (ii) any tangible personal or real property purchased after the Issue Date and located at, or used in, the Siler City Facility from and after the Issue Date which did not fall into any other definition under this Indenture prior to such movement or use; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Siler City Assets shall not include any intangible assets or property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.

Siler City Facility” means the materials facility and campus in Siler City, North Carolina.

 

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Special Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 7.03, as applicable.

Specified Dollar Amount” means, with respect to the conversion of a Note to which Combination Settlement applies, the maximum cash amount per $1,000 principal amount of such Note deliverable upon such conversion (excluding cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock).

Specified Indebtedness” means Indebtedness incurred pursuant to, Section 3.12(B)(ix), Section 3.12(B)(xii) and/or Section 3.12(B)(xxix) or that is secured by a Lien incurred pursuant to paragraph (LL) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Specified IP Disposition” means the Disposition (whether in a single transaction or multiple transactions) of the assets and property described in item 1 of Schedule 1.01(B).

Stated Interest” means 2.5% per annum, payable solely in cash.

Stated Maturity” means, (1) with respect to any Indebtedness, the date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which the final installment of principal of such Indebtedness is due and payable as set forth in the documentation governing such Indebtedness and (2) with respect to any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, the date specified as the fixed date on which such installment is due and payable as set forth in the documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (A) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, but after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees, as applicable, of such corporation, association or other business entity is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person; and (B) any partnership or limited liability company where (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the capital accounts, distribution rights, equity and voting interests, or of the general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, of such partnership or limited liability company are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or limited liability company interests or otherwise or (ii) such Person or any one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person is a controlling general partner of, or otherwise controls, such partnership or limited liability company. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Subsidiaries herein shall be a reference to Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

Subsidiary Guarantee” means the joint and several guarantee pursuant to Article 12 by a Subsidiary Guarantor of its Guaranteed Obligations.

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and (b) any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that may be designated by the Issuer (by way of delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly executed by such Subsidiary) in its sole discretion from time to time to be a guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, whereupon such Subsidiary shall be obligated to comply with the other requirements of Section 3.21(A)(iv) as if it were newly acquired.

Supermajority Holders” means, at any applicable time and subject to Section 2.16 and Section 2.18, Holders owning more than 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

Taxes” means any and all present or future federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes, duties, levies, imposts, charge assessments, deductions, withholdings or other similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or other basis and any interest, fines, penalties or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

Termination Date” means the date on which the principal of and interest on each Note, all Note Obligations, all fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Note Document shall have been paid in full (other than in respect of contingent indemnification and expense reimbursement claims not then due).

Test Period” means, on any date of determination, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer then most recently ended (taken as one accounting period) for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 3.03; provided that prior to the first date financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 3.03, the Test Period in effect shall be the four fiscal quarter period ended June 30, 2025.

Third Party Funds” means any accounts or funds, or any portion thereof, received by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries as agent on behalf of third parties in accordance with a written agreement that imposes a duty upon the Issuer or one or more of its Subsidiaries to collect and remit those funds to such third parties.

Trading Day” means any day on which (A) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded; and (B) there is no Market Disruption Event. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, then “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Transactions” means, collectively, the transactions to occur pursuant to the Note Documents, including (a) the execution, delivery and performance of the Note Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents, and the issuance of the Notes hereunder and (b) the payment of all fees and expenses to be paid and owing in connection with the foregoing.

Transfer-Restricted Security” means any Security that constitutes a “restricted security” (as defined in Rule 144); provided, however, that such Security will cease to be a Transfer- Restricted Security upon the earliest to occur of the following events:

(A) such Security is sold or otherwise transferred to a Person (other than the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer) pursuant to a registration statement that was effective under the Securities Act at the time of such sale or transfer;

 

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(B) such Security is sold or otherwise transferred to a Person (other than the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer) pursuant to an available exemption (including Rule 144) from the registration and prospectus-delivery requirements of, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and, immediately after such sale or transfer, such Security ceases to constitute a “restricted security” (as defined in Rule 144); and

(C) such Security is eligible for resale, by a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Issuer and that has not been an Affiliate of the Issuer during the immediately preceding three (3) months, pursuant to Rule 144 without any limitations thereunder as to volume, manner of sale, availability of current public information or notice.

The Trustee is under no obligation to determine whether any Security is a Transfer- Restricted Security and may conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto.

Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Trustee” means the Person named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, means such successor.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

VWAP Market Disruption Event” means, with respect to any date, (A) the failure by the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded, to open for trading during its regular trading session on such date; or (B) the occurrence or existence, for more than one half hour period in the aggregate, of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock, and such suspension or limitation occurs or exists at any time before 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date.

VWAP Trading Day” means a day on which (A) there is no VWAP Market Disruption Event; and (B) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, then “VWAP Trading Day” means a Business Day.

 

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Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any person means a subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such person. Unless the context otherwise requires, “Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Section 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS.

 

Term    Defined in
Section

“Additional Intercreditor Agreement”

   14.02(A)

“Additional Notes”

   2.03(B)

“Additional Shares”

   5.07(A)

“Agent”

   11.02(A)

“Applicable Terrorism Law”

   13.11

“Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date”

   3.16(E)

“Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date”

   3.16(D)

“Asset Sale Prepayment Date”

   3.16(B)

“Attribution Parties”

   5.10(A)

“Beneficial Ownership Limitations”

   5.10(D)

“Business Combination Event”

   6.01(B)

“Cash Settlement”

   5.03(A)

“Combination Settlement”

   5.03(A)

“Common Stock Change Event”

   5.09(A)

“Conversion Agent”

   2.06(A)

“Conversion Consideration”

   5.03(B)(i)

“Corresponding Debt”

   11.09(B)

“Default Interest”

   2.05(B)

“Defaulted Amount”

   2.05(B)

“Event of Default”

   7.01(A)

“Excess Proceeds”

   3.16(C)

“Excluded Property”

   3.21(A)(vii)

“Executed Documentation”

   13.01

“Expiration Date”

   5.05(A)(v)

 

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Term    Defined in
Section

“Expiration Time”

   5.05(A)(v)

“Foreign Collateral”

   11.01(R)

“Fundamental Change Notice”

   4.02(E)

“Fundamental Change Repurchase Right”

   4.02(A)

“General Beneficial Ownership Limitation”

   5.10(D)

“Guaranteed Obligations”

   12.01(A)(ii)

“Guarantor Business Combination Event”

   6.01(B)

“Holder Beneficial Ownership Limitation”

   5.10(D)

“Indemnified Parties”

   10.06(B)

“Initial Notes”

   2.03(A)

“Issuer Business Combination Event”

   6.01(A)

“LCT Election”

   1.05

“LCT Test Date”

   1.05

“Legal Defeasance Option”

   9.01(B)

“Parallel Debt”

   11.09(B)

“Paying Agent”

   2.06(A)

“Physical Settlement”

   5.03(A)

“Redemption”

   4.03(B)

“Redemption Notice”

   4.03(G)

“Reference Property”

   5.09(A)

“Reference Property Unit”

   5.09(A)

“Register”

   2.06(B)

“Registrar”

   2.06(A)

“Restricted Payments”

   3.15(A)

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction”

   3.14

“Security Document Order”

   11.01(K)

“Settlement Method Election Deadline”

   5.03(A)(i)(4)

“Settlement Notice”

   5.03(A)(i)(4)

“Specified Courts”

   13.07

“Spin-Off”

   5.05(A)(iii)(2)

“Spin-Off Valuation Period”

   5.05(A)(iii)(2)

“Stock Price”

   5.07(C)

“Subagent”

   11.02(A)

“Successor Entity”

   6.01(A)(i)

“Successor Guarantor”

   6.01(B)(i)

“Successor Person”

   5.09(A)

“Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”

   5.05(A)(v)

“Underlying Issuer”

   5.09(A)

 

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Section 1.03. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

For purposes of this Indenture:

(A) “or” is not exclusive and “includes”, “include” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”;

(B) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference in this Indenture or any other Note Document or other agreement or document shall mean such agreement as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

(C) “will” expresses a command;

(D) the “average” of a set of numerical values refers to the arithmetic average of such numerical values;

(E) a merger involving, or a transfer of assets by, a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust will be deemed to include any division of or by, or an allocation of assets to a series of, such limited liability company, limited partnership or trust, or any unwinding of any such division or allocation;

(F) words in the singular include the plural and in the plural include the singular, unless the context requires otherwise;

(G) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture, unless the context requires otherwise;

(H) references to currency mean the lawful currency of the United States of America, unless the context requires otherwise;

(I) the exhibits, schedules and other attachments to this Indenture are deemed to form part of this Indenture;

(J) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, solely for purposes of determining whether any notice, direction, action to be taken or consent to be given under this Indenture or the other Note Documents is authorized, provided or given (as the case may be) by Holders of a sufficient aggregate principal amount of Notes, a beneficial owner of an interest in a Note shall be treated as a Holder, and the Trustee shall be permitted to rely in good faith on customary certificates of such beneficial ownership as evidence of holdings of Notes, which may be in the form of “screenshots” or other reasonable or customary electronic or other evidence of such beneficial owner’s position (and shall not require the provision of DTC proxies, medallion-stamped guarantees or other similar evidence) in connection with any determination with respect to the Holders of Notes giving any notice, direction, action to be taken or consent;

 

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(K) the term “interest,” when used with respect to a Note, includes any Default Interest and Special Interest, unless the context requires otherwise;

(L) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference herein to any Requirement of Law means such Requirement of Law as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time; and

(M) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis with that used in preparing the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended 2025, as in effect on the Issue Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant contained herein, Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

Section 1.04. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Trust Indenture Act to be part of and govern this Indenture, the Trust Indenture Act provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the Trust Indenture Act provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

(A) “Commission” means the SEC;

(B) “default” means Event of Default;

(C) “indenture securities” means the Notes;

(D) “indenture security holder” means a Holder;

(E) “indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

(F) “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

(G) “obligor” on the indenture securities means each Note Party and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

 

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Section 1.05. LIMITED CONDITION TRANSACTIONS.

When calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture or compliance with any provision of this Indenture in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments), and determining compliance with Defaults and Events of Default, in each case, at the option of the Issuer (the Issuer’s election to exercise such option, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination for availability under any such basket or ratio and whether any such action or transaction is permitted (or any requirement or condition therefor is complied with or satisfied (including, without limitation, as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default)) under this Indenture shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (or, if applicable, the date of delivery of an irrevocable notice or similar event) (the “LCT Test Date”), and if, after giving effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries would have been permitted to take such actions or consummate such transactions on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions), such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions) shall be deemed to have been complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes under the indenture (in the case of Indebtedness, for example, whether such Indebtedness is committed, issued or otherwise incurred at the LCT Test Date or at any time thereafter); provided that compliance with such ratios, tests or baskets (and any related requirements and conditions) shall not be determined or tested at any time after the applicable LCT Test Date for such Limited Condition Transaction or any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments).

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer has made an LCT Election, (1) if any of the ratios, tests or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date have been exceeded or otherwise failed to have been complied with as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, test or basket, including due to fluctuations in EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets of the Issuer or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, such baskets, tests or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been complied with as a result of such fluctuations; (2) if any related requirements and conditions (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default) for which compliance or satisfaction was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date not have been complied with or satisfied (including due to the occurrence or continuation of a Default or Event of Default), such requirements and conditions will not be deemed to have been failed to be complied with or satisfied (and such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed not to have occurred or be continuing); and (3) in calculating the availability under any ratio, test or basket in connection with any action or transaction unrelated to such Limited Condition Transaction following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement or date for redemption, purchase or repayment specified in an irrevocable notice for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated, expires or passes, as applicable, without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio, test or basket shall be determined or tested giving pro forma effect to such Limited Condition Transaction.

 

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Article 2. THE NOTES

Section 2.01. FORM, DATING AND DENOMINATIONS.

The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A. Any Additional Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A. The Notes will bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09 and may bear notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage or the Depositary. Each Note will be dated as of the date of its authentication.

Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Issuer Order delivered to the Trustee in connection with the issuance and authentication thereof, the Notes will be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes. Physical Notes may be exchanged for Global Notes, and Global Notes may be exchanged for Physical Notes, only as provided in Section 2.10.

The Notes will be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and only in Authorized Denominations.

Each certificate representing a Note will bear a unique registration number that is not affixed to any other certificate representing another outstanding Note.

The terms contained in the Notes constitute part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Issuer and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, agree to such terms and to be bound thereby; provided, however, that, to the extent that any provision of any Note conflicts with the provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture will control for purposes of this Indenture and such Note.

Section 2.02. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY.

(A) Due Execution by the Issuer. At least one (1) duly authorized Officer will sign the Notes on behalf of the Issuer by manual, electronically (including “.pdf” or DocuSign or other electronic signature platform) or facsimile signature. A Note’s validity will not be affected by the failure of any Officer whose signature is on any Note to hold, at the time such Note is authenticated, the same or any other office at the Issuer.

(B) Authentication by the Trustee and Delivery.

(i) No Note will be valid until it is authenticated by the Trustee. A Note will be deemed to be duly authenticated only when an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication of such Note.

 

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(ii) The Trustee will cause an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) to manually sign the certificate of authentication of a Note only if (1) the Issuer delivers such Note to the Trustee; (2) such Note is executed by the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.02(A); and (3) the Issuer delivers a Issuer Order to the Trustee that (a) requests the Trustee to authenticate such Note; and (b) sets forth the name of the Holder of such Note and the date as of which such Note is to be authenticated. If such Issuer Order also requests the Trustee to deliver such Physical Note to any Holder, then the Trustee will promptly electronically deliver such Note in accordance with such Issuer Order.

(iii) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. A duly appointed authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so under this Indenture, and a Note authenticated as provided in this Indenture by such an agent will be deemed, for purposes of this Indenture, to be authenticated by the Trustee. Each duly appointed authenticating agent will have the same rights to deal with the Issuer as the Trustee would have if it were performing the duties that the authentication agent was validly appointed to undertake.

Section 2.03. INITIAL NOTES AND ADDITIONAL NOTES

(A) Initial Notes. On the Issue Date, there will be originally issued (i) $331,375,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, subject to the provisions of this Indenture (including Section 2.02). Notes issued pursuant to this Section 2.03(A), and any Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof, are referred to in this Indenture as the “Initial Notes.”

(B) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture and only so long as permitted by the terms of this Indenture, the Issuer may deliver additional notes (the “Additional Notes”) executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officer’s Certificate for the authentication and delivery of such Additional Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order of the Issuer shall authenticate and deliver such Additional Notes. The Additional Notes shall have the same terms and conditions as the Initial Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.03(A) (including the benefit of the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Collateral) in all respects except for the issue date, the issue price, the date of the first payment of interest, and, if applicable, restrictions on transfer in respect of such Additional Notes, and upon issuance, the Additional Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the previously outstanding Notes and vote together as one class on all matters with respect to the Notes; provided that if the Additional Notes and any Notes that are resold after such Notes have been purchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will be assigned a separate CUSIP and ISIN number or no CUSIP number.

Section 2.04. METHOD OF PAYMENT.

(A) Global Notes. The Issuer will pay, or cause the Paying Agent to pay, the principal (whether due upon maturity on the Maturity Date, Redemption on a Redemption Date or repurchase on a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or otherwise) of, cash, interest on, and any cash Conversion Consideration for, any Global Note to the Depositary by wire transfer of immediately available funds no later than the time the same is due as provided in this Indenture.

 

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(B) Physical Notes. The Issuer will pay, or cause the Paying Agent to pay, the principal (whether due upon maturity on the Maturity Date, Redemption on a Redemption Date or repurchase on a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or otherwise) of, cash, interest on, and any cash Conversion Consideration for, any Physical Note no later than the time the same is due as provided in this Indenture by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of the Holder, as specified by the Holder.

Section 2.05. ACCRUAL OF INTEREST; DEFAULTED AMOUNTS; WHEN PAYMENT DATE IS NOT A BUSINESS DAY.

(A) Accrual of Interest. Each Note will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the Stated Interest, plus any Special Interest that may accrue pursuant to Section 7.03. Stated Interest on each Note will (i) accrue from, and including, the most recent date to which Stated Interest has been paid or duly provided for (or, if no Stated Interest has theretofore been paid or duly provided for, the date set forth in the certificate representing such Note as the date from, and including, which Stated Interest will begin to accrue in such circumstance) to, but excluding, the date of payment of such Stated Interest; and (ii) be, subject to Sections 4.02(D), 4.03(F) and 5.02(D) (but without duplication of any payment of interest), payable semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning on the first Interest Payment Date set forth in the certificate representing such Note, to the Holder of such Note as of the close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date. Stated Interest, and, if applicable, Special Interest, on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

(B) Defaulted Amounts. If the Issuer fails to pay any cash amount (a “Defaulted Amount”) payable on a Note on or before the due date therefor as provided in this Indenture, then, regardless of whether such failure constitutes an Event of Default, (i) such Defaulted Amount will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder of such Note otherwise entitled to such payment; (ii) to the extent lawful, interest (“Default Interest”) will accrue on such Defaulted Amount at a rate per annum equal to the rate per annum at which Stated Interest accrues, from, and including, such due date to, but excluding, the date of payment of such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest; (iii) such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest will be paid as provided either in clause (i) or clause (ii) below, at the Issuer’s election.

(i) Payment of Default Amounts on a Special Payment Date. The Issuer will have the right to pay such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest on a payment date selected by the Issuer to the Holder of such Note as of the close of Business on a special record date selected by the Issuer; provided that such special record date must be no more than fifteen (15), nor less than ten (10), calendar days before such payment date; and at least fifteen (15) calendar days before such special record date, the Issuer will send notice to the Trustee and the Holders that states such special record date, such payment date and the amount of such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest to be paid on such payment date.

 

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(ii) Payment of Default Amount in Any Other Lawful Manner. If not paid in accordance with Section 2.05(B)(i), such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest will be paid by the Issuer in any other lawful manner.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.05(B)(i), a Default in the payment or delivery of any Conversion Consideration when due will be cured upon the payment or delivery of the same (together, if applicable in the case of any cash Conversion Consideration, with Default Interest thereon) to the Person to whom such Conversion Consideration is payable or deliverable (determined in accordance with Article 5).

(C) Delay of Payment when Payment Date is Not a Business Day. If the due date for a payment on a Note as provided in this Indenture is not a Business Day, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, such payment may be made on the immediately following Business Day with the same force and effect as if such payment were made on such due date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no interest will accrue on such payment as a result of the related delay). Solely for purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, a day on which the applicable place of payment is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed will be deemed not to be a “Business Day.”

(D) Special Provision for Global Notes. If the first date on which any Special Interest begins to accrue on a Global Note is on or after the fifth (5th) Business Day before a Regular Record Date and before the next Interest Payment Date, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, the amount thereof accruing in respect of the period from, and including, such first date to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date but will instead be deemed to accrue (without duplication) entirely on such Interest Payment Date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no interest will accrue as a result of the related delay).

Section 2.06. REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will maintain (i) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”); (ii) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”); and (iii) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for conversion (the “Conversion Agent”). If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, then the Trustee will act as such. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent.

(B) Duties of the Registrar. The Registrar will keep a record (the “Register”) of the names and addresses of the Holders, the Notes held by each Holder and the transfer, exchange, repurchase, Redemption and conversion of Notes. Absent manifest error, the entries in the Register will be conclusive and the Issuer and the Trustee may treat each Person whose name is recorded as a Holder in the Register as a Holder for all purposes. The Register will be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form reasonably promptly.

 

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(C) Co-Agents; Issuer’s Right to Appoint Successor Registrars, Paying Agents and Conversion Agents. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-Registrars, co-Paying Agents and co-Conversion Agents, each of whom will be deemed to be a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as applicable, under this Indenture. Subject to Section 2.06(A), the Issuer may change any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent (including appointing itself or any of its Subsidiaries to act in such capacity) without notice to any Holder. The Issuer will notify the Trustee (and, upon request, any Holder) of the name and address of each Note Agent, if any, not a party to this Indenture and will enter into an appropriate agency agreement with each such Note Agent, which agreement will implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Note Agent.

(D) Initial Appointments. The Issuer appoints the Trustee as the initial Paying Agent, the initial Registrar and the initial Conversion Agent.

Section 2.07. PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT TO HOLD PROPERTY IN TRUST.

The Issuer will require each Paying Agent or Conversion Agent that is not the Trustee to agree in writing that such Note Agent will (A) hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money and other property held by such Note Agent for payment or delivery due on the Notes; and (B) notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment or delivery. The Issuer, at any time, may, and the Trustee, while any Default continues, may, require a Paying Agent or Conversion Agent to pay or deliver, as applicable, all money and other property held by it to the Trustee, after which payment or delivery, as applicable, such Note Agent (if not the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) will have no further liability for such money or property. If the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, then (i) it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money and other property held by it as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent and (ii) references in this Indenture or the Notes to the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent holding cash or other property, or to the delivery of cash or other property to the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, in each case for payment or delivery to any Holders or the Trustee or with respect to the Notes, will be deemed to refer to cash or other property so segregated and held separately, or to the segregation and separate holding of such cash or other property, respectively. Upon the occurrence of any event pursuant to Section 7.01(A)(x) or Section 7.01(A)(xi) with respect to the Issuer (or with respect to any Subsidiary of the Issuer acting as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent), the Trustee will serve as the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as applicable, for the Notes.

Section 2.08. HOLDER LISTS.

(A) If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer and any other obligor of the Notes will furnish to the Trustee, no later than seven (7) Business Days before each Interest Payment Date, and at such other times as the Trustee may request, a list, in such form and as of such date or time as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders, and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(B) The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 2.08(A) and (ii) received by it in the capacity of Paying Agent (if so acting), and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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(C) The Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or any or all series of the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(D) Each and every Holder, by receiving the Notes and holding the same, agrees with the Issuer and the Trustee that neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.08.

Section 2.09. LEGENDS.

(A) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear the Global Note Legend (or any similar legend, not inconsistent with this Indenture, required by the Depositary for such Global Note).

(B) [Reserved].

(C) Restricted Note Legend. Subject to Section 2.12,

(i) solely to the extent that any Note is issued in one or more transactions that result in such Note constituting a “restricted security” (as defined in Rule 144), each such Note that is a Transfer-Restricted Security will bear the Restricted Note Legend; and

(ii) if a Note is issued in exchange for, in substitution of, or to effect a partial conversion of, another Note (such other Note being referred to as the “old Note” for purposes of this Section 2.09(C)(ii)), including pursuant to Sections 2.10(B), 2.10(C), 2.11 or 2.13, then such Note will bear the Restricted Note Legend if such old Note bore the Restricted Note Legend at the time of such exchange or substitution, or on the related Conversion Date with respect to such conversion, as applicable; provided, however, that such Note need not bear the Restricted Note Legend if such Note does not constitute a Transfer-Restricted Security immediately after such exchange or substitution, or as of such Conversion Date, as applicable.

(D) Other Legends. A Note may bear any other legend or text, not inconsistent with this Indenture, as may be required by applicable law or by any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which such Note is traded or quoted.

(E) Acknowledgment and Agreement by the Holders. A Holder’s acceptance of any Note bearing any legend required by this Section 2.09 will constitute such Holder’s acknowledgment of, and agreement to comply with, the restrictions set forth in such legend.

(F) Restricted Share Legend.

(i) Each Conversion Share will bear the Restricted Share Legend if the Note upon the conversion of which such Conversion Share was issued was (or would have been had it not been converted) a Transfer-Restricted Security at the time such Conversion Share was issued; provided, however, that such Conversion Share need not bear the Restricted Share Legend if the Issuer determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such Conversion Share need not bear the Restricted Share Legend.

 

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(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.09(F), a Conversion Share need not bear a Restricted Share Legend if such Conversion Share is issued in an uncertificated form that does not permit affixing legends thereto so long as the Issuer takes measures (including the assignment thereto of a “restricted” CUSIP number) that it reasonably deems in good faith appropriate to enforce the transfer restrictions referred to in the Restricted Share Legend.

Section 2.10. TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES; CERTAIN TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.

(A) Provisions Applicable to All Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) Subject to this Section 2.10, Physical Notes and beneficial interests in Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged from time to time and the Registrar will record each such transfer or exchange in the Register.

(ii) Each Note issued upon transfer or exchange of any other Note (such other Note being referred to as the “old Note” for purposes of this Section 2.10(A)(ii)) or portion thereof in accordance with this Indenture will be the valid obligation of the Issuer, evidencing the same indebtedness, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as such old Note or portion thereof, as applicable.

(iii) The Issuer, the Trustee and the Note Agents will not impose any service charge on any Holder for any transfer, exchange or conversion of Notes, but the Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and the Conversion Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, exchange or conversion of Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 2.17 or 8.05 not involving any transfer.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, a Note may not be transferred or exchanged in part unless the portion to be so transferred or exchanged is in an Authorized Denomination.

(v) The Trustee will have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any transfer restrictions imposed under this Indenture or applicable law with respect to any Security, other than to require the delivery of such certificates or other documentation or evidence as expressly required by this Indenture and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the requirements of this Indenture.

(vi) Each Note issued upon transfer of, or in exchange for, another Note will bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

(vii) Upon satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Note, the Issuer will cause such transfer or exchange to be effected as soon as reasonably practicable but in no event later than the second (2nd) Business Day after the date of such satisfaction.

 

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(viii) For the avoidance of doubt, and subject to the terms of this Indenture, as used in this Section 2.10, an “exchange” of a Global Note or a Physical Note includes (x) an exchange effected for the sole purpose of removing any Restricted Note Legend affixed to such Global Note or Physical Note; and (y) if such Global Note or Physical Note is identified by a “restricted” CUSIP number, an exchange effected for the sole purpose of causing such Global Note or Physical Note to be identified by an “unrestricted” CUSIP number.

(B) Transfers and Exchanges of Global Notes.

(i) Subject to the immediately following sentence, no Global Note may be transferred or exchanged in whole except (x) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary; (y) by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary; or (z) by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. No Global Note (or any portion thereof) may be transferred to, or exchanged for, a Physical Note; provided, however, that a Global Note will be exchanged, pursuant to customary procedures, for one or more Physical Notes if:

(1) (x) the Depositary notifies the Issuer or the Trustee that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Note or (y) the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act and, in each case, the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depositary within ninety (90) days of such notice or cessation;

(2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar has received a written request from the Depositary, or from a holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, to exchange such Global Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, for one or more Physical Notes; or

(3) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, permits the exchange of any beneficial interest in such Global Note for one or more Physical Notes at the request of the owner of such beneficial interest.

(ii) Upon satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Global Note (or any portion thereof):

(1) the Trustee will reflect any resulting decrease of the principal amount of such Global Note by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such Global Note (and, if such notation results in such Global Note having a principal amount of zero, the Issuer may (but is not required to) instruct the Trustee to cancel such Global Note pursuant to Section 2.15);

(2) if required to effect such transfer or exchange, then the Trustee will reflect any resulting increase of the principal amount of any other Global Note by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such other Global Note;

 

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(3) if required to effect such transfer or exchange, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a new Global Note bearing each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

(4) if such Global Note (or such portion thereof), or any beneficial interest therein, is to be exchanged for one or more Physical Notes, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note to be so exchanged; (y) are registered in such name(s) as the Depositary specifies (or as otherwise determined pursuant to customary procedures); and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

(iii) Each transfer or exchange of a beneficial interest in any Global Note will be made in accordance with the Depositary Procedures.

(C) Transfers and Exchanges of Physical Notes.

(i) Subject to this Section 2.10, a Holder of a Physical Note may (x) transfer such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) to one or more other Person(s); (y) exchange such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) for one or more other Physical Notes in Authorized Denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Physical Note (or portion thereof) to be so exchanged; and (z) if then permitted by the Depositary Procedures, transfer such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) in exchange for a beneficial interest in one or more Global Notes; provided, however, that, to effect any such transfer or exchange, such Holder must:

(1) surrender such Physical Note to be transferred or exchanged to the office of the Registrar, together with any endorsements or transfer instruments reasonably required by the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar; and

(2) deliver such certificates, documentation or evidence as may be required pursuant to Section 2.10(D).

(ii) Upon the satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Physical Note (such Physical Note being referred to as the “old Physical Note” for purposes of this Section 2.10(C)(ii)) of a Holder (or any portion of such old Physical Note in an Authorized Denomination):

(1) such old Physical Note will be promptly cancelled pursuant to Section 2.15;

 

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(2) if such old Physical Note is to be so transferred or exchanged only in part, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (a) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such old Physical Note not to be so transferred or exchanged; (b) are registered in the name of such Holder and (c) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09;

(3) in the case of a transfer:

(a) to the Depositary or a nominee thereof that will hold its interest in such old Physical Note (or such portion thereof) to be so transferred in the form of one or more Global Notes, the Trustee will reflect an increase of the principal amount of one or more existing Global Notes by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such Global Note(s), which increase(s) are in Authorized Denominations and aggregate to the principal amount to be so transferred, and which Global Note(s) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; provided, however, that if such transfer cannot be so effected by notation on one or more existing Global Notes (whether because no Global Notes bearing each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09 then exist, because any such increase will result in any Global Note having an aggregate principal amount exceeding the maximum aggregate principal amount permitted by the Depositary or otherwise), then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Global Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so transferred; and (y) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

(b) to a transferee that will hold its interest in such old Physical Note (or such portion thereof) to be so transferred in the form of one or more Physical Notes, the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02 one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so transferred; (y) are registered in the name of such transferee; and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

(4) in the case of an exchange, the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (a) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so exchanged; (b) are registered in the name of the Person to whom such old Physical Note was registered; and (c) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

 

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(D) Requirement to Deliver Documentation and Other Evidence. If a Holder of any Note that is identified by a “restricted” CUSIP number or that bears a Restricted Note Legend or is a Transfer-Restricted Security requests to:

(i) cause such Note to be identified by an “unrestricted” CUSIP number;

(ii) remove such Restricted Note Legend; or

(iii) register the transfer of such Note to the name of another Person,

then the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar may refuse to effect such identification, removal or transfer, as applicable, unless there is delivered to the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar such certificates or other documentation or evidence as the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar may reasonably require to determine that such identification, removal or transfer, as applicable, complies with the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws.

(E) Transfers of Notes Subject to Redemption, Repurchase or Conversion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note that (i) has been surrendered for conversion, except to the extent that any portion of such Note is not subject to conversion; (ii) is subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice validly delivered, and not withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.02(F), except to the extent that any portion of such Note is not subject to such notice or the Issuer fails to pay the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Price when due; or (iii) has been selected for Redemption pursuant to a Redemption Notice, except to the extent that any portion of such Note is not subject to Redemption or the Issuer fails to pay the applicable Redemption Price when due.

Section 2.11. EXCHANGE AND CANCELLATION OF NOTES TO BE CONVERTED OR TO BE REPURCHASED PURSUANT TO A REPURCHASE UPON FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE OR REDEMPTION.

(A) Partial Conversions of Physical Notes and Partial Repurchases of Physical Notes Pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change or Redemption. If only a portion of a Physical Note of a Holder is to be converted pursuant to Article 5 or repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change or Redemption, then, as soon as reasonably practicable after such Physical Note is surrendered for such conversion or repurchase, as applicable, the Issuer will cause such Physical Note to be exchanged, pursuant and subject to Section 2.10(C), for one or more Physical Notes that are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Physical Note that is not to be so converted or repurchased, as applicable, and deliver such Physical Note(s) to such Holder; and a Physical Note having a principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so converted or repurchased, as applicable, which Physical Note will be converted or repurchased, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of this Indenture; provided, however, that the Physical Note referred to in this clause (ii) need not be issued at any time after which such principal amount subject to such conversion or repurchase, as applicable, is deemed to cease to be outstanding pursuant to Section 2.18.

 

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Section 2.12. REMOVAL OF TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.

Without limiting the generality of any other provision of this Indenture (including Section 3.04), the Restricted Note Legend affixed to any Note will be deemed, pursuant to this Section 2.12 and the footnote to such Restricted Note Legend, to be removed therefrom upon the Issuer’s delivery to the Trustee of notice, signed on behalf of the Issuer by one (1) of its Officers, to such effect (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such notice need not be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel in order to be effective to cause such Restricted Note Legend to be deemed to be removed from such Note). If such Note bears a “restricted” CUSIP or ISIN number at the time of such delivery, then, upon such delivery, such Note will be deemed, pursuant to this Section 2.12 and the footnotes to the CUSIP and ISIN numbers set forth on the face of the certificate representing such Note, to thereafter bear the “unrestricted” CUSIP and ISIN numbers identified in such footnotes; provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note and the Depositary thereof requires a mandatory exchange or other procedure to cause such Global Note to be identified by “unrestricted” CUSIP and ISIN numbers in the facilities of such Depositary, then (i) the Issuer will effect such exchange or procedure as soon as reasonably practicable; and (ii) for purposes of Section 3.04, such Global Note will not be deemed to be identified by “unrestricted” CUSIP and ISIN numbers until such time as such exchange or procedure is effected.

Section 2.13. REPLACEMENT NOTES.

If a Holder of any Note claims that such Note has been mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a replacement Note upon surrender to the Trustee of such mutilated Note, or upon delivery to the Trustee of evidence of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Issuer. In the case of a lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note, the Issuer and the Trustee may require the Holder thereof to provide such security or indemnity that is reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee to protect the Issuer and the Trustee from any loss that any of them may suffer if such Note is replaced.

Every replacement Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.13 will be an additional obligation of the Issuer and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all other Notes issued under this Indenture.

Section 2.14. REGISTERED HOLDERS; CERTAIN RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO GLOBAL NOTES.

Only the Holder of a Note will have rights under this Indenture as the owner of such Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Depositary Participants will have no rights as such under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or its nominee, or by the Trustee as its custodian, and the Issuer, the Trustee and the Note Agents, and their respective agents, may treat the Depositary as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever; provided, however, that (A) the Holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Depositary Participants and Persons that hold interests in Notes through Depositary Participants, to take any action that such Holder is entitled to take with respect to such Global Note under this Indenture or the Notes; and (B) the Issuer and the Trustee, and their respective agents, may give effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary.

 

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Section 2.15. CANCELLATION.

The Issuer may at any time deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent will forward to the Trustee each Note duly surrendered to them for transfer, exchange, payment or conversion. The Trustee will promptly cancel all Notes so surrendered to it in accordance with its customary procedures. Without limiting the generality of Section 2.03(B), the Issuer may not originally issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been cancelled upon transfer, exchange, payment or conversion.

Section 2.16. NOTES HELD BY THE ISSUER OR ITS AFFILIATES.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer and its Affiliates shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding; except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate, or to be under common control of any other Person with the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, solely as a result of such Person and/or such other Person being a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the voting power Issuer’s outstanding Common Stock, unless such Person and/or such other Person (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer) has the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Issuer, whether through the ownership of Common Stock of the Issuer, by contract, or otherwise. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

Section 2.17. TEMPORARY NOTES.

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes. The Issuer will promptly prepare, issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Until so exchanged, each temporary Note will in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.

Section 2.18. OUTSTANDING NOTES.

(A) Generally. The Notes that are outstanding at any time will be deemed to be those Notes that, at such time, have been duly executed and authenticated, excluding those Notes (or portions thereof) that have theretofore been (i) cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.15; (ii) assigned a principal amount of zero by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of any a Global Note representing such Note; (iii) paid in full (including upon conversion) in accordance with this Indenture; or (iv) deemed to cease to be outstanding to the extent provided in, and subject to, clause (B), (C) or (D) of this Section 2.18. Subject to Section 2.16, the Notes do not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds such Notes.

 

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(B) Replaced Notes. If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.13, then such Note will cease to be outstanding at the time of its replacement, unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof reasonably satisfactory to them that such Note is held by a “protected purchaser” under applicable law.

(C) Maturing Notes and Notes Called for Redemption or Subject to Repurchase. If, on a Redemption Date, a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or the Maturity Date, the Paying Agent holds money sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or principal amount, respectively, together, in each case, with the aggregate interest, in each case due on such date, then (unless there occurs a Default in the payment of any such amount) (i) the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or repurchased, or that mature, on such date will be deemed, as of such date, to cease to be outstanding, except to the extent provided in Sections 4.02(D), 4.03(F) or 5.02(D); and (ii) the rights of the Holders of such Notes (or such portions thereof), as such, will terminate with respect to such Notes (or such portions thereof), other than the right to receive the Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or principal amount, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, such Notes (or such portions thereof), in each case as provided in this Indenture.

(D) Notes to Be Converted. At the Close of Business on the Conversion Date for any Note (or any portion thereof) to be converted, such Note (or such portion) will (unless there occurs a Default in the delivery of the Conversion Consideration or interest due, pursuant to Section 5.03(B) or Section 5.02(D), upon such conversion) be deemed to cease to be outstanding, except to the extent provided in Section 5.02(D) or Section 5.08.

(E) Cessation of Accrual of Interest. Except as provided in Sections 4.02(D), 4.03(F) or 5.02(D), interest will cease to accrue on each Note from, and including, the date that such Note is deemed, pursuant to this Section 2.18, to cease to be outstanding, unless there occurs a default in the payment or delivery of any cash or other property due on such Note.

Section 2.19. REPURCHASES BY THE ISSUER.

Without limiting the generality of Section 2.15, the Issuer may, from time to time, repurchase Notes in open market purchases or in negotiated transactions without delivering prior notice to Holders. The Issuer may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to the Issuer), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by the Issuer or the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or through a private or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties pursuant to private agreements, including cash-settled swaps or other derivatives, in each case, without prior notice to, or consent of, the Holders. The Issuer will promptly surrender to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes that the Issuer may repurchase. Any Notes that the Issuer may repurchase will be considered “outstanding” under this Indenture (except as provided in Section 2.16) unless and until such time the Issuer causes them to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and, upon receipt of a written order from the Issuer, the Trustee will cancel all Notes so surrendered.

 

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Section 2.20. CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS.

Subject to Section 2.12, the Issuer may use one or more CUSIP or ISIN numbers to identify any of the Notes, and, if so, the Issuer and the Trustee will use such CUSIP or ISIN number(s) in notices to Holders; provided, however, that (i) the Trustee makes no representation as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP or ISIN number; and (ii) the effectiveness of any such notice will not be affected by any defect in, or omission of, any such CUSIP or ISIN number. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee, in writing, of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN number(s) identifying any Notes.

Section 2.21. TAX TREATMENT.

The Issuer agrees, and each Holder of a Note agrees, and each beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note by its acquisition of such interest is deemed to agree, for U.S. federal income tax purposes to treat the Notes as indebtedness that does not constitute a contingent payment debt instrument within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1275-4. The Issuer and each Holder or beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note shall file all tax returns consistent with, and take no position inconsistent with, the foregoing treatment (whether in audits, tax returns or otherwise) unless required to do so pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

Article 3. COVENANTS

Section 3.01. CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the transactions set forth in the “Contingent Consideration Term Sheet” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan) and contemplated in the Bankruptcy Plan or “Definitive Documents” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan) shall be expressly permitted under this Indenture, and no Default or Event of Default shall occur in connection with the implementation of such transactions.

Section 3.02. PAYMENT ON NOTES.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will pay or cause to be paid in cash all the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and Redemption Price for, interest on, and other amounts due with respect to, the Notes on the dates and in the manner set forth in this Indenture and in the Notes.

(B) Deposit of Funds. Before 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on each Redemption Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or Interest Payment Date, and on the Maturity Date or any other date on which any cash amount is due on the Notes, the Issuer will deposit, or will cause there to be deposited, with the Paying Agent cash, in funds immediately available on such date, sufficient to pay the cash amount due on the applicable Notes on such date. All the funds provided to the Paying Agent must be in U.S. dollars. The Paying Agent will return to the Issuer, as soon as practicable, any money not required for such purpose.

 

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Section 3.03. EXCHANGE ACT REPORTS.

(A) Generally. The Issuer shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), copies of any documents or reports that the Issuer is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any such information, documents or reports, or portions thereof, subject to, or with respect to which the Issuer is actively seeking, confidential treatment and any correspondence with the SEC). Any such document or report that the Issuer files with the SEC via the SEC’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee for purposes of this Section 3.03(A) at the time such documents are filed via the EDGAR system.

(B) Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall have no duty to review or analyze reports delivered to it. Delivery of the reports and documents described in Section 3.03(A) to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate).

Section 3.04. RULE 144A INFORMATION.

At any time the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall, so long as any of the Notes or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, promptly provide to the Trustee and, upon written request, any Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Notes, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes or shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144A.

Section 3.05. [RESERVED].

Section 3.06. [RESERVED].

Section 3.07. COMPLIANCE AND DEFAULT CERTIFICATES.

(A) Annual Compliance Certificate. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of the fiscal year of 2026 and each fiscal year of the Issuer thereafter, the Issuer will deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating (i) that the signatory thereto has supervised a review of the activities of the Note Parties during such fiscal year with a view towards determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred and (ii) whether, to such signatory’s knowledge, a Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing (and, if so, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default and what action any Note Party is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(B) Default Certificate. If a Default or Event of Default occurs, then the Issuer will, within thirty (30) days after its occurrence, deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee describing the same and what action the Issuer or any Note Party is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto; provided, however, that such notice will not be required if such Default or Event of Default has been cured or waived before the date the Issuer is required to deliver such notice.

 

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Section 3.08. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS.

To the extent that it may lawfully do so, each of the Note Parties: (A) agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law (wherever or whenever enacted or in force) that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (B) expressly waives all benefits or advantages of any such law and agrees that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power granted to the Trustee by this Indenture, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 3.09. CORPORATE EXISTENCE.

Subject to Article 6, each Note Party will cause to preserve and keep in full force and effect: (A) its corporate existence in accordance with the organizational or constitutional documents of such Note Party; and (B) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of each Note Party and their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that each Note Party (other than the Issuer except in accordance with Section 6.01) need not preserve or keep in full force and effect any such existence, right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors determines that (i) the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Note Parties, taken as a whole; and (ii) the loss thereof is not, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the Holders.

Section 3.10. [RESERVED].

Section 3.11. FURTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS.

At the Trustee’s request, each Note Party will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to more effectively carry out the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 3.12. INDEBTEDNESS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Issuer will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock, in each case on or after the Issue Date; provided, however, the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue Disqualified Stock and any Subsidiary Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue preferred stock, in each case, if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, tested on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness or issuance of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, would have been no greater than (i) 4.00:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, (ii) 3.75:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, (iii) 3.50:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029 and (iv) 3.25:1.00 thereafter.

 

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(B) The provisions of Section 3.12(A) will not prohibit the Issuer or its Subsidiaries from incurring the following:

(i) Indebtedness existing or committed (including, for the avoidance of doubt, paid-in-kind interest payable on such Indebtedness) on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.12(B) on the Issue Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness Refinanced with Indebtedness owed to a person not affiliated with the Issuer or any Subsidiary);

(ii) (a) Indebtedness represented by the Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $331,375,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap applicable thereto minus (z) the principal amount of any Notes converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date and (b) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (b)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred under clause (b) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof;

(iii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary pursuant to Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes;

(iv) Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(v) Indebtedness of the Issuer to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Issuer or any other Subsidiary; provided that (a) any such Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party owing to a Note Party is permitted by Section 3.15 and (b) any such Indebtedness of a Note Party owing to a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party is permitted by Section 3.15 and is subordinated to the Note Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Note Documents;

(vi) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(vii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds or other cash management services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

 

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(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Subsidiary prior to or within 30 days after the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of the respective property (real or personal) permitted under this Indenture in order to finance such acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement, in an aggregate principal amount that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(ix), would not exceed the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any time;

(x) solely to the extent the Issuer has received at least $300,000,000 of Gross Cash Proceeds from the issuance or sale of the Issuer’s Qualified Equity Interests after the Issue Date, Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Disqualified Stock;

(xi) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi), would not exceed the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes that have been issued pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi), have not been reclassified and are converted pursuant to their terms into Qualified Equity Interests after the Issue Date (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the proceeds from the conversion of the Notes and/or the Second Lien Renesas Notes, the exercise of any Renesas Warrants or any refinancing of any of the foregoing shall not be included), and solely to the extent such proceeds have not otherwise been applied to make any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.15 or any Permitted Investment plus (b) the amount of Contribution Debt; provided that (I) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi) shall have a maturity date no earlier than the Maturity Date and shall not permit or require scheduled cash interest payments in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination) and (II) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 3.12(B)(xi) may not exceed the greater of (x) $550,000,000 and (y) 275.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any time;

(xii) Indebtedness and other obligations secured by the Siler City Assets in an outstanding amount not to exceed at any time (1) $750,000,000 of obligations in respect of any DOE Financing, plus (2) $750,000,000 of obligations to the United States Department of Commerce, the CHIPS Program Office or any other Governmental Authority of the United States, in each case under this Section 3.12(B)(xii)(2), in respect of award disbursements received pursuant to governmental grants under the CHIPS Act;

 

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(xiii) Guarantees by the Issuer or any DOE Parent Entity of any DOE Financing;

(xiv) [Reserved];

(xv) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued to support performance obligations and trade letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of other Indebtedness) in the ordinary course of business;

(xvi) Indebtedness in respect of cash collateralized letters of credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any one time;

(xvii) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or any Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase or acquisition price or similar obligations (including earn-outs), in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with any Investments or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary expressly permitted by this Indenture;

(xviii) (a) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien, or resulting from any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided, that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness under this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) does not exceed (x) $1,385,131,140 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the sum of (I) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (a) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date mandatorily pursuant to the terms thereof (other than a mandatory prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase with the proceeds of a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction only to the extent that the lease payment obligations arising therefrom constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations) and (II) without duplication of any amount included in subclause (z)(I) above, the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (a) or (b) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date (for the avoidance of doubt, including any voluntary prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase) with the proceeds of any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction that does not otherwise constitute Indebtedness) and (b) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (b)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (b) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof mandatorily pursuant to the terms thereof (other than a mandatory prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase with the proceeds of a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction only to the extent that the lease payment obligations arising therefrom constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations); provided, further, (A) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall have no borrower, issuer or obligor in respect thereof that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor, (B) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien incurred in reliance on

 

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this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall not be secured by any assets or property that are not Collateral, (C) Indebtedness resulting from any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall not be secured by any assets or property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than the assets or property that is the subject of such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, and (D) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii)(a)(x) after the Issue Date (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Credit Facilities outstanding on the Issue Date incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii)(a)(x)) shall not have a stated interest rate (excluding default and similar interest) greater than 15.875% per annum;

(xix)

(a) (I) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Renesas Notes issued on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $203,599,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under sub-clause (a)(I) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date and (II) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (a)(II)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the applicable Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under sub-clause (a)(II) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof;

(b) (I) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Takeback Notes issued on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $296,401,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap and (II) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (b)(II)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap; and

(c) to the extent regulatory approvals have not been obtained on or prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan), Indebtedness owed to Renesas in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000 plus any paid-in-kind interest paid thereon in an amount not to exceed the applicable Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap, which may be in the form of incremental notes issued under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture or another form of indenture reasonably acceptable to Renesas and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof;

 

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provided that (x) the Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall not be senior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations (it being understand that Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) may be pari passu with the Liens securing the Note Obligations or a lower priority to the Liens securing the Note Obligations, or such Indebtedness may not be secured by any Lien), (y) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall have no borrower, issuer or obligor in respect thereof that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor and (z) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall not be secured by any assets or property that are not Collateral;

(xx) [Reserved];

(xxi) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services; provided that such obligations are incurred in connection with open accounts extended by suppliers on customary trade terms in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices and not in connection with the borrowing of money or any Hedging Agreements;

(xxii) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Issuer or any Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, without duplication of any amounts payable under Section 3.15;

(xxiii) [Reserved];

(xxiv) obligations in respect of Cash Management Agreements;

(xxv) Escrowed Indebtedness;

(xxvi) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such person in connection with any Investment permitted hereunder;

(xxvii) Guarantees of Indebtedness under customer financing lines of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(xxviii) Indebtedness consisting of (i) financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice; and

(xxix) other Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding amount not in excess of the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any one time outstanding.

 

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Except as specifically set forth in herein, no Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to any clause of this Section 3.12(B) may be used to Refinance any Indebtedness that was incurred pursuant to, or outstanding under, any other clause of this Section 3.12(B) (other than Section 3.12(B)(i)); provided that (a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(x) or (xi) may be used to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under any other clause of Section 3.12(B) and (b) no Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to any clause of this Section 3.12 (other than Section 3.12(B)(xii) and Credit Facilities incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii)) may be secured by the Collateral on a senior basis to the Note Obligations.

(C) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, if the use of proceeds from any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness is to fund the repayment of any Indebtedness, then such repayment shall be deemed to have occurred substantially simultaneously with such incurrence or issuance so long as (1) such repayment occurs within one Business Day of such incurrence or issuance and (2) the proceeds thereof are deposited with a trustee, agent or other representative for such Indebtedness being repaid pending such repayment.

(D) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, the amount of any Indebtedness denominated in any currency other than Dollars shall be calculated based on customary currency exchange rates in effect, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) on or prior to the Issue Date, on the Issue Date and, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred or assumed (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) after the Issue Date, on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred or assumed (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness); provided that if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred, assumed or committed to Refinance Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than Dollars (or in a different currency from the Indebtedness being Refinanced), and such Refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such Refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness being Refinanced.

(E) Further, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, (i) Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 3.12(A) and 3.12(B)(i) through (xxix) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof, (B) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 3.12(A) and Section 3.12(B)(i) through (xxix), the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such later time), such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 3.12 and at the time of incurrence, assumption, classification or reclassification will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) shall be treated as having been incurred, assumed or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (w) all Indebtedness outstanding under the First Lien Notes Indenture and in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in

 

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reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii), (x) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xix)(a), (y) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xix)(b) and (z) all Indebtedness outstanding under this Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(ii) and, in each case, may not be so reclassified or divided.

Section 3.13. LIENS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any person) of the Issuer or any Subsidiary at the time owned by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof on or after the Issue Date, except Permitted Liens.

(B) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.13, (i) a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in clauses (A) through (NN) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (ii) in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in clauses (A) through (NN) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”, the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such later time), such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 3.13 and at the time of incurrence, classification or reclassification will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof) without giving pro forma effect to such item (or any portion thereof) when calculating the amount of Liens or Indebtedness that may be incurred, classified or reclassified pursuant to any other clause (or any portion thereof) at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall only be permitted in reliance on clause (W) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and (ii) Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall only be permitted in reliance on clause (X) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”.

Section 3.14. SALE AND LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS.

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter, as part of such transaction, rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred (a “Sale and Lease-Back Transaction”), other than (i) any such transaction with respect to equipment or other personal property to the extent that any Indebtedness arising from such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is permitted under Section 3.12(B)(ix), and (ii) a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

 

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Section 3.15. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any such payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as holders (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Issuer or a Subsidiary); or

(ii) redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any Subsidiary to purchase or acquire) (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer) any of the Issuer’s Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares);

(iii) make any principal payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Junior Financing (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Issuer and any of its Subsidiary Guarantors), except (a) a payment of principal upon the scheduled maturity of such Junior Financing or (b) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition of Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or scheduled maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition; or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment,

(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”).

(B) The provisions of Section 3.15(A) will not prohibit:

(i) Restricted Payments to the Issuer or to any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer (or, in the case of non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of the Issuer or such Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests);

(ii) [Reserved];

 

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(iii) Restricted Payments to purchase or redeem the Equity Interests of the Issuer (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held by then present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or by any Plan or any stockholders’ agreement then in effect upon such person’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or under the terms of any such Plan or any other agreement under which such shares of stock or related rights were issued; provided that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions under this clause (iii) shall not exceed in any fiscal year the greater of (x) $6,000,000 and (y) 3.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended (plus (x) the amount of net proceeds contributed to the Issuer that were (a) received by the Issuer during such fiscal year from sales of Equity Interests of the Issuer to directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements, (b) the amount of net proceeds of any key-man life insurance policies received during such calendar year and (c) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees in such fiscal year that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests), which, if not used in any year, may be carried forward to any subsequent calendar year; provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Subsidiary from present or former directors, consultants, officers and employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 3.15;

(iv) non-cash repurchases of Equity Interests of the Issuer deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options;

(v) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Restricted Payments by the Issuer in the form of regularly scheduled dividends on Permitted Disqualified Stock (other than Permitted Disqualified Stock incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(x));

(vi) Restricted Payments by the Issuer in the form of Equity Interests of the Issuer in connection with the redemption of any Convertible Notes or the exercise of any Renesas Warrants;

(vii) Restricted Payments by the Issuer to pay in cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, upon the exercise of warrants (including the Renesas Warrants) or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of the Issuer or upon the conversion of any Convertible Notes; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made in reliance on this clause (vii) shall not exceed the greater of (x) $300,000 and (y) 0.15% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

(viii) (a) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the entry into, or otherwise pursuant to the terms of, a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and (b) any cash payment made in connection with the exercise or early termination of any Permitted Warrant Transaction;

 

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(ix) any Restricted Payment so long as, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is less than (a) 4.00:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, (b) 3.75:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, (c) 3.50:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, and (d) 3.25:1.00 thereafter;

(x) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $20,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

(xi) Restricted Payments in respect of any Junior Financing at a price not to exceed the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and underwriting discounts, commissions and reasonable fees and expenses, with the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness expressly permitted under Section 3.12, solely to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has an interest rate and a cash component of any interest rate, in each case, equal to or less than the Junior Financing it Refinanced;

(xii) [Reserved];

(xiii) purchases of all or any portion of any Junior Financing at a price not to exceed the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and reasonable fees and expenses thereon, with the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer; and

(xiv) the conversion or exchange of any Junior Financing to common Equity Interests of the Issuer; provided that, such conversion or exchange is accompanied by permanent reductions of any commitments, if any, with respect to such Junior Financing to the extent of such conversion or exchange, to the extent applicable.

(C) The amount of any Restricted Payment made other than in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents shall be the fair market value thereof (as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith), valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any subsequent write-downs or write-offs thereof.

(D) Any Investment in any person other than a Note Party that is otherwise permitted by this Section 3.15 may be made through intermediate Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties and such intermediate Investments shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the outstanding amount of Investments pursuant to any clause set forth in this Section 3.15 or one or more clauses in the definition of “Permitted Investments”.

(E) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.15, (a) in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (i) through (viii) of Section 3.15(B) or is entitled to be made pursuant to one or more clauses in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” the Issuer will be entitled to divide or classify or later divide or reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) among such clauses (i) through (viii) and the definition of “Permitted Investments” in a manner that complies with this Section 3.15 and (b) an Investment need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of Permitted Investments (or portion thereof) described in the definition thereof but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

 

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Section 3.16. ASSET DISPOSITIONS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Disposition unless:

(i) the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at least equal to the fair market value (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise Disposed of; and

(ii) at least 75% of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition consists of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that for purposes of this Section 3.16(A)(ii) “cash” shall include:

(1) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the Issuer’s or such Subsidiary’s consolidated balance sheet if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the Issuer or such Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Note Obligations) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation or assumption agreement that validly releases the Issuer or such Subsidiary from further liability to all applicable creditors; and

(2) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Issuer or such Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted, in each case, within 180 days after the closing of such Asset Disposition by the Issuer or such Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in that conversion).

(B) Unless and solely in the event there has been a Discharge of First-Priority Obligations (as defined in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement), within 365 days (or such shorter period as the Issuer in its sole election may determine) after the receipt of Net Proceeds from an Asset Disposition (each, an “Asset Sale Prepayment Date”) (other than Net Proceeds from the sale or other disposition of “Building 21” (as described in item 2 of Schedule 1.01(B))), the Issuer may elect to apply or cause to be applied an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from such Asset Disposition:

(i) upon a Disposition of assets that constitutes Collateral, to repay the Second-Priority Obligations (and if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit indebtedness, to correspondingly permanently reduce revolving commitments with respect thereto); provided that in the case of any repayment pursuant to this Section 3.16(B)(i), the Issuer shall make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer) to all holders of such Second-Priority Obligations to purchase (or repay) a pro rata (together with any Second-Priority Obligations repaid pursuant to this Section 3.16(B)(i)) principal amount of the Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of repayment;

 

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(ii) [reserved];

(iii) upon the Disposition of assets that do not constitute Collateral, to repurchase, prepay, redeem or repay Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party, or Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is secured by a Lien on such assets; or

(iv) upon a Disposition of assets that does not constitute Collateral, to either (a) make an investment in, or acquire assets related to or otherwise useful in the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date; and/or (b) make Capital Expenditures in or that are used or useful in the business or to make Capital Expenditures for maintenance, repair or improvement of existing assets in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

(C) Any Net Proceeds from an Asset Disposition not applied or invested as provided in Section 3.16(B) within the applicable Asset Sale Prepayment Date will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds” on the day immediately after the applicable Asset Sale Prepayment Date; provided that in the case of Section 3.16(B)(iv), a binding commitment letter with a third party shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date such commitment letter is executed so long as the Issuer or a Subsidiary enters into such commitment letter with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of the execution of such commitment letter; provided, further, that if such commitment letter is later terminated or cancelled prior to the application of such Net Proceeds or such Net Proceeds are not so applied within such 180-day period, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

(D) In no event later than 20 Business Days after any date that the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10,000,000 (or such lesser amount as the Issuer shall determine) (an “Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date”), to the extent permitted by the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Issuer shall commence an offer to all Holders (an “Asset Disposition Offer”) to purchase at a price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase and to all holders of other Second-Priority Obligations containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to asset dispositions, in each case, equal to the Excess Proceeds. Upon completion of each Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after completion of an Asset Disposition Offer, the Issuer may use the remaining amount for general corporate purposes and such amount shall no longer constitute Excess Proceeds.

(E) In connection with an Asset Disposition Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Holders, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures (with a copy to the Trustee), a notice stating: (i) that an Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date has occurred and that the Issuer is offering to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds (and identifying other Indebtedness, if any, that is entitled to participate pro rata in the Asset Disposition Offer), at an offer price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof,

 

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plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase (the “Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date”), which shall be a Business Day, specified in such notice, that is not earlier than 30 days or later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered, (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid interest as of the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, (iii) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest, (iv) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the purchase price for the Notes payable pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, (v) the procedures to be followed by a Holders in order to accept an Asset Disposition Offer or to withdraw such acceptance, and (vi) such other information as may be required by the Indenture and applicable laws and regulations.

(F) On the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, the Issuer will (i) accept for payment the maximum principal amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer that can be purchased out of Excess Proceeds from such Asset Disposition, (ii) deposit with the paying agent the aggregate purchase price of all Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment and any accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes as of the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee all Notes tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer. If less than all Notes tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer are accepted for payment by the Issuer for any reason consistent with the Indenture, selection of the Notes to be purchased by the Issuer shall be in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures and, if no such Depositary Procedures apply, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; provided that Notes accepted for payment in part shall only be purchased in Authorized Denominations. The paying agent shall promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment an amount equal to the purchase price for such Notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and deliver to such Holder of Notes accepted for payment in part a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes, and any Note not accepted for payment in whole or in part shall be promptly returned to the Holder of such Note. On and after an Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the purchase price therefor. The Issuer will announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer to Holders of the Notes on or as soon as practicable after the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date.

(G) To the extent applicable, the Issuer will comply, in all material respects, with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any Asset Disposition Offer (including complying with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable) so as to permit effecting such Asset Disposition Offer in the manner set forth in this Indenture; provided, however, that, to the extent that any securities laws or regulations enacted after the Issue Date conflict with this Section 3.16, the Issuer will comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3.16 (nor will such compliance be considered a Default or an Event of Default hereunder) by virtue of such conflict.

 

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Section 3.17. DISPOSITION OF MATERIAL IP.

(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 3.13, 3.15, 3.16 (or the definition of “Asset Disposition”) or 3.18, neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall be permitted to make any Investment of any Material IP into any person (including any Subsidiary) or Dispose of any Material IP (including to any Subsidiary) unless, (i) in the case of an Investment, at all times after giving effect to the consummation of such Investment, such Material IP is subject to first priority Lien securing the Note Obligations and (ii) in the case of a Disposition of any Material IP, such Disposition consists of a non-exclusive license of such Material IP and such Material IP remains subject to at least a first priority Lien securing the Note Obligations; provided that such non-exclusive license shall (x) if to a Subsidiary, be subject to recurring royalties, payment terms or other consideration negotiated consistent with an arm’s length transaction, and (y) otherwise (other than in subclause (x) immediately preceding), be entered into in the ordinary course of business.

(B) The restrictions set forth in Section 3.17(A) shall not apply to the Specified IP Disposition.

Section 3.18. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates on or after the Issue Date, unless such transaction is (i) upon terms that are no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, in any material respect than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate and (ii) if in connection with any transaction or series of transactions with a fair market value greater than $1,200,000, approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Issuer.

(B) The foregoing clause (A) shall not prohibit, to the extent otherwise permitted under this Indenture:

(i) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(ii) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary permitted by clause (E) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(iii) transactions among the Issuer or any Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction (including via merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which the Issuer or a Subsidiary is the surviving entity);

(iv) the payment of fees, reasonable out-of-pocket costs and indemnities to directors, officers, consultants and employees the Issuer and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(v) transactions, agreements and arrangements in existence on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.18 or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof or similar arrangement to the extent such amendment, replacement or arrangement is not adverse to the Holders in any material respect;

(vi) (a) any employment, independent contractor or consulting agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (b) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, consultants, officers or directors, and (c) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto;

(vii) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 3.15 and Permitted Investments;

(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) [Reserved];

(x) transactions for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(xi) any transaction in respect of which the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of the Issuer from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is in the good faith determination of the Issuer qualified to render such letter, which letter states that (a) such transaction is on terms that are substantially no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate or (b) such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, from a financial point of view;

(xii) [Reserved];

(xiii) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(xiv) [Reserved];

(xv) [Reserved];

(xvi) [Reserved];

(xvii) [Reserved];

(xviii) [Reserved];

 

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(xix) [Reserved];

(xx) [Reserved];

(xxi) transactions between the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries and any person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer; provided, however, that (a) such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer on any matter involving such other person and (b) such person is not an Affiliate of the Issuer for any reason other than such director’s acting in such capacity;

(xxii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Article 6; and

(xxiii) intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by an Officer of the Issuer) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries which do not circumvent any provisions of this Indenture.

Section 3.19. [RESERVED].

Section 3.20. DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to:

(i) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Equity Interests to the Issuer or any Subsidiary, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(ii) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any Subsidiary or

(iv) grant any Liens by the Issuer or such Subsidiary that is a Note Party pursuant to the Security Documents,

provided that (x) the priority of any preferred stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock and (y) the subordination of (including the application of any standstill period to) loans or advances made to the Issuer or any Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, shall not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.

(B) The provisions of Section 3.20(A) shall not apply to the following:

(i) restrictions imposed by applicable law;

 

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(ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including under (a) the Note Documents, (b) the First Lien Notes Indenture, (c) the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture, (d) the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture and (e) any other Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.12(B);

(iii) any restriction on a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Equity Interests or assets of a Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(iv) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (iv) imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.20(B)(xii) or to any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(v) any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(vi) any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness or other obligations incurred pursuant to Section 3.12 to the extent such restrictions are not more restrictive in any material respect than the restrictions contained in this Indenture or are market terms at the time of issuance (as reasonably determined by the Issuer);

(vii) customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of Intellectual Property and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(viii) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

(ix) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(x) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any asset permitted under Section 3.16 pending the consummation of such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition;

(xi) customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien, so long as (a) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien, and (b) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 3.20;

(xii) customary net worth provisions contained in Real Property leases entered into by Subsidiaries, so long as the Issuer has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations;

 

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(xiii) any agreement in effect at the time such subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary;

(xiv) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;

(xv) customary restrictions contained in leases, subleases, licenses or Equity Interests or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby as long as such restrictions relate to the Equity Interests and assets subject thereto;

(xvi) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers or counterparties under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business (and including with respect to any cash collateral permitted to be provided to any counterparty under Section 3.13); and

(xvii) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (xvi) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of or similar arrangements or the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (xiii); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings or similar arrangements are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, not more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such dividend, other payment, sale and Lien restrictions than those contained in the dividend, other payment and Lien restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing or similar arrangements or are otherwise in accordance with the terms of the applicable intercreditor agreement.

Section 3.21. FURTHER ASSURANCES; ADDITIONAL SECURITY.

(A) The Issuer will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, subject to the Agreed Security Principles, the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement and to the extent consist with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement:

(i) execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings (provided that if a Mortgage is actually filed, only to the extent a filed Mortgage cannot act as a fixture filing in an applicable jurisdiction), Mortgages and other documents), as are reasonably necessary (or that Trustee and/or Collateral Agent and/or Parallel Debt Creditor may reasonably request) (including, without limitation, those required by applicable law), to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Note Parties and provide to the Collateral Agent and/or Parallel Debt Creditor, from time to time, evidence reasonably necessary to establish the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.

 

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(ii) if any asset (other than Real Property) that has an individual fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer at the time of acquisition) in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or is a semiconductor tool or equipment used in any Product Family of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries is acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date or owned by an entity at the time it becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case other than (x) assets constituting Collateral under a Security Document that become subject to the Lien of such Security Document upon acquisition thereof and (y) assets constituting Excluded Property), the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, will (i) notify the Collateral Agent of such acquisition or ownership and (ii) cause such asset to be subjected to a Lien (subject to any Permitted Liens) securing the Note Obligations by, and take, and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to take, such actions as shall be necessary (or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent) to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in Section 3.21(A)(i), all at the expense of the Note Parties, subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii).

(iii) (a) subject to clause (vii)(H) below, grant and cause each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to grant to the Collateral Agent security interests in, and mortgages on, any Material Real Property of the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, (x) within 90 days after the Issue Date with respect to Material Real Property owned as of the Issue Date and (y) to the extent acquired after the Issue Date, within 90 days after such acquisition pursuant to a Mortgage, which security interest and mortgage shall constitute valid and enforceable Liens subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens and (ii) to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction, record or file, and cause each such Subsidiary Guarantor to record or file, the Mortgage or instruments related thereto in such manner and in such places as is required by law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/or the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties required to be granted pursuant to the Mortgages and pay, and cause each such Subsidiary Guarantor to pay, in full, all Taxes, fees and other charges required to be paid in connection with such recording or filing, in each case subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii). Subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), with respect to each such Mortgage, to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction, the Issuer shall cause the requirements set forth in clause (F) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” to be satisfied with respect to such Material Real Property.

(iv) if any additional direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer is formed or acquired after the Issue Date and if such Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor (with any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary being deemed to constitute the acquisition of a Subsidiary), within 10 Business Days after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired, notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, within (x) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary, 30 days or (y) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, 60 days, in each case, after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or, with respect to clause (F) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”, within 90 days after such formation or acquisition or such longer period as set forth therein ), cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such Subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Note Party, subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii).

 

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(v) [reserved].

(vi) furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt written notice of any change (A) in any Note Party’s corporate or organization name, (B) in any Note Party’s identity or organizational structure, (C) in any Note Party’s organizational identification number, (D) in any Note Party’s jurisdiction of organization or (E) in the location of the chief executive office of any Note Party that is not a registered organization; provided that the Issuer shall not effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within 30 days following such change, under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by such filing, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

(vii) the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the other provisions of this Section 3.21(A) and the other Note Documents with respect to Collateral are (a) solely in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries (and the assets of and Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiaries), subject in all respects to the Agreed Security Principles and (b) solely in the case of Domestic Subsidiaries (and the assets of, and Equity Interests in, such Domestic Subsidiaries) need not be satisfied by any Excluded Subsidiary or by any Note Party with respect to any of the following (collectively, the “Excluded Property”): (I) any Real Property other than Material Real Property, (II) (x) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and letter of credit rights (in each case, other than to the extent a Lien on such assets or such rights can be perfected by filing a UCC-1) and (y) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $10,000,000, (III) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contractual obligation (with respect to any such contractual obligation, only to the extent such restriction is permitted under Section 3.20 and such restriction is binding on such assets on the Issue Date or on the date of acquisition thereof and not entered into in contemplation thereof (and renewals and replacements thereof)) (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (IV) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Issuer, (V) any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (VI) those assets as to which the Issuer in good faith reasonably determines that the cost or other consequence of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby, (VII) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (VIII) pending “intent to use” trademark applications for which an Amendment to Allege Use or a

 

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Statement of Use under Section 1(c) or 1(d) of the Lanham Act has not been filed with or accepted by the United States Trademark Office, (IX) any Excluded Account and any cash and Cash Equivalents maintained in an Excluded Account, (X) any Excluded Securities, (XI) any Third Party Funds and (XII) any equipment or other real or personal property or asset that is subject to a Lien permitted by clause (I) of the definition of Permitted Liens, if permitted by Section 3.12, if the agreement governing such Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) prohibits or requires the consent of any person (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such equipment or other real or personal property or asset and, in each case, such prohibition or requirement is permitted hereunder after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code; provided that the Issuer may in its sole discretion elect to exclude any property from the definition of Excluded Property; provided, further, that no property or assets that secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Renesas Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be Excluded Property. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (A) [reserved], (B) no landlord, mortgagee or bailee waivers shall be required, (C) no notice shall be required to be sent to account debtors or other contractual third parties prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, (D) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to, or any other requirements of, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Security Documents shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as otherwise reasonably determined by the Issuer, (E) to the extent any Mortgaged Property is located in a jurisdiction with mortgage recording or similar tax, the amount secured by the Security Document with respect to such Mortgaged Property shall be limited to the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property as determined in good faith by the Issuer (subject to any applicable laws in the relevant jurisdiction or such lesser amount agreed to by the Collateral Agent), (F) the Issuer may make such modifications to the Security Documents, and execute and/or consent to such easements, covenants, rights of way or similar instruments to subordinate the lien of any Mortgage to any such easement, covenant, right of way or similar instrument or record as permitted by the Indenture or may agree to recognize any tenant pursuant to an agreement, as are reasonable or necessary in connection with any project or transactions otherwise permitted hereunder, (G) other than to the extent required by the Collateral Agreement, no control agreement or control, lockbox or similar arrangement shall be required with respect to any deposit accounts, securities accounts or commodities accounts, and (H) no Mortgage (or the filing of recordation thereof) on any Material Real Property acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date shall be required if such Material Real Property is located in a jurisdiction that imposes a mortgage recording tax, documentary tax or similar tax in connection with the filing or recordation thereof (x) at any time prior to the Discharge of First-Priority Obligations (as defined in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement) or (y) at any time after the Discharge of First-Priority Obligations, if the Collateral Agent is not then the Controlling Collateral Agent (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) under the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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(viii) Neither the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor) nor the Trustee undertakes any responsibility whatsoever to determine whether any of the foregoing covenants have been satisfied, and neither shall have any liability whatsoever arising out of the failure of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors to satisfy such requirements.

Section 3.22. POST-CLOSING.

(A) The Issuer will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, take all necessary actions to satisfy the requirements set forth in Schedule 3.22.

Article 4. REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION

Section 4.01. NO SINKING FUND.

No sinking fund is required to be provided for the Notes.

Section 4.02. RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE THE ISSUER TO REPURCHASE NOTES UPON A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE.

(A) Right of Holders to Require the Issuer to Repurchase Notes Upon a Fundamental Change. Subject to the other terms of this Section 4.02, if a Fundamental Change occurs, then each Holder will have the right (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Right”) to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change for a cash purchase price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

(B) Repurchase Prohibited in Certain Circumstances. If the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or before the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change (including as a result of the payment of the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, and any related interest pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D), on such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date), then (i) the Issuer may not repurchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.02; and (ii) the Issuer will cause any Notes theretofore surrendered for such Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change to be returned to the Holders thereof (or, if applicable with respect to Global Notes, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interest in such Notes in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(C) Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. The Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for any Fundamental Change will be a Business Day of the Issuer’s choosing that is no more than thirty-five (35) and not less than twenty (20) Business Days after the date the Issuer delivers the related Fundamental Change Notice pursuant to Section 4.02(E).

(D) Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. The Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for any Note to be repurchased upon a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change following a Fundamental Change is an amount in cash equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount of such Note plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change; provided, however, that if

 

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such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, then (i) the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date, if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is before such Interest Payment Date); and (ii) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price will not include accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day within the meaning of Section 2.05(C) and such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date occurs on the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date, then (x) accrued and unpaid interest on Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be paid, in accordance with Section 2.05(C), on the next Business Day to Holders as of the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date; and (y) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price will include interest on Notes to be repurchased from, and including, such Interest Payment Date.

(E) Fundamental Change Notice. On or before the twentieth (20th) calendar day after the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Issuer will deliver to each Holder, the Trustee, the Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent a notice of such Fundamental Change (a “Fundamental Change Notice”). Substantially contemporaneously, the Issuer will either (x) issue a press release through such national newswire service as the Issuer then uses; (y) publish the same through such other widely disseminated public medium as the Issuer then uses, including its website; or (z) file or furnish a Form 8-K (or any successor form) with the SEC, in each case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), containing the information set forth in the Fundamental Change Notice.

Such Fundamental Change Notice must state:

(i) briefly, the events causing such Fundamental Change;

(ii) the effective date of such Fundamental Change;

(iii) the procedures that a Holder must follow to require the Issuer to repurchase its Notes pursuant to this Section 4.02, including the deadline for exercising the Fundamental Change Repurchase Right and the procedures for submitting and withdrawing a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice;

(iv) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change;

(v) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Fundamental Change (and, if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, the amount, manner and timing of the interest payment payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D));

(vi) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

 

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(vii) the Conversion Rate in effect on the date of such Fundamental Change Notice and a description and quantification of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate that may result from such Fundamental Change (including pursuant to Section 5.07);

(viii) the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date of such Fundamental Change Notice and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(ix) that Notes for which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been duly tendered and not duly withdrawn must be delivered to the Paying Agent for the Holder thereof to be entitled to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

(x) that Notes (or any portion thereof) that are subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice that has been duly tendered may be converted only if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with this Indenture; and

(xi) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if any, of the Notes.

Neither the failure to deliver a Fundamental Change Notice nor any defect in a Fundamental Change Notice will limit the Fundamental Change Repurchase Right of any Holder or otherwise affect the validity of any proceedings relating to any Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change.

(F) Procedures to Exercise the Fundamental Change Repurchase Right.

(i) Delivery of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice and Notes to Be Repurchased. To exercise its Fundamental Change Repurchase Right for a Note following a Fundamental Change, the Holder thereof must deliver to the Paying Agent:

(1) before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (or such later time as may be required by law), a duly completed, written Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note; and

(2) such Note, duly endorsed for transfer (if such Note is a Physical Note) or by book-entry transfer (if such Note is a Global Note).

The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to the Issuer a copy of each Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice that it receives.

(ii) Contents of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notices. Each Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note must state:

(1) if such Note is a Physical Note, the certificate number of such Note;

(2) the principal amount of such Note to be repurchased, which must be an Authorized Denomination; and

 

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(3) that such Holder is exercising its Fundamental Change Repurchase Right with respect to such principal amount of such Note;

provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note, then such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with the Depositary Procedures (and any such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice delivered in compliance with the Depositary Procedures will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.02(F)).

(iii) Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. A Holder that has delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note may withdraw such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent at any time before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. Such withdrawal notice must state:

(1) if such Note is a Physical Note, the certificate number of such Note;

(2) the principal amount of such Note to be withdrawn, which must be an Authorized Denomination; and

(3) the principal amount of such Note, if any, that remains subject to such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which must be an Authorized Denomination;

provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note, then such withdrawal notice must comply with the Depositary Procedures (and any such withdrawal notice delivered in compliance with the Depositary Procedures will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.02(F)).

Upon receipt of any such withdrawal notice with respect to a Note (or any portion thereof), the Paying Agent will (x) promptly deliver a copy of such withdrawal notice to the Issuer; and (y) if such Note is surrendered to the Paying Agent, cause such Note (or such portion thereof in accordance with Section 2.11, treating such Note as having been then surrendered for partial repurchase in the amount set forth in such withdrawal notice as remaining subject to repurchase) to be returned to the Holder thereof (or, if applicable with respect to any Global Note, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interest in such Note in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(G) Payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Without limiting the Issuer’s obligation to deposit the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price within the time proscribed by Section 3.02(B), the Issuer will cause the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for a Note (or portion thereof) to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change to be paid to the Holder thereof on or before the later of (i) the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and (ii) the date (x) such Note is delivered to the Paying Agent (in the case of a Physical Note) or (y) the Depositary Procedures relating to the repurchase, and the delivery to the Paying Agent, of such Holder’s beneficial interest in such Note to be repurchased are complied with (in the case of a Global Note). For the avoidance of doubt, interest payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D) on any Note to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change must be paid pursuant to such proviso regardless of whether such Note is delivered or such Depositary Procedures are complied with pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 4.02(G).

 

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(H) Repurchase by Third Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.02, the Issuer will be deemed to satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.02 if (i) one or more third parties conduct any Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change and related offer to repurchase Notes otherwise required by this Section 4.02 in a manner that would have satisfied the requirements of this Section 4.02 if conducted directly by the Issuer; and (ii) an owner of a beneficial interest in any Note repurchased by such third party or parties will not receive a lesser amount as a result of withholding or similar taxes than such owner would have received had the Issuer repurchased such Note.

(I) Compliance with Applicable Securities Laws. To the extent applicable, the Issuer will comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change (including complying with Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and filing any required Schedule TO, to the extent applicable) so as to permit effecting such Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change in the manner set forth in this Indenture; provided, however, that, to the extent that any securities laws or regulations enacted after the Issue Date conflict with the Section 4.02, the Issuer will comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.02 (nor will such compliance be considered a Default or an Event of Default hereunder) by virtue of such conflict.

(J) Repurchase in Part. Subject to the terms of this Section 4.02, Notes may be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change in part, but only in Authorized Denominations. Provisions of this Section 4.02 applying to the repurchase of a Note in whole will equally apply to the repurchase of a permitted portion of a Note.

(K) No Requirement to Conduct an Offer to Repurchase Notes if the Fundamental Change Results in the Notes Becoming Convertible into an Amount of Cash Exceeding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.02, the Issuer will not be required to send a Fundamental Change Notice pursuant to Section 4.02(E), or offer to repurchase or repurchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.02, in connection with a Common Stock Change Event that constitutes a Fundamental Change pursuant to clause (B)(ii) of the definition thereof (regardless of whether such Common Stock Change Event also constitutes a Fundamental Change pursuant to any other clause of such definition), if (i) the Reference Property of such Common Stock Change Event consists entirely of cash in U.S. dollars; (ii) immediately after such Fundamental Change, the Notes become convertible, pursuant to Section 5.09(A) and, if applicable, Section 5.07, into consideration that consists solely of U.S. dollars in an amount per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes that equals or exceeds the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (calculated (1) assuming that the same includes accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the latest possible Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change); and (2) without regard to the proviso to the first sentence of Section 4.02(D)); and (iii) the Issuer timely sends the notice relating to such Fundamental Change and includes, in such notice, a statement that the Issuer is relying on this Section 4.02(K).

 

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Section 4.03. RIGHT OF THE ISSUER TO REDEEM THE NOTES.

(A) No Right to Redeem Before September 29, 2028. The Issuer may not redeem the Notes at any time before September 29, 2028.

(B) Right to Redeem the Notes on or after September 29, 2028. Subject to the terms of this Section 4.03, the Issuer has the right, at its election, to redeem (a “Redemption”) all, or any portion in an Authorized Denomination, of the Notes, at any time, and from time to time, on a Redemption Date that falls on or after September 29, 2028 and on or before the sixtieth (60th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date, for a cash purchase price equal to the Redemption Price.

For the avoidance of doubt, the calling of any Notes for Redemption will constitute a Make-Whole Event with respect to such Notes pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof.

(C) [Reserved].

(D) Redemption Prohibited in Certain Circumstances. If the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or before the Redemption Date (including as a result of the payment of the related Redemption Price, and any related interest pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F), on such Redemption Date), then (i) the Issuer may not call for Redemption or otherwise redeem any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.03; and (ii) the Issuer will cause any Notes theretofore surrendered for such Redemption to be returned to the Holders thereof (or, if applicable with respect to Global Notes, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interests in such Notes in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(E) Redemption Date. The Redemption Date for a Redemption will be a Business Day of the Issuer’s choosing that is no more than sixty (60) Scheduled Trading Days and not less than thirty-five (35) Scheduled Trading Days after the related Redemption Notice Date for such Redemption.

(F) Redemption Price. The Redemption Price for any Note called for Redemption is an amount in cash equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount of such Note plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, the Redemption Date for such Redemption; provided, however, that if such Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, then (i) the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such Redemption, to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date, if such Redemption Date is before such Interest Payment Date); and (ii) the Redemption Price will not include accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such Redemption Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day within the meaning of Section 2.05(C) and such Redemption Date occurs on the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date, then (x) accrued and unpaid interest on Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be paid, in accordance with Section 2.05(C), on the next Business Day to Holders as of the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date; and (y) the Redemption Price will include interest on Notes to be redeemed from, and including, such Interest Payment Date.

 

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(G) Redemption Notice. To call any Notes for Redemption, the Issuer must (i) deliver to each Holder of such Notes, the Trustee, the Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent a written notice of such Redemption (a “Redemption Notice”); and (ii) substantially contemporaneously therewith, either (x) issue a press release through such national newswire service as the Issuer then uses; (y) publish the same through such other widely disseminated public medium as the Issuer then uses, including its website; or (z) file or furnish a Form 8-K (or any successor form) with the SEC, in each case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), containing the information set forth in the Redemption Notice.

Such Redemption Notice must state:

(i) that such Notes have been called for Redemption, briefly describing the Issuer’s Redemption right under this Indenture;

(ii) the Redemption Date for such Redemption;

(iii) the Redemption Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Redemption (and, if the Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, the amount, manner and timing of the interest payment payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F));

(iv) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

(v) that Notes called for Redemption may be converted at any time before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the Redemption Date (or, if the Issuer fails to pay the Redemption Price due on such Redemption Date in full, at any time until such time as the Issuer pays such Redemption Price in full);

(vi) the Conversion Rate in effect on the Redemption Notice Date for such Redemption and a description and quantification of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate that may result from such Redemption (including pursuant to Section 5.07);

(vii) the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after such Redemption Notice Date and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before such Redemption Date; and

(viii) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if any, of the Notes.

On or before the Redemption Notice Date, the Issuer will deliver a copy of such Redemption Notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent. At the Issuer’s request, given in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least five (5) days prior to the requested date of delivery (or such shorter period of time as may be acceptable to the Trustee), the Trustee shall give such notice in the Issuer’s name; provided, however that in all cases, the text of such Redemption Notice shall be prepared by the Issuer.

 

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(H) [Reserved].

(I) Selection and Conversion of Notes to Be Redeemed in Part. If less than all Notes then outstanding are called for Redemption, then:

(i) the Notes to be redeemed will be selected by the Issuer as follows: (1) in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures and, if no such Depositary Procedures apply, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; and (2) in the case of Physical Notes, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; and

(ii) if only a portion of a Note is subject to Redemption and such Note is converted in part, then the converted portion of such Note will be deemed to be from the portion of such Note that was subject to Redemption.

(J) Payment of the Redemption Price. Without limiting the Issuer’s obligation to deposit the Redemption Price by the time proscribed by Section 3.02(B), the Issuer will cause the Redemption Price for a Note (or portion thereof) subject to Redemption to be paid to the Holder thereof on or before the applicable Redemption Date. For the avoidance of doubt, interest payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F) on any Note (or portion thereof) subject to Redemption must be paid pursuant to such proviso.

(K) Right to Convert Not Affected. For the avoidance of doubt, a Redemption will not affect any Holder’s right to convert any Notes on or after the Issue Date and prior to the Close of Business on the second (2nd) Business Day immediately before the applicable Redemption Date, except to the extent the Issuer fails to pay the Redemption Price for such Note in accordance with this Indenture.

Article 5. CONVERSION

Section 5.01. RIGHT TO CONVERT.

(A) Generally. On and after the Issue Date until the fifth (5th) scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, subject to the provisions of this Article 5, each Holder may, at its option, convert such Holder’s Notes into Conversion Consideration.

(B) Conversions in Part. Subject to the terms of this Indenture, Notes may be converted in part, but only in Authorized Denominations. Provisions of this Article 5 applying to the conversion of a Note in whole will equally apply to conversions of a permitted portion of a Note.

(C) When Notes May Be Converted.

(i) [Reserved].

(ii) Limitations and Closed Periods. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes:

(1) Notes may be surrendered for conversion only after the Open of Business and before the Close of Business on a day that is a Business Day;

 

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(2) in no event may any Note be converted after the Close of Business on the fifth (5th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date;

(3) if the Issuer calls any Note for Redemption pursuant to Section 4.03, then the Holder of such Note may not convert such Note after the Close of Business on the second (2nd) Business Day immediately before the applicable Redemption Date, except to the extent the Issuer fails to pay the Redemption Price for such Note in accordance with this Indenture;

(4) if a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is validly delivered pursuant to Section 4.02(F) with respect to any Note, then such Note may not be converted, except to the extent (a) such Note is not subject to such notice; (b) such notice is withdrawn in accordance with Section 4.02(F); or (c) the Issuer fails to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for such Note in accordance with this Indenture; and

(5) Physical Notes may not be converted within ten (10) Business Days prior to a mandatory exchange of Physical Notes for Global Notes.

Section 5.02. CONVERSION PROCEDURES.

(A) Generally.

(i) Global Notes. To convert a beneficial interest in a Global Note that is convertible pursuant to Section 5.01, the owner of such beneficial interest must (1) comply with the Depositary Procedures for converting such beneficial interest (at which time such conversion will become irrevocable); and (2) pay any amounts due pursuant to Section 5.02(D) or Section 5.02(E).

(ii) Physical Notes. To convert all or a portion of a Physical Note that is convertible pursuant to Section 5.01, the Holder of such Note must (1) complete, manually sign and deliver to the Conversion Agent the conversion notice attached to such Physical Note or a facsimile/email of such conversion notice; (2) deliver such Physical Note to the Conversion Agent (at which time such conversion will become irrevocable); (3) furnish any endorsements and transfer documents that the Issuer or the Conversion Agent may require; and (4) pay any amounts due pursuant to Section 5.02(D) or Section 5.02(E).

(B) Effect of Converting a Note. At the Close of Business on the Conversion Date for a Note (or any portion thereof) to be converted, such Note (or such portion) will (unless there occurs a Default in the delivery of the Conversion Consideration or interest due, pursuant to Sections 5.03(B) or 5.03(D), upon such conversion) be deemed to cease to be outstanding (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no Person will be deemed to be a Holder of such Note (or such portion thereof) as of the Close of Business on such Conversion Date), except to the extent provided in Section 5.02(D).

 

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(C) Holder of Record of Conversion Shares. The Person in whose name any Common Stock is issuable upon conversion of any Note will be deemed to become the holder of record of such Common Stock as of the Close of Business on (i) the Conversion Date for such conversion, in the case of Physical Settlement; or (ii) the last VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for such conversion, in the case of Combination Settlement.

(D) Interest Payable upon Conversion in Certain Circumstances. If the Conversion Date of a Note is after a Regular Record Date and before the next Interest Payment Date, then the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such conversion (and, for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything set forth in the proviso to this sentence), to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date); and the Holder surrendering such Note for conversion must deliver to the Conversion Agent, at the time of such surrender, an amount of cash equal to the amount of such interest referred to in clause (i) above; provided, however, that the Holder surrendering such Note for conversion need not deliver such cash (w) if the Issuer has specified a Redemption Date for a Redemption that is after such Regular Record Date and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date; (x) if such Conversion Date occurs after the Regular Record Date immediately before the Maturity Date; (y) if the Issuer has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date that is after such Regular Record Date and on or before the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date; or (z) to the extent of any overdue interest or interest that has accrued on any overdue interest. For the avoidance of doubt, as a result of, and without limiting the generality of, the foregoing, if a Note is converted with a Conversion Date that is after the Regular Record Date immediately before the Maturity Date, then the Issuer will pay, as provided above, the interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, the Maturity Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Conversion Date of a Note to be converted is on an Interest Payment Date, then the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on the Regular Record Date immediately before such Interest Payment Date will be entitled to receive, on such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that has accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date, and such Note, when surrendered for conversion, need not be accompanied by any cash amount pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 5.02(D).

(E) Taxes and Duties. If a Holder converts a Note, the Issuer will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or duty due on the issue or delivery (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to Section 5.08) of any Common Stock upon such conversion; provided, however, that if any tax or duty is due because such Holder requested such Common Stock to be registered in a name other than such Holder’s name, then such Holder will pay such tax or duty.

(F) Conversion Agent to Notify Issuer of Conversions. If any Note is submitted for conversion to the Conversion Agent or the Conversion Agent receives any notice of conversion with respect to a Note, then the Conversion Agent will promptly notify the Issuer and the Trustee of such occurrence, together with any other information reasonably requested by the Issuer, and will cooperate with the Issuer to determine the Conversion Date for such Note.

 

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Section 5.03. SETTLEMENT UPON CONVERSION.

(A) Settlement Method. Upon the conversion of any Note, the Issuer will settle such conversion by paying or delivering, as applicable and as provided in this Article 5, either (x) Common Stock, together, if applicable, with cash in lieu of fractional shares as provided in Section 5.03(B)(i)(1) (a “Physical Settlement”); (y) solely cash as provided in Section 5.03(B)(i)(2) (a “Cash Settlement”); or (z) a combination of cash and Common Stock, together, if applicable, with cash in lieu of fractional shares as provided in Section 5.03(B)(i)(3) (a “Combination Settlement”).

(i) The Issuer’s Right to Elect Settlement Method. The Issuer will have the right to elect the Settlement Method applicable to any conversion of a Note; provided, however, that:

(1) if any Notes are called for Redemption, then the Issuer will specify, in the related Redemption Notice (and, in the case of a Redemption of less than all outstanding Notes, in a notice simultaneously sent to all Holders of Notes not called for Redemption) sent pursuant to Section 4.03(G), the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after such Redemption Notice Date and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before such Redemption Date;

(2) if any Notes are called for Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, then the Issuer will specify, in the related Fundamental Change Notice sent pursuant to Section 4.02(E), the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date of such Fundamental Change Notice and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(3) the Issuer will use the same Settlement Method for all conversions of Notes with the same Conversion Date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer will not be obligated to use the same Settlement Method with respect to conversions of Notes with different Conversion Dates, except as provided in clause (1) and clause (2) above);

(4) if, in respect of any Conversion Date (or one of the periods described in the third immediately succeeding set of parentheses, as the case may be), the Issuer elects to deliver a notice (the “Settlement Notice”) of the relevant Settlement Method in respect of such Conversion Date (or such period, as the case may be), the Issuer shall deliver such Settlement Notice to converting Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent no later than the close of business on the Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date (or, in the case of any conversions (x) of any Notes for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after the date of issuance of a Redemption Notice and prior to the related Redemption Date, in such Redemption Notice, (y) for which the Issuer has irrevocably elected Physical Settlement pursuant to Section 5.03(B)(i)(1), in the related notice described therein or (z) for which the Issuer has made an irrevocable

 

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election pursuant to Section 5.03(A)(ii), in the Issuer’s notice of such irrevocable election to the Holders) (in each case, the “Settlement Method Election Deadline”). If the Issuer does not timely elect a Settlement Method with respect to the conversion of a Note prior to the Settlement Method Election Deadline, then the Issuer shall no longer have the right to elect Cash Settlement or Physical Settlement for such conversion or during such period and will be deemed to have elected the Default Settlement Method (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the failure to timely make such election will not constitute a Default or Event of Default). Such Settlement Notice shall specify the relevant Settlement Method and in the case of an election of Combination Settlement, the relevant Settlement Notice shall indicate the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes;

(5) if the Issuer timely elects Combination Settlement with respect to the conversion of a Note but does not timely notify the Holder of such Note of the applicable Specified Dollar Amount, then the Specified Dollar Amount for such conversion will be deemed to be $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the failure to timely send such notification will not constitute a Default or Event of Default); and

(6) the Settlement Method will be subject to Section 5.09(A)(2).

(ii) The Issuer’s Right to Irrevocably Fix the Settlement Method. The Issuer will have the right, exercisable at its election by sending notice of such exercise to the Holders (with a copy to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent), to irrevocably fix the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date such notice is sent to Holders, provided that (x) such Settlement Method must be a Settlement Method that the Issuer is then permitted to elect (for the avoidance of doubt, including pursuant to, and subject to, the other provisions of this Section 5.03(A)); (y) no such irrevocable election will affect any Settlement Method theretofore elected (or deemed to be elected) with respect to any Note pursuant to the other provisions of this Section 5.03(A); and (z) upon any such irrevocable election, the Default Settlement Method will automatically be deemed to be set to the Settlement Method so fixed. Such notice, if sent, must set forth the applicable Settlement Method and expressly state that the election is irrevocable and applicable to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date such notice is sent to Holders. For the avoidance of doubt, such an irrevocable election, if made, will be effective without the need to amend this Indenture or the Notes, including pursuant to Section 8.01(G) (it being understood, however, that the Issuer may nonetheless choose to execute such an amendment at its option).

(iii) Requirement to Publicly Disclose the Fixed or Default Settlement Method. If the Issuer changes the Default Settlement Method pursuant to clause (x) of the proviso to the definition of such term or irrevocably fixes the Settlement Method pursuant to Section 5.03(A)(i), then the Issuer will either post the Default Settlement Method or fixed Settlement Method, as applicable, on its website or disclose the same in a Current Report on Form 8-K (or any successor form) that is filed with the SEC.

 

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(B) Conversion Consideration.

(i) Generally. Subject to Section 5.03(B)(ii) and Section 5.03(B)(iii), the type and amount of consideration (the “Conversion Consideration”) due in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of a Note to be converted will be as follows:

(1) if Physical Settlement applies to such conversion, consideration consisting of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Conversion Date for such conversion;

(2) if Cash Settlement applies to such conversion, consideration consisting of cash in an amount equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each VWAP Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion; or

(3) if Combination Settlement applies to such conversion, consideration consisting of (x) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the sum of the Daily Share Amounts for each VWAP Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion, and (y) an amount of cash equal to the sum of the Daily Cash Amounts for each VWAP Trading Day in such Observation Period.

(ii) Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares. If Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement applies to the conversion of any Note and the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable pursuant to Section 5.03(B)(i) upon such conversion is not a whole number, then such number will be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the Issuer will deliver, in addition to the other consideration due upon such conversion, cash in lieu of the related fractional share in an amount equal to the product of (1) such fraction and (2) (x) the Daily VWAP on the Conversion Date for such conversion (or, if such Conversion Date is not a VWAP Trading Day, the immediately preceding VWAP Trading Day), in the case of Physical Settlement; or (y) the Daily VWAP on the last VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for such conversion, in the case of Combination Settlement.

(iii) Conversion of Multiple Notes by a Single Holder. If a Holder converts more than one (1) Note on a single Conversion Date, then the Conversion Consideration due in respect of such conversion will (in the case of any Global Note, to the extent permitted by, and practicable under, the Depositary Procedures) be computed based on the total principal amount of Notes converted on such Conversion Date by such Holder.

(iv) Notice of Calculation of Conversion Consideration. If Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies to the conversion of any Note, then the Issuer will determine the Conversion Consideration due thereupon promptly following the last VWAP Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period and will promptly thereafter send notice to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of the same and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will have any duty to make any such determination.

 

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(C) Delivery of the Conversion Consideration. Except as set forth in Sections 5.05(D) and 5.09, the Issuer will pay or deliver, as applicable, the Conversion Consideration due upon the conversion of any Note to the Holder as follows: (i) if Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies to such conversion, on or before the second (2nd) Business Day immediately after the last VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for such conversion; and (ii) if Physical Settlement applies to such conversion, on or before the second (2nd) Business Day immediately after the Conversion Date for such conversion; provided, however, that if a Note is converted with a Conversion Date that is after the Regular Record Date immediately before the Maturity Date, then, solely for purposes of such conversion, (x) the Issuer will deliver the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion on the Maturity Date (or, if the Maturity Date is not a Business Day, the next Business Day); and (y) the Conversion Date will instead be deemed to be the second (2nd) Business Day immediately before the Maturity Date.

(D) Deemed Payment of Principal and Interest; Settlement of Accrued Interest Notwithstanding Conversion. If a Holder converts a Note, then the Issuer will not adjust the Conversion Rate to account for any accrued and unpaid interest on such Note, and, except as provided in Section 5.02(D), the Issuer’s delivery of the Conversion Consideration due in respect of such conversion will be deemed to fully satisfy and discharge the Issuer’s obligation to pay the principal of such Note. As a result, except as provided in Section 5.02(D), any accrued and unpaid interest on a converted Note will be cancelled, extinguished and forfeited.

Section 5.04. RESERVE AND STATUS OF COMMON STOCK ISSUED UPON CONVERSION.

(A) The Issuer shall at all times reserve for issuance and provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares or shares held in treasury, sufficient shares of Common Stock to permit the conversion of all then-outstanding Notes, assuming (x) Physical Settlement will apply to such conversion; and (y) the Conversion Rate is increased by the maximum amount pursuant to which the Conversion Rate may be increased pursuant to Section 5.07.

(B) Each Conversion Share, if any, delivered upon conversion of any Note will be a newly issued share (except that any Conversion Share delivered by a designated financial institution pursuant to Section 5.08 need not be a newly issued share), will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, free from preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim (except to the extent of any lien or adverse claim created by the action or inaction of the Holder of such Note or the Person to whom such Conversion Share will be delivered) and will rank pari passu with the existing Common Stock. If the Common Stock is then listed on any securities exchange, or quoted on any inter-dealer quotation system, then the Issuer will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Conversion Share, when delivered upon conversion of any Note, to be admitted for listing on such exchange or quotation on such system.

Section 5.05. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONVERSION RATE.

(A) Events Requiring an Adjustment to the Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate will be adjusted from time to time as follows:

(i) Stock Dividends, Splits and Combinations. If the Issuer issues solely the shares of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on all or substantially all of the shares of Common Stock, or if the Issuer effects a split or a combination of the shares of Common Stock (in each case excluding an issuance solely pursuant to a Common Stock Change Event, as to which Section 5.09 will apply), then the Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

 

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where:

 

  CR0=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately before the Open of Business on the effective date of such split or combination, as applicable;

 

  CR1=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date or effective date, as applicable;

 

  OS0=

the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date or effective date, as applicable, without giving effect to such dividend, distribution, split or combination; and

 

  OS1=

the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, split or combination.

If any dividend, distribution, split or combination of the type described in this Section 5.05(A)(i) is declared or announced, but not so paid or made, then the Conversion Rate will be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution or to effect such split or combination, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had such dividend, distribution, split or combination not been declared or announced.

(ii) Rights, Options and Warrants. If the Issuer distributes, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, rights, options or warrants (other than rights issued or otherwise distributed pursuant to a stockholder rights plan, as to which Sections 5.05(A)(iii)(1) and 5.05(F) will apply) entitling such holders, for a period of not more than sixty (60) calendar days after the record date of such distribution, to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices per share of Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately before the date such distribution is announced, then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  CR0=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

 

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  CR1=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

 

  OS =

the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

 

  X =

the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and

 

  Y =

a number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing (x) the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants by (y) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately before the date the distribution of such rights, options or warrants is announced.

To the extent such rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 5.05(A)(ii) are not so distributed, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase to the Conversion Rate for such distribution been made on the basis of only the rights, options or warrants, if any, actually distributed. In addition, to the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants (including as a result of such rights, options or warrants not being exercised), the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase to the Conversion Rate for such distribution been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered upon exercise of such rights, option or warrants.

For purposes of this Section 5.05(A)(ii), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle holders of Common Stock to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately before the date the distribution of such rights, options or warrants is announced, and in determining the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, there will be taken into account any consideration the Issuer receives for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise thereof, with the value of such consideration, if not cash, to be determined by the Issuer in good faith.

(iii) Spin-Offs and Other Distributed Property.

(1) Distributions Other than Spin-Offs. If the Issuer distributes shares of its Equity Interests, evidence of its indebtedness or other assets or property of the Issuer, or rights, options or warrants to acquire Equity Interests of the Issuer or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, excluding:

(a) dividends, distributions, rights, options or warrants (including Common Stock splits) for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate is required (or would be required without regard to Section 5.05(C)) pursuant to Sections 5.05(A)(i) or 5.05(A)(ii);

 

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(b) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate is required (or would be required without regard to Section 5.05(C)) pursuant to Section 5.05(A)(iv);

(c) rights issued or otherwise distributed pursuant to a stockholder rights plan, except to the extent provided in Section 5.05(F);

(d) Spin-Offs for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate is required (or would be required without regard to Section 5.05(C)) pursuant to Section 5.05(A)(iii)(2);

(e) a distribution solely pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Stock, as to which Section 5.05(A)(v) will apply; and

(f) a distribution solely pursuant to a Common Stock Change Event, as to which Section 5.09 will apply,

then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  CR0=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

 

  CR1=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

 

  SP =

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately before such Ex-Dividend Date; and

 

  FMV =

the fair market value (as determined by the Issuer in good faith), as of such Ex-Dividend Date, of the shares of Equity Interests, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants distributed per share of Common Stock pursuant to such distribution;

provided, however, that if FMV is equal to or greater than SP, then, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment to the Conversion Rate, each Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held by such Holder on the record date for such distribution, at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock, the amount and kind of shares of Equity Interests, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned, on such record date, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on such record date.

 

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To the extent such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the distribution, if any, actually made or paid.

(2) Spin-Offs. If the Issuer distributes or dividends shares of Equity Interests of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Issuer to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock (other than solely pursuant to (x) a Common Stock Change Event, as to which Section 5.09 will apply; or (y) a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Stock, as to which Section 5.05(A)(v) will apply), and such Equity Interests are listed or quoted (or will be listed or quoted upon the consummation of the transaction) on a U.S. national securities exchange (a “Spin-Off”), then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  CR0=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Spin-Off Valuation Period for such Spin-Off;

 

  CR1=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Spin-Off Valuation Period;

 

  FMV =

the product of (x) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices per share or unit of the Equity Interests distributed in such Spin-Off over the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period (the “Spin-Off Valuation Period”) beginning on, and including, the Ex- Dividend Date for such Spin-Off (such average to be determined as if references to Common Stock in the definitions of Last Reported Sale Price, Trading Day and Market Disruption Event were instead references to such Equity Interests); and (y) the number of shares or units of such Equity Interests distributed per share of Common Stock in such Spin-Off; and

 

  SP =

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for each Trading Day in the Spin-Off Valuation Period.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.05(A)(iii)(2), (i) if any VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for a Note whose conversion will be settled pursuant to Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement occurs during the Spin-Off Valuation Period for such Spin-Off, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Rate for such

 

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VWAP Trading Day for such conversion, such Spin-Off Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin- Off to, and including, such VWAP Trading Day; and (ii) if the Conversion Date for a Note whose conversion will be settled pursuant to Physical Settlement occurs during the Spin-Off Valuation Period for such Spin-Off, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Consideration for such conversion, such Spin-Off Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin-Off to, and including, such Conversion Date.

To the extent any dividend or distribution of the type set forth in this Section 5.05(A)(iii)(2) is declared but not made or paid, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the dividend or distribution, if any, actually made or paid.

(iv) Cash Dividends or Distributions. If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock, then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  CR0=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;

 

  CR1=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

 

  SP =

the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately before such Ex-Dividend Date; and

 

  D =

the cash amount distributed per share of Common Stock in such dividend or distribution;

provided, however, that if D is equal to or greater than SP, then, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment to the Conversion Rate, each Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held by such Holder on the record date for such dividend or distribution, at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned, on such record date, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on such record date.

To the extent such dividend or distribution is declared but not made or paid, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the dividend or distribution, if any, actually made or paid.

 

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(v) Tender Offers or Exchange Offers. If the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer that is subject to the then- applicable tender offer rules under the Exchange Act (other than solely pursuant to an odd- lot tender offer pursuant to Rule 13e-4(h)(5) under the Exchange Act or any successor rule thereto), for Common Stock, and the value (determined as of the Expiration Time by the Board of Directors) of the cash and other consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such tender or exchange offer exceeds the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately after the last date (the “Expiration Date”) on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it may be amended), then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  CR0=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period (the “Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”) beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date;

 

  CR1=

the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period;

 

  AC =

the aggregate value (determined as of the time (the “Expiration Time”) such tender or exchange offer expires by the Board of Directors) of all cash and other consideration paid for Common Stock purchased or exchanged in such tender or exchange offer;

 

  OS0=

the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before the Expiration Time (including all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

 

  OS1=

the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (excluding all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and

 

  SP =

the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date;

 

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provided, however, that the Conversion Rate will in no event be adjusted down pursuant to this Section 5.05(A)(v), except to the extent provided in the immediately following paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.05(A)(v), (i) if any VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for a Note whose conversion will be settled pursuant to Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Rate for such VWAP Trading Day for such conversion, such Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date for such tender or exchange offer to, and including, such VWAP Trading Day; and (ii) if the Conversion Date for a Note whose conversion will be settled pursuant to Physical Settlement occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Consideration for such conversion, such Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date to, and including, such Conversion Date.

To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of the Issuer being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under applicable law), or any purchases or exchanges of Common Stock in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of Common Stock, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.

(B) No Adjustments in Certain Cases.

(i) Where Holders Participate in the Transaction or Event Without Conversion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.05(A), the Issuer will not be obligated to adjust the Conversion Rate on account of a transaction or other event otherwise requiring an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.05(A) (other than a split or combination of the type set forth in Section 5.05(A)(i) or a tender or exchange offer of the type set forth in Section 5.05(A)(v)) if each Holder participates, at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock, and solely by virtue of being a Holder of Notes, in such transaction or event without having to convert such Holder’s Notes and as if such Holder held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the Conversion Rate in effect on the related record date; and (ii) the aggregate principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holder on such date.

(ii) Certain Events. The Issuer will not be required to adjust the Conversion Rate except as provided in Section 5.05 or Section 5.07. Without limiting the foregoing, the Issuer will not be obligated to adjust the Conversion Rate on account of:

(1) except as otherwise provided in Section 5.05 or Section 5.07, the sale of shares of Common Stock for a purchase price that is less than the market price per share of Common Stock or less than the Conversion Price;

(2) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Issuer’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any such plan;

 

- 107 -


(3) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit or incentive plan (including pursuant to an evergreen provision) or program of, or assumed by, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or in connection with any shares withheld for tax withholding purposes;

(4) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or convertible or exchangeable security of the Issuer outstanding or announced as of the Issue Date;

(5) for a tender offer or exchange offer by any party other than a tender offer or exchange offer by the Issuer or one or more of its Subsidiaries as described in Section 5.05(A)(v);

(6) an odd-lot tender offer pursuant to Rule 13e-4(h)(5) under the Exchange Act or any successor rule thereto;

(7) upon the repurchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an open-market repurchase program or other buyback transaction (including through any structured or derivative transactions, such as accelerated share repurchase transactions, prepaid forward transactions or similar forward derivatives) that is not a tender offer or exchange offer of the nature described in Section 5.05(A)(v);

(8) solely a change in the par value (or lack of par value) of the Common Stock; or

(9) accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes (but without limiting the operation of Section 5.05(H)), the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.05(A) on an account of any event described in any of clauses (i) through (v), inclusive, of Section 5.05(A) where the Ex- Dividend Date, effective date or Expiration Date, as applicable, of such event occurs before the Issue Date.

(C) If an adjustment to the Conversion Rate otherwise required by this Article 5 would result in a change of less than one percent (1%) to the Conversion Rate, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 5, the Issuer may, at its election, defer such adjustment, except that all such deferred adjustments must be given effect immediately upon the earliest of the following: (i) when all such deferred adjustments not already given effect would result in a change of at least one percent (1%) to the Conversion Rate; (ii) the Conversion Date of, or any VWAP Trading Day of an Observation Period for, any Note; (iii) the date a Fundamental Change or Make- Whole Event occurs; (iv) the date the Issuer calls any Notes for Redemption; and (v) the thirty fifth (35th) VWAP Trading Day before the Maturity Date.

 

- 108 -


(D) Adjustments Not Yet Effective. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if:

(i) a Note is to be converted pursuant to Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement;

(ii) the record date, effective date or Expiration Time for any event that requires an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05(A) has occurred on or before the Conversion Date for such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or on or before any VWAP Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion (in the case of Combination Settlement), but an adjustment to the Conversion Rate for such event has not yet become effective as of such Conversion Date or VWAP Trading Day, as applicable;

(iii) the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion includes any whole shares of Common Stock (in the case of Physical Settlement) or due in respect of such VWAP Trading Day includes any whole or fractional shares of Common Stock (in the case of Combination Settlement); and

(iv) such shares of Common Stock are not entitled to participate in such event (because they were not held on the related record date or otherwise),

then, solely for purposes of such conversion, the Issuer will, without duplication, give effect to such adjustment on such Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or such VWAP Trading Day (in the case of Combination Settlement). In such case, if the date on which the Issuer is otherwise required to deliver the consideration due upon such conversion is before the first date on which the amount of such adjustment can be determined, then the Issuer will delay the settlement of such conversion until the second (2nd) Business Day after such first date.

(E) Conversion Rate Adjustments where Converting Holders Participate in the Relevant Transaction or Event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if:

(i) a Conversion Rate adjustment for any dividend or distribution becomes effective on any Ex-Dividend Date pursuant to Section 5.05(A);

(ii) a Note is to be converted pursuant to Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement;

(iii) the Conversion Date for such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or any VWAP Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion (in the case of Combination Settlement) occurs on or after such Ex-Dividend Date and on or before the related record date;

(iv) the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion includes any whole shares of Common Stock (in the case of Physical Settlement) or due in respect of such VWAP Trading Day includes any whole or fractional shares of Common Stock (in the case of Combination Settlement), in each case based on a Conversion Rate that is adjusted for such dividend or distribution; and

(v) such shares would be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution (including pursuant to Section 5.02(C)),

 

- 109 -


then (x) in the case of Physical Settlement, such Conversion Rate adjustment will not be given effect for such conversion and the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion based on such unadjusted Conversion Rate will not be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution, but there will be added, to the Conversion Consideration otherwise due upon such conversion, the same kind and amount of consideration that would have been delivered in such dividend or distribution with respect to such shares of Common Stock had such shares been entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution; and (y) in the case of Combination Settlement, the Conversion Rate adjustment relating to such Ex-Dividend Date will be made for such conversion in respect of such VWAP Trading Day, but the shares of Common Stock issuable with respect to such VWAP Trading Day based on such adjusted Conversion Rate will not be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution.

(F) Stockholder Rights Plans. If any shares of Common Stock are to be issued or delivered upon conversion of any Note and, at the time of such conversion, the Issuer has in effect any stockholder rights plan, then the Holder of such Note will be entitled to receive, in addition to, and concurrently with the delivery of, the Conversion Consideration otherwise payable under this Indenture upon such conversion, the rights set forth in such stockholder rights plan, unless such rights have separated from the Common Stock at such time, in which case, and only in such case, the Conversion Rate will be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.05(A)(iii)(1) on account of such separation as if, at the time of such separation, the Issuer had made a distribution of the type referred to in such Section to all holders of the Common Stock, subject to readjustment in accordance with such Section if such rights expire, terminate or are redeemed.

(G) Limitation on Effecting Transactions Resulting in Certain Adjustments. The Issuer will not engage in or be a party to any transaction or event that would require the Conversion Rate to be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.05(A) or Section 5.07 to an amount that would result in the Conversion Price per share of Common Stock being less than the par value of the Common Stock.

(H) Equitable Adjustments to Prices. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Issuer to calculate the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices, or any function thereof, over a period of multiple days (including to calculate an adjustment to the Conversion Rate), or to calculate the Daily Conversion Values or Daily VWAPs over an Observation Period, the Issuer will make appropriate adjustments, if any, to such calculations to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05(A), would have resulted in an adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event that requires such an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex- Dividend Date, effective date or Expiration Date, as applicable, of such event occurs, at any time during such period, or Observation Period, as applicable.

(I) Calculation of Number of Outstanding Shares of Common Stock. For purposes of Section 5.05(A), the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time will (i) include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of Common Stock; and (ii) exclude Common Stock held in the Issuer’s treasury (unless the Issuer pays any dividend or makes any distribution on Common Stock held in its treasury).

 

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(J) Calculations. All calculations with respect to the Conversion Rate and adjustments thereto will be made, by the Issuer, to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share of Common Stock (with 5/100,000ths rounded upward).

(K) Notice of Conversion Rate Adjustments. Upon the effectiveness of any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05(A), the Issuer will promptly deliver notice to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent containing: (i) a brief description of the transaction or other event on account of which such adjustment was made; (ii) the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after such adjustment; and (iii) the effective time of such adjustment. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment.

Section 5.06. VOLUNTARY ADJUSTMENTS.

(A) Generally. To the extent permitted by law and applicable listing standards of The New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or other applicable security) is then listed), the Issuer, from time to time, may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate by any amount if (i) the Board of Directors determines that such increase is either (x) in the best interest of the Issuer; or (y) advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax imposed on holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock as a result of any dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) of Common Stock or any similar event; (ii) such increase is in effect for a period of at least twenty (20) Business Days; and (iii) subject to applicable law, such increase is irrevocable during such period.

(B) Notice of Voluntary Increases. If the Board of Directors determines to increase the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.06(A), then, no later than the first Business Day of the related twenty (20) Business Day period referred to in Section 5.06(A), the Issuer will deliver notice to each Holder, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of such increase, the amount thereof and the period during which such increase will be in effect.

Section 5.07. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONVERSION RATE IN CONNECTION WITH A MAKE-WHOLE EVENT.

(A) Generally. If a Make-Whole Event Effective Date occurs prior to the Maturity Date and a Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Event, the Issuer shall, under the circumstances described below, increase the Conversion Rate for the Notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”), as described below. A conversion of Notes shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such Make-Whole Event if the relevant conversion notice is received by the Conversion Agent during the Make-Whole Event Conversion Period. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer elects to redeem less than all of the outstanding Notes, then Holders of the Notes not called for redemption will not be entitled to an increased Conversion Rate for such Notes as provided in this Section 5.07 on account of such redemption.

 

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(B) Upon surrender of Notes for conversion in connection with a Make-Whole Event, the Issuer shall, at its option, satisfy the related conversion obligation by Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement in accordance with Section 5.03; provided, however, that if, at the effective time of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change that constitutes a Common Stock Change Event, the Reference Property following such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is composed entirely of cash, for any conversion of Notes following the effective date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Conversion Consideration shall be calculated based solely on the Stock Price for the transaction and shall be deemed to be an amount of cash per $1,000 principal amount of converted Notes equal to the Conversion Rate on such Conversion Date (including any adjustment for Additional Shares), multiplied by such Stock Price for such Make-Whole Fundamental Change. In such event, the Conversion Consideration shall be paid to Holders in cash on the second Business Day following the Conversion Date.

(C) The number of Additional Shares, if any, by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased for conversions during the Make-Whole Event Conversion Period shall be determined by reference to the table below, based on the Make-Whole Event Effective Date and the price paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of the Common Stock in the Make-Whole Fundamental Change or on the Redemption Notice Date in the manner set forth in this Section 5.07 (the “Stock Price”). If the holders of the Common Stock receive in exchange for their Common Stock only cash in a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Stock Price shall be the cash amount paid per share. In all other cases, the Stock Price shall be the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Make-Whole Event Effective Date. In the event that a conversion during a Redemption would also be deemed to be in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, a Holder of the Notes to be converted shall be entitled to a single increase to the Conversion Rate with respect to the first to occur of the applicable Make-Whole Event Effective Date, and the later event will be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of this Section 5.07. The Issuer shall make appropriate adjustments to the Stock Price, in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date, effective date (as such term is used in Section 5.05) or expiration date of the event occurs during such five consecutive Trading Day period.

(D) The Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table below shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted Stock Prices shall equal the Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment giving rise to the Stock Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional Shares set forth in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 5.05.

 

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(E) The following table sets forth the number of Additional Shares of Common Stock by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased per $1,000 principal amount of Notes pursuant to this Section 5.07 for each Stock Price and Make-Whole Event Effective Date set forth below:

 

    Stock Price  

Make-Whole Event
Effective Date

  $10.00     $12.23     $15.00     $18.35     $20.00     $25.00     $30.00     $35.00     $40.00     $45.00     $50.00     $55.00     $60.00     $65.00     $70.00     $80.00     $90.00     $100.00  

September 29, 2025

    18.2492       12.0908       7.6747       4.6812       3.7255       1.9304       1.0140       0.5149       0.2365       0.0860       0.0154       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  

September 29, 2026

    18.2492       11.0507       6.5113       3.6463       2.7880       1.2844       0.5957       0.2560       0.0855       0.0024       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  

September 29, 2027

    18.2492       8.8741       4.3580       1.9564       1.3480       0.4616       0.1517       0.0300       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  

September 29, 2028

    18.2492       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  

September 29, 2029

    18.2492       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  

September 29, 2030

    18.2492       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  

June 15, 2031

    18.2492       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  

The exact Stock Price and Make-Whole Event Effective Date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

(i) if the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices in the table above or the Make-Whole Event Effective Date is between two Make-Whole Event Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices and the earlier and later Make-Whole Event Effective Dates, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable;

(ii) if the Stock Price is greater than $100.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to Section 5.07(E)), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate; and

(iii) if the Stock Price is less than $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to Section 5.07(E)), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate.

(F) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate per $1,000 principal amount of Notes exceed 100.0000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05.

(G) Nothing in this Section 5.07 shall prevent an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05 in respect of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

(H) Notice of the Occurrence of a Make-Whole Event. The Issuer will notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of each Make-Whole Event (i) occurring pursuant to clause (A) of the definition thereof; and (ii) occurring pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof in accordance with Section 4.03(G).

Section 5.08. EXCHANGE IN LIEU OF CONVERSION.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 5, and subject to the terms of this Section 5.08, if a Note is submitted for conversion, the Issuer may elect, in lieu of conversion, to transfer such Note to a financial institution designated by the Issuer and arrange to have such financial institution deliver to the Holder of such Note the Conversion Consideration that would have been due upon conversion. To make such election, the Issuer must send notice of such election to the Holder of such Note, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date for such Note. If the Issuer has made such election, then:

(A) no later than the Business Day immediately following such Conversion Date, the Issuer must deliver (or cause the delivery of) such Note, together with delivery instructions for the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion (including wire instructions, if applicable), to a financial institution designated by the Issuer that has agreed to deliver such Conversion Consideration in the manner and at the time the Issuer would have had to deliver the same pursuant to this Article 5;

 

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(B) if such Note is a Global Note, then (i) such designated institution will send written confirmation to the Conversion Agent promptly after wiring the cash Conversion Consideration, if any, and delivering any other Conversion Consideration, due upon such conversion to the Holder of such Note; and (ii) the Conversion Agent will as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter contact such Holder’s custodian with the Depositary to confirm receipt of the same; and

(C) such Note will not cease to be outstanding by reason of such exchange in lieu of conversion, subject to the Depositary Procedures;

provided, however, that if such financial institution does not accept such Note or fails to timely deliver such Conversion Consideration, then the Issuer will be responsible for delivering such Conversion Consideration in the manner and at the time provided in this Article 5 as if the Issuer had not elected to make an exchange in lieu of conversion. The Issuer, the Holder surrendering Notes for conversion, the designated institution and the Conversion Agent shall cooperate to cause such Notes to be delivered to the designated institution and the Conversion Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the Issuer’s instruction in connection with effecting any such exchange and shall have no liability for such election to exchange outside of its control.

Section 5.09. EFFECT OF COMMON STOCK CHANGE EVENT.

(A) Generally. If there occurs any:

(i) recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than (x) changes solely resulting from a subdivision or combination of the Common Stock, (y) a change only in par value or from par value to no par value or no par value to par value and (z) splits and combinations that do not involve the issuance of any other series or class of securities);

(ii) consolidation, merger, combination or binding or statutory share exchange involving the Issuer;

(iii) sale, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person; or

(iv) other similar event,

and, as a result of which, the Common Stock is converted into, or exchanged for, or represents solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property, or any combination of the foregoing (such an event, a “Common Stock Change Event,” and such other securities, cash or property, the “Reference Property,” and the amount and kind of Reference Property that a holder of one (1) share of Common Stock would be entitled to receive on account of such Common Stock

 

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Change Event (without giving effect to any arrangement not to issue or deliver a fractional portion of any security or other property), a “Reference Property Unit”), then the Issuer and the resulting, surviving or transferee person (if not the Issuer) of such Common Stock Change Event (the “Successor Person”), and, if applicable as set forth below, the Underlying Issuer, will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders, providing, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, as follows:

(1) from and after the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event, (I) the Conversion Consideration due upon conversion of any Note, and the conditions to any such conversion, will be determined in the same manner as if each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in this Article 5 (or in any related definitions) were instead a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; (II) for purposes of Section 4.03, each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in such Section (or in any related definitions) will instead be deemed to be a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; and (III) for purposes of the definition of “Fundamental Change” and “Make-Whole Event,” references to Common Stock or to “Common Equity” will be deemed to refer to the common equity (including depositary receipts representing common equity), if any, forming part of such Reference Property;

(2) if such Reference Property Unit consists entirely of cash, then the Issuer will be deemed to elect Physical Settlement in respect of all conversions whose Conversion Date occurs on or after the effective date of such Common Stock Change Event and will pay the cash due upon such conversions no later than the second (2nd) Business Day after the relevant Conversion Date;

(3) for these purposes, (I) the Daily VWAP of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that consists of a class of common equity securities will be determined by reference to the definition of “Daily VWAP,” substituting, if applicable, the Bloomberg page for such class of securities in such definition; and (II) the Daily VWAP of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that does not consist of a class of common equity securities, and the Last Reported Sale Price of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that does not consist of a class of securities, will be the fair value of such Reference Property Unit or portion thereof, as applicable, determined in good faith by the Issuer (or, in the case of cash denominated in U.S. dollars, the face amount thereof); and

(4) if such Reference Property includes any shares of Equity Interests, then the Conversion Rate will be subject to subsequent adjustments in a manner consistent with Section 5.05(A).

If the Reference Property consists of more than a single type of consideration to be determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election, then the composition of the Reference Property Unit will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration actually received, per share of Common Stock, by the holders of the Common Stock. The Issuer will notify Holders of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.

 

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At or before the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event, the Issuer and the Successor Person will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(F) as set forth above (which shall provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that are as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Article 5). If the Reference Property includes shares of stock or other securities or assets (other than cash) of a Person other than the Issuer or a Successor Person (such person, the “Underlying Issuer”), then such Underlying Issuer will also execute such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders as the Issuer reasonably considers necessary by reason of the foregoing, including the provisions providing for the purchase rights set forth in Section 4.02.

(B) Notice of Common Stock Change Events. The Issuer will provide notice of each Common Stock Change Event to Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent no later than the effective date of such Common Stock Change Event.

(C) Compliance Covenant. The Issuer will not become a party to any Common Stock Change Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 5.09.

(D) The above provisions of this Section 5.09 shall similarly apply to successive Common Stock Change Events.

Section 5.10. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS.

(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, no Holder will be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Notes and no conversion of Notes shall take place to the extent (but only to the extent) that such receipt (or conversion) would cause such Holder and its Attribution Parties to beneficially own shares in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitations. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Notes with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted principal amount of Notes beneficially owned by the Holder and its Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Issuer subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein (including, without limitation, any other Notes) beneficially owned by the Holder and its Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this provision, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Any purported delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Notes shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in the converting Holder violating the Beneficial Ownership Limitations. Solely for the purpose of this Section 5.10, in the case of Global Notes, “Holder” shall mean a person that holds a beneficial interest in the Notes and not the Depositary or its nominee. Further, “Attribution Parties” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person acting as a “group” (as that term is defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) together with such Person, and any other Persons to the extent such other Persons’ beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock would be aggregated with such Person’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

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(B) To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 5.10 applies, the determination of whether any Notes are convertible (in relation to other securities beneficially owned by the Holder) and of which principal amount of such Notes are convertible shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a conversion notice shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether any Notes may be converted (in relation to other securities beneficially owned by the Holder) and which principal amount such Notes are convertible, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitations. To ensure compliance with this restriction, the Holder shall be deemed to represent to the Issuer, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent each time it delivers a conversion notice that such conversion notice has not violated the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.10, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(C) For purposes of this Section 5.10, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) the Issuer’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the SEC, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by the Issuer, or (iii) a more recent written notice by the Issuer or the Issuer’s transfer agent to such Holder setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Issuer shall within two (2) Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Issuer, including the Notes, by the Holder since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.

(D) The “General Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 9.9% (or, upon written notice to the Issuer by a Holder on or prior to the Issue Date, 4.9%) of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Notes held by the Holder. After the Issue Date, the Holder, upon not less than sixty-one (61) days’ prior written notice to the Issuer, may elect a beneficial ownership limit as to such Holder (but not as to any other Holder) (such limit, a “Holder Beneficial Ownership Limitation” and together with the General Beneficial Ownership Limitation, the “Beneficial Ownership Limitations”) that is less than or equal to the General Beneficial Ownership Limitation then applicable to the Holders. Any Holder Beneficial Ownership Limitation will be effective as of (i) the issue date for the Notes, for any notice delivered prior to the issuance of such Notes, and (ii) the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Issuer in all other cases.

(E) Any Notes surrendered for conversion for which shares of Common Stock are not delivered due to the Beneficial Ownership Limitations shall not be extinguished and, such Holder may either:

 

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(F) request return of the Notes surrendered by such Holder for conversion, after which the Issuer shall deliver such Notes to such Holder within two (2) Trading Days after receipt of such request; or

(G) certify to the Issuer that the person (or persons) receiving shares of Common Stock upon conversion is not, and would not, as a result of such conversion, become the beneficial owner of shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time in excess of the applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitations, after which the Issuer shall deliver any such shares of Common Stock withheld on account of such applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitations by the later of (x) the date such shares were otherwise due to such person (or persons) and (y) two (2) Trading Days after receipt of such certification; provided, however, that until such time as the affected Holder gives such notice, no person shall be deemed to be the stockholder of record with respect to the shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon conversion in excess of any applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitations. Upon delivery of such notice, the provisions under Section 5.03 shall apply to the shares of Common Stock to be delivered pursuant to such notice.

(H) Under no circumstances shall the Trustee or the Conversion Agent have any obligation to identify any beneficial owner of Common Stock, or otherwise make any determination, monitor or otherwise take any action with respect to the limitations set forth in this Section 5.10.

Section 5.11. RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEE AND CONVERSION AGENT.

The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Conversion Rate (or any adjustment thereto) or whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment (including any increase) of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, monitoring the Issuer’s stock trading price or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and the Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Issuer to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Issuer contained in this Article 5. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to (a) determine whether a supplemental indenture needs to be entered into or (b) determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 5.09 relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any event referred to in such Section 5.09 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 13.02 of the Indenture, may accept (without any independent investigation) as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in conclusively relying upon, the Officer’s Certificate (which the Issuer shall be obligated to deliver to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent prior to the execution of any such

 

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supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event contemplated by this Article 5 has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent the notices referred to in this Article 5 with respect to the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notices the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely.

Article 6. SUCCESSORS

Section 6.01. WHEN THE ISSUER AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS MAY MERGE, ETC.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will not consolidate with, merge with or into, dissolve or liquidate voluntarily into, or (directly, or indirectly through one or more of its Subsidiaries) sell, lease or otherwise Dispose, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to another Person (a “Issuer Business Combination Event”), unless:

(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person either (x) is the Issuer or (y) if not the Issuer, is a Qualified Successor Entity (such Qualified Successor Entity, the “Successor Entity”) duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that expressly assumes (by executing and delivering to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, at or before the effective time of such Issuer Business Combination Event, a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(E)) and any other amendments to the Security Documents all of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which the Issuer is a party, and the Notes;

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such Issuer Business Combination Event, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(iii) before the effective time of any Issuer Business Combination Event, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that (i) such Issuer Business Combination Event (and, if applicable, the related supplemental indenture) comply with Section 6.01(A); and (ii) all conditions precedent to such Issuer Business Combination Event provided in this Indenture have been satisfied.

(B) Subsidiary Guarantors. Unless otherwise permitted pursuant to this Indenture (including Section 12.04), the Issuer shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into, dissolve or liquidate voluntarily into, or (directly, or indirectly through one or more of its Subsidiaries) sell, lease or otherwise Dispose, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of the consolidated assets (other than to the Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor) (a “Guarantor Business Combination Event” together with a Issuer Business Combination Event, a “Business Combination Event”) unless:

(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Guarantor”) either (x) is the Subsidiary Guarantor or (y) if not the Subsidiary Guarantor, is an entity that expressly assumes (by executing and delivering to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, at or before the effective time of such Guarantor Business Combination Event, a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(B)) and any other amendments to the Security Documents all of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which it is a party, the Notes and its Guarantee;

 

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(ii) immediately after giving effect to such Guarantor Business Combination Event, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(iii) before the effective time of any Guarantor Business Combination Event, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that (i) such Guarantor Business Combination Event (and, if applicable, the related supplemental indenture) comply with Section 6.01(B); and (ii) all conditions precedent to such Guarantor Business Combination Event provided in this Indenture have been satisfied.

(C) For purposes of this Section 6.01, the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer to another Person, which properties and assets, if held by the Issuer instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer to another Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article 6 shall not apply to any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of assets between or among the Issuer and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and, in such an event, the Issuer shall not be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which the Issuer is a party, and the Notes.

Section 6.02. SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED.

At the effective time of any Business Combination Event that complies with Section 6.01, the Successor Entity (if not the Issuer) or the Successor Guarantor (if not the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor), as the case may be, will succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Notes and/or Guarantee, as is applicable, with the same effect as if such Successor Entity or Successor Guarantor, as the case may be, had been named as the Issuer or Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, in this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Notes and such Guarantee; provided that in the case of a lease, the predecessor Issuer will be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Article 7. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 7.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

(A) Definition of Events of Default. “Event of Default” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) a default in the payment when due (whether at maturity, upon Redemption or Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change or otherwise) of the principal of, or the Redemption Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for, any Note;

 

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(ii) a default in the payment when due of interest on any Note, which default continues for thirty (30) consecutive days;

(iii) the Issuer’s failure to deliver, when required by this Indenture, a Fundamental Change Notice, and such failure is not cured within five (5) Business Days after its occurrence;

(iv) [Reserved];

(v) a default in the Issuer’s obligation to convert a Note in accordance with Article 5 upon the exercise of the conversion right with respect thereto, if such default is not cured within five (5) Business Days after its occurrence;

(vi) a default in any Note Party’s obligations under Article 6;

(vii) [Reserved];

(viii) a default in any of the Note Parties’ obligations or agreements under the Note Documents (other than a default set forth in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of this Section 7.01(A)) where such default is not cured or waived within thirty (30) days after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee, or to the Issuer and the Trustee by Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, which notice must specify such default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default,”provided that any issuance of Common Stock as a result of which any Holder beneficially owns or would beneficially own a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitations shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default;

(ix) a default by a Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to indebtedness for money borrowed (whether pursuant to one or more agreements or other instruments) of greater than $87,500,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of an Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries, whether such indebtedness exists as of the Issue Date or is thereafter created, either: (x) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity, or (y) constituting a failure to pay the principal of any such indebtedness when due and payable (after the expiration of all applicable grace periods) at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, and, in the case of either subclause (x) or (y), such acceleration is not, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, rescinded or annulled or such indebtedness is not paid or discharged, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding in accordance with this Indenture;

(x) one or more final judgments being rendered against an Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of at least $87,500,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate (excluding any amounts covered by insurance), where such judgment is not discharged or stayed within sixty (60) days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal the same has expired, if no such appeal has commenced; or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;

 

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(xi) a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, either:

(1) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

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

(3) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property (other than that arises from any solvent liquidation or restructuring of such Subsidiary(ies) in the ordinary course of business that shall result in the net assets of such Subsidiary(ies) being transferred to or otherwise vested in such Note Party or any of its other subsidiaries on a pro rata basis or on a basis more favorable to such Note Party);

(4) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(5) takes any comparable action under any foreign Bankruptcy Law; or

(6) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

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

(1) is for relief against a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary case or proceeding;

(2) appoints a custodian of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, or for any substantial part of the property of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

(3) orders the winding up or liquidation of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or

(4) grants any similar relief under any foreign Bankruptcy Law,

(5) and, in each case under this Section 7.01(A)(xii), such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for at least sixty (60) days;

 

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(xiii) if the obligation of any Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or any other Note Document to which any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party is limited or terminated by operation of law or by such Subsidiary Guarantor (other than, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or such other Note Documents), or if any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform any obligation under its Guarantee or under any such Note Document, or repudiates or revokes or purports to repudiate or revoke in writing any obligation under its Guarantee, or under any such Note Document, or any Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to exist for any reason (other than as permitted or not prohibited by this Indenture); or

(xiv) any security interest and Liens purported to be created by any Security Document on any of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby having a fair market value in excess of $25,000,000 (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents) shall cease to be in full force and effect or shall cease to give the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created and granted under such Security Documents (including a valid and perfected security interest in and Lien on all of the Collateral thereunder in favor of the Collateral Agent with the priority required by the Security Documents) with respect to any of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby having a fair market value in excess of $25,000,000 (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents), or shall be asserted by or on behalf of any Note Party not to be a valid and perfected security interest in or Lien on the Collateral covered thereby (in each case, except (i) the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of possessory Collateral received by it, which failure is not a direct result of any act, omission, advice or direction of any Note Party, (ii) in connection with a transaction expressly permitted under the Note Documents, in each case solely to the extent such termination or release is permitted under the Note Documents or (iii) as a result of the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance Article 9).

(B) Cause Irrelevant. Each of the events set forth in Section 7.01(A) will constitute an Event of Default regardless of the cause thereof or whether voluntary or involuntary or 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.

Section 7.02. ACCELERATION.

(A) Automatic Acceleration in Certain Circumstances. If an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) occurs with respect to the Issuer (and not solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer), then the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding will immediately become due and payable without any further action or notice by any Person.

(B) Optional Acceleration. Subject to Section 7.03, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) with respect to the Issuer and not solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, then either (i) the Trustee, by notice to the Issuer, or (ii) Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, by notice to each of the Issuer, the

 

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Trustee and the Collateral Agent, may declare the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding (subject to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent being indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to such Agent’s reasonable satisfaction) to become due and payable immediately. For the avoidance of doubt, if such Event of Default is not continuing at the time such notice is provided (that is, such Event of Default has been cured or waived as of such time), then such notice will not be effective to cause such amounts to become due and payable immediately.

(C) Rescission of Acceleration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the Majority Holders, by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may, on behalf of all Holders, rescind any acceleration of the Notes and its consequences if (i) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) all existing Events of Default (except the non-payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes that has become due solely because of such acceleration) have been cured or waived; and (iii) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under this Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their agents and counsel have been paid. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 7.03. SOLE REMEDY FOR A FAILURE TO REPORT.

(A) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary, to the extent the Issuer elects, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to the Issuer’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 3.03(A) shall, for the first 180 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default, consist exclusively of the right to receive Special Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for the first 90 days during which such Event of Default is continuing, beginning on, and including, the date on which such an Event of Default first occurs and 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the next 90 day period during which such Event of Default is continuing. In no event shall the rate of any such Special Interest payable under this Section 7.03 exceed a total rate of 0.50% per annum on any Note, regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to the requirement to pay such Special Interest. If the Issuer so elects, such Special Interest shall be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Notes. On the 181st day after such Event of Default (if the Event of Default relating to the Issuer’s failure to file is not cured or waived prior to such 181st day), the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02. The provisions of this Section 7.03 will not affect the rights of Holders of Notes in the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default other than the Issuer’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 3.03(A). In the event the Issuer does not elect to pay Special Interest following an Event of Default in accordance with this Section 7.03 or the Issuer elected to make such payment but does not pay the Special Interest when due, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02.

(B) In order to elect to pay Special Interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of any Event of Default described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Issuer must notify all Holders of the Notes and the Trustee of such election prior to the beginning of such 180-day period. Upon the failure to timely give such notice, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02.

 

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(C) If Special Interest accrues on any Note, then, no later than five (5) Business Days before each date on which such Special Interest is to be paid, the Issuer will deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee and the Paying Agent stating (i) that the Issuer is obligated to pay Special Interest on such Note on such date of payment; and (ii) the amount of Special Interest that is payable on such date of payment. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have no duty to determine whether any Special Interest is payable or the amount thereof.

Section 7.04. OTHER REMEDIES.

(A) Trustee May Pursue All Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of any amounts due with respect to the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of this Indenture or the Notes.

(B) Procedural Matters. The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in such proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy following an Event of Default will not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of, or acquiescence in, such Event of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article 7 to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture.

Section 7.05. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

A Default that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (v) or (viii) of Section 7.01(A) (that, in the case of clause (viii) only, results from a Default under any covenant that cannot be amended without the consent of each affected Holder), can be waived only with the consent of each affected Holder. Each other Default or Event of Default may be waived, on behalf of all Holders, by the Majority Holders. If an Event of Default is so waived, then it will cease to exist. If a Default is so waived, then it will be deemed to be cured and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed not to occur. However, no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right arising therefrom.

Section 7.06. [RESERVED].

Section 7.07. CONTROL BY MAJORITY.

Majority Holders may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or exercising any trust or power conferred on it under this Indenture. However, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law, this Indenture or the Notes, or that, subject to Section 10.01, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (provided, however, that neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have any affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction would prejudice any Holder) or may involve the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in liability, unless the Trustee or the Collateral Agent is offered security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent that may result from the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s following such direction.

 

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Section 7.08. LIMITATION ON SUITS.

No Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes (except to enforce (x) its rights to receive the principal of, or the Redemption Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for, or interest on, any Notes; or (y) the Issuer’s obligations to convert any Notes pursuant to Article 5), unless:

(A) such Holder has previously delivered to the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(B) Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding deliver a request to the Trustee to pursue such remedy;

(C) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee that may result from the Trustee’s following such request;

(D) the Trustee does not comply with such request within sixty (60) calendar days after its receipt of such request and such offer of security or indemnity; and

(E) during such sixty (60) calendar day period, the Majority Holders do not deliver to the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such request.

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder. The Trustee will have no duty to determine whether any Holder’s use of this Indenture complies with the preceding sentence.

Section 7.09. ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO INSTITUTE SUIT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAYMENT AND CONVERSION.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes (but without limiting Section 8.01), the right of each Holder of a Note to bring suit for the enforcement of any payment or delivery, as applicable, of the principal of, or the Redemption Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for, or any interest on, or the Conversion Consideration due pursuant to Article 5 upon conversion of, such Note on or after the respective due dates therefor provided in this Indenture and the Notes, will not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 7.10. COLLECTION BY TRUSTEE.

The Trustee will have the right, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (v) of Section 7.01(A), to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the total unpaid or undelivered principal of, or Redemption Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for, or interest on, or Conversion Consideration due pursuant to Article 5 upon conversion of, the Notes, as applicable, and, to the extent lawful, any Default Interest on any Defaulted Amounts, and such further amounts sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including compensation provided for in Section 10.06.

 

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Section 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST ISSUER.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), the Trustee shall be subject to §311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act (excluding any creditor relationship listed in §311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) regarding the collection of claims against the Issuer (or any such other obligor).

Section 7.12. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.

The Trustee has the right to (A) file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes) or its creditors or property and (B) collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims. Each Holder authorizes any custodian in such proceeding to make such payments to the Trustee, and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to the Trustee for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.06. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements, advances and other amounts out of the estate in such proceeding, is denied for any reason, payment of the same will be secured by a lien on, and will be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding (whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise). Nothing in this Indenture will be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize, consent to, accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 7.13. [RESERVED].

Section 7.14. SUMS RECEIVED BY DEBTORS AND THIRD-PARTY SECURITY PROVIDERS.

Without prejudice to Section 7.11, if the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor receives or recovers any sum which, under the terms of any of the Note Documents, should have been paid to the Collateral Agent, the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor will:

(a) hold an amount of that receipt or recovery equal to the relevant Note Obligations (or, if less, the amount received or recovered) on trust for (or otherwise on behalf and for the account of) the Collateral Agent and promptly pay that amount to the Collateral Agent (or as the Collateral Agent may direct) for application in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

 

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(b) promptly pay an amount equal to the amount (if any) by which the receipt or recovery exceeds the relevant Note Obligations to the Collateral Agent (or as the Collateral Agent may direct) for application in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Section 7.15. PRIORITIES.

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Collateral Agent and Trustee (acting in any capacity) will pay or deliver in the following order any money or other property that it collects pursuant to this Article 7:

 

First:    to the Collateral Agent and Trustee (acting in any capacity) and their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under this Indenture or any other Note Documents, including payment of all fees and expenses (including any reasonably incurred and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel; provided that there shall not be more than one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction, and, to the extent necessary, special counsel), compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second:    in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on, and any cash due upon conversion of, the Notes in default in the order of the date due of the payments of such interest and cash due upon conversion, as the case may be, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon such overdue payments at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto,
Third:    in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount (including, if applicable, the payment of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on the overdue principal and, to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) and interest without preference or priority of principal over interest, or of interest over principal or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) and accrued and unpaid interest; and
Fourth:    the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer (or to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Subsidiary Guarantor, to such Subsidiary Guarantor), or such other Person as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

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The Trustee (acting in any capacity) may fix a record date and payment date for any payment or delivery to the Holders pursuant to this Section 7.15, in which case the Trustee will instruct the Issuer to, and the Issuer will, deliver, at least fifteen (15) calendar days before such record date, to each Holder and the Trustee a notice stating such record date, such payment date and the amount of such payment or nature of such delivery, as applicable.

Section 7.16. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or the Notes or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court, in its discretion, may (A) require the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and (B) assess reasonable costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that this Section 7.16 does not apply to any suit by the Trustee, any suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 7.09, any suit by one or more Holders of more than ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, or any suit by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note.

Section 7.17. COLLATERAL AGENT EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

The Note Parties, jointly and severally, agree to reimburse or pay the Trustee or Collateral Agent for its fees, expenses and indemnities incurred under this Indenture or the Note Documents (including all reasonably incurred and documented fees and disbursements of legal counsel; provided that there shall not be more than one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and, to the extent necessary, special counsel) that may be paid or incurred by the Trustee or Collateral Agent in enforcing, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Note Obligations or Guaranteed Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, the Note Parties under this Indenture or the Security Documents.

Article 8. AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 8.01. WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8.02, the Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement the Note Documents without the consent of any Holder to:

(A) cure any ambiguity or correct any omission, defect or inconsistency in any Note Document;

(B) add guarantees or security with respect to the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents, including for greater certainty, to allow any additional Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture, a joinder to any Security Document and/or a Guarantee with respect to the Notes;

 

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(C) add to the Issuer’s covenants or Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred on the Issuer;

(D) provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents, as applicable, pursuant to, and in compliance with, Article 6;

(E) enter into supplemental indentures pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 5.09 in connection with a Common Stock Change Event;

(F) irrevocably elect or eliminate any Settlement Method or Specified Dollar Amount; provided, however, that no such election or elimination will affect any Settlement Method theretofore elected (or deemed to be elected) with respect to any Note pursuant to Section 5.03(A);

(G) adjust the Conversion Rate or the Conversion Price (including the establishment of the Conversion Rate or the Conversion Price ) in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, this Indenture;

(H) evidence or provide for the acceptance of the appointment, under this Indenture, of a successor Trustee or Collateral Agent;

(I) effect such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, waiver or consent in respect of the First-Priority Debt Documents that shall apply automatically to the Note Documents without the consent of any Holder in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreements;

(J) provide for the entry into an Additional Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to, and in compliance with, Section 14.02;

(K) comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary in a manner that does not adversely affect the rights of the Holders;

(L) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with any qualification of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect;

(M) make any other change to any Note Document that does not, individually or in the aggregate with all other such changes, adversely affect the rights of the Holders, as such, in any material respect as determined by the Issuer in good faith;

(N) effect, confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge or any guarantee of or Lien securing the Note Obligations when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by the Note Documents;

(O) provide for or confirm the issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to the terms of Section 2.03(B);

(P) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided, however, that compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law;

 

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(Q) mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Note Obligations, in any property or assets (whether or not constituting Collateral), including any which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a Lien is required to be granted to or for the benefit of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any of the Security Documents or any other Note Document;

(R) to add additional junior priority Secured Parties to any Security Documents, to the extent permitted to be so secured by this Indenture;

(S) to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto in connection with the incurrence of any Note Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture;

(T) in the case of any Security Document, to include therein any legend required to be set forth therein pursuant to the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement or to modify any such legend as required by the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement; or

(U) to provide for the succession of any parties to the Security Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature) in connection with an amendment, renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing, restructuring, replacement, supplementing or other modification from time to time of, the First Lien Notes, the Second Lien Renesas Notes, the Second Lien Takeback Notes or any other agreement that is permitted by this Indenture.

Section 8.02. WITH THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

(A) Generally. Subject to Sections 8.01, 7.05 and 7.09, the immediately following sentence and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent may, with the consent of the Majority Holders, amend or supplement the Note Documents or waive compliance with any provision of the Note Documents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing sentence, but subject to Section 8.01 and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, without the consent of each affected Holder, no amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, or waiver of any provision of the Note Documents, may:

(i) reduce the principal, or extend the stated maturity, of any Note;

(ii) reduce the Redemption Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for any Note or change the times at which, or the circumstances under which, the Notes may or will be redeemed or repurchased by the Issuer;

(iii) reduce the rate, or extend the time for the payment, of interest on any Note;

 

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(iv) make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any Note other than as permitted or required by this Indenture or the Notes;

(v) impair the rights of any Holder set forth in Section 7.09 (as such Section is in effect on the Issue Date);

(vi) change the ranking of the Notes in any manner adverse to the Holders;

(vii) make any Note payable in money, or at a place of payment, other than that stated in this Indenture or the Note;

(viii) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to any amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification; or

(ix) make any change to any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification provision of this Indenture or the Notes that requires the consent of each affected Holder.

For the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section 8.02(A), no amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes, or waiver of any provision of this Indenture or the Notes, may change the amount or type of consideration due on any Note (whether on an Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or the Maturity Date or upon conversion, or otherwise), or the date(s) or time(s) such consideration is payable or deliverable, as applicable, without the consent of each affected Holder.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without the consent of the Supermajority Holders, no amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, or waiver of any provision of the Note Documents, may (i) subordinate the priority with respect to the Guarantees guaranteeing, or the Liens securing, the Note Obligations and then only to the extent not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreements; (ii) release all or substantially all of the Guarantees, or all or substantially all of the Collateral, except as otherwise may be provided or permitted under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Note Documents; or (iii) discharge any Note Party from its Note Obligations, in each case, except as otherwise may be provided or permitted under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Note Documents.

(B) Holders Need Not Approve the Particular Form of any Amendment. A consent of any Holder pursuant to this Section 8.02 need approve only the substance, and not necessarily the particular form, of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.

(C) Subsidiary Guarantors Bound. The Subsidiary Guarantors shall be bound by any supplemental indenture or amendment to the Note Documents entered into by the Issuer and the Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and may but shall not be required to execute any such supplemental indenture or amendment, other than in the case of a joinder of a new Subsidiary Guarantor the execution by such Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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Section 8.03. [RESERVED].

Section 8.04. NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS.

As soon as reasonably practicable after any amendment, supplement or waiver pursuant to Sections 8.01 or 8.02 becomes effective, the Issuer will send to the Holders and the Trustee notice that (A) describes the substance of such amendment, supplement or waiver in reasonable detail and (B) states the effective date thereof; provided, however, that the Issuer will not be required to provide such notice to the Holders if such amendment, supplement or waiver is included in a periodic or current report filed by the Issuer with the SEC within four (4) Business Days of its effectiveness. The failure to send, or the existence of any defect in, such notice will not impair or affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 8.05. REVOCATION, EFFECT AND SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS; SPECIAL RECORD DATES; ETC.

(A) Revocation and Effect of Consents. The consent of a Holder of a Note to an amendment, supplement or waiver will bind (and constitute the consent of) each subsequent Holder of any Note to the extent the same evidences any portion of the same indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note, subject to the right of any Holder of a Note to revoke (if not prohibited pursuant to Section 8.05(B)) any such consent with respect to such Note by delivering notice of revocation to the Trustee before the time such amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.

(B) Special Record Dates. The Issuer may, but is not required to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent or take any other action in connection with any amendment, supplement or waiver pursuant to this Article 8. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8.05(A), only Persons who are Holders as of such record date (or their duly designated proxies) will be entitled to give such consent, to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, regardless of whether such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date; provided, however, that no such consent will be valid or effective for more than one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days after such record date.

(C) Solicitation of Consents. For the avoidance of doubt, each reference in this Indenture or the Notes to the consent of a Holder will be deemed to include any such consent obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, any Notes.

(D) Effectiveness and Binding Effect. Each amendment or supplement to this Indenture, or waiver of any Default, Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, will become effective in accordance with its terms and, when it becomes effective with respect to any Note (or any portion thereof), will thereafter bind every Holder of such Note (or such portion).

Section 8.06. NOTATIONS AND EXCHANGES.

If any amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, then the Trustee or the Issuer may, in its discretion, require the Holder of such Note to deliver such Note to the Trustee so that the Trustee may place an appropriate notation prepared by the Issuer on such Note and return such Note to such Holder. Alternatively, at its discretion, the Issuer may, in exchange for such Note, issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a new Note that reflects the changed terms. The failure to make any appropriate notation or issue a new Note pursuant to this Section 8.06 will not impair or affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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Section 8.07. TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

The Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, will execute and deliver any amendment or supplement to the Note Documents authorized pursuant to this Article 8, provided, however, that the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, need not (but may, in their respective sole and absolute discretion) execute or deliver any such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents that adversely affects the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be. In executing any amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be will be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.02) will be fully protected in relying on, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, provided in accordance with Section 13.02 and in addition to the documents delivered pursuant to Section 13.03, each stating that (A) the execution and delivery of such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and the other applicable Note Documents; and (B) in the case of the Opinion of Counsel, such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents is valid, binding and enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture.

Article 9. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

Section 9.01. TERMINATION OF ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS.

(A) Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged, and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued under this Indenture, when:

(i) all Notes then outstanding (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.13) have (i) been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (ii) become due and payable (whether on a Redemption Date, a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Maturity Date, upon conversion or otherwise) for an amount of cash or Conversion Consideration, as applicable, that has been fixed;

(ii) the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor has caused there to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, or with the Paying Agent (or, with respect to Conversion Consideration, the Conversion Agent), in each case for the benefit of the Holders, or has otherwise caused there to be delivered to the Holders, cash (or, with respect to Notes to be converted, Conversion Consideration) sufficient to satisfy all amounts or other property due on all Notes then outstanding (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.13);

(iii) the Issuer has performed all other Note Obligations by it under this Indenture; and

(iv) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the conditions precedent to the discharge of this Indenture have been satisfied;

 

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provided, however, that Article 10 and Section 11.01 will survive such discharge and, until no Notes remain outstanding, Section 2.15 and the obligations of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent with respect to money or other property deposited with them will survive such discharge.

At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee will acknowledge the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(B) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

(i) The Issuer may at any time terminate:

(1) all of the Note Parties’ obligations under the Notes and this Indenture with respect to the Note Parties (“Legal Defeasance Option”), and

(2) the Note Parties’ obligations under Sections 3.03, 3.07, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18, 3.19 and 3.20, Article 6, and Sections 7.01(A)(vi), 7.01(A)(viii), 7.01(A)(ix), 7.01(A)(x) and 7.01(A)(xiii) (“Covenant Defeasance Option”).

(ii) The Issuer may exercise its Legal Defeasance Option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its Covenant Defeasance Option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) by exercising its Legal Defeasance Option or its Covenant Defeasance Option, the obligations of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligation.

(iii) If the Issuer exercises its Legal Defeasance Option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its Covenant Defeasance Option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 7.01(A)(vi), 7.01(A)(viii), 7.01(A)(ix), 7.01(A)(x) or 7.01(A)(xiii).

(iv) The Issuer may exercise its Legal Defeasance Option or its Covenant Defeasance Option only if:

(1) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants, investment bank or financial advisory firm expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

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(3) no Default specified in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) with respect to the Issuer shall have occurred or is continuing on the date of such deposit;

(4) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other material agreement or instrument binding on the Issuer;

(5) in the case of the Legal Defeasance Option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their maturity date within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer;

(6) such exercise does not impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(7) in the case of the Covenant Defeasance Option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

(8) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance of the Notes to be so defeased as contemplated by this Section 9.01(B) have been complied with; and

(9) before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article 4.

 

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(v) Article 10 and Section 11.01 will survive any defeasance and, until no Notes remain outstanding, Section 2.15 and the obligations of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent with respect to money or other property deposited with them will survive such defeasance.

(vi) At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee will acknowledge the defeasance of those obligations that the Issuer terminates.

Section 9.02. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.

The Trustee shall hold in trust money (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article 9. The Trustee shall apply the deposited money through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

Section 9.03. REPAYMENT TO ISSUER.

Subject to applicable unclaimed property law, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent will promptly notify the Issuer if there exists (and, at the Issuer’s request, promptly deliver to the Issuer) any cash, Conversion Consideration or other property held by any of them for payment or delivery on the Notes that remain unclaimed two (2) years after the date on which such payment or delivery was due. After such delivery to the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent will have no further liability to any Holder with respect to such cash, Conversion Consideration or other property, and Holders entitled to the payment or delivery of such cash, Conversion Consideration or other property must look to the Issuer for payment as a general creditor of the Issuer.

Section 9.04. REINSTATEMENT.

If the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Conversion Agent is unable to apply any cash or other property deposited with it pursuant to Section 9.01 because of any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or other governmental authority that enjoins, restrains or otherwise prohibits such application, then the discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Section 9.01 will be rescinded; provided, however, that if the Issuer thereafter pays or delivers any cash or other property due on the Notes to the Holders thereof, then the Issuer will be subrogated to the rights of such Holders to receive such cash or other property from the cash or other property, if any, held by the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Conversion Agent, as applicable.

Article 10. TRUSTEE

Section 10.01. DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

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(B) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel that are provided to the Trustee and conform to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(C) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its negligent action or negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph will not limit the effect of Section 10.01(B);

(ii) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 7.06.

(D) Each provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (A), (B) and (C) of this Section 10.01, regardless of whether such provision so expressly provides.

(E) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability.

(F) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it, except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds, except to the extent required by law.

Section 10.02. RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document that it believes to be genuine and signed or presented by the proper Person, and the Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in such document.

(B) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel; and the advice of such counsel, or any Opinion of Counsel, will constitute full and complete authorization of the Trustee to take or omit to take any action in good faith in reliance thereon without liability.

 

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(C) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any such agent appointed with due care.

(D) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith and that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture.

(E) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.

(F) The Trustee need not exercise any rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holder unless such Holder has offered the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense that it may incur in complying with such request or direction.

(G) The Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any punitive, special, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(H) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and will be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities under this Indenture (including in its capacity as Conversion Agent), the Collateral Agent and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act under this Indenture, including the Conversion Agent; provided, however, that (i) the Collateral Agent and each other agent, custodian, and other Person employed to act under this Indenture shall be liable only to the extent of its gross negligence or willful misconduct and (ii) in and during an Event of Default, only the Trustee (in its capacity as such) and not any other Agent (including for the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent) shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

(I) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated in this Indenture will not be construed as duties.

(J) Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar will 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 Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants, members of the Depositary or owners of beneficial interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements of this Indenture.

(K) Except with respect to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes payable by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.02 and any Default or Event of Default information contained in the Officer’s Certificate delivered to it pursuant to Section 3.06(B), the Trustee will have no duty to monitor the Issuer’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

 

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(L) The Trustee shall at no time have any responsibility or liability for or in respect to the legality, validity or enforceability of any Collateral or any arrangement or agreement between the Issuer and any other Person with respect thereto, or the legality, validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of any security interest created in any of the Collateral or maintenance of any perfection and priority, or for or with respect to the sufficiency of the Collateral following an Event of Default. The Trustee shall have no obligation to give, execute, deliver, file, record, authorize or obtain any financing statements, notices, instruments, documents, agreements, consents or other papers as shall be necessary to (i) create, preserve, perfect or validate the security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents or enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights under the Security Documents with respect to such pledge and security interest. In addition, the Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability (i) in connection with the acts or omissions of the Issuer in respect of the foregoing.

(M) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice at the Corporate Trust Office of any event which is in fact such a default, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture and states on its face that a Default or Event of Default has occurred.

(N) Whether or not expressly incorporated therein, the Trustee shall have the benefit of all of the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee under this Indenture when acting under any other Note Document.

Section 10.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of any Note and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any of its Affiliates with the same rights that it would have if it were not Trustee; provided, however, that if the Trustee acquires a “conflicting interest” (within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), then it must eliminate such conflict within ninety (90) days or resign as Trustee. Each Note Agent will have the same rights and duties as the Trustee under this Section 10.03.

Section 10.04. TRUSTEES DISCLAIMER.

The Trustee will not be (A) responsible for, and makes no representation as to, the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes or Note Documents; (B) accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture; (C) responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee; and (D) responsible for any statement or recital in this Indenture, the Notes or Note Documents or any other document relating to the sale of the Notes or this Indenture, other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

Section 10.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs, then the Trustee will send Holders a notice of such Default or Event of Default within ninety (90) days after it occurs or, if it is not actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at such time, promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) after it becomes known to a Responsible Officer; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any

 

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Note, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and for so long as it in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of the Holders. The Trustee will not to be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, or knowledge of any cure of any Default or Event of Default, unless written notice of such Default or Event of Default, or of such cure of any Default or Event of Default, has been given by the Issuer or any Holder to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and such notice states on its face that a Default or Event of Default has occurred.

Section 10.06. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY.

(A) The Issuer will, from time to time, pay the Trustee and the Collateral Agent reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and the other Note Documents and services under this Indenture and the other Note Documents. The Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. In addition to the compensation for the Trustee’s and Collateral Agent’s services, the Issuer will reimburse the Trustee and the Collateral Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it under this Indenture, including the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s agents and counsel.

(B) The Issuer will indemnify the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, suits, actions, proceedings at law or in equity, and any other costs, fees or expenses incurred by the Indemnified Parties arising out of or in connection with the acceptance and administration of its duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture and the Note Documents against the Issuer (including this Section 10.06) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, except to the extent any such loss, liability, suit, action, proceeding at law or in equity or other cost, fee or expense may be attributable to such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, will promptly notify the Issuer of any third party claim for which it may seek indemnity, but the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s failure to so notify the Issuer will not relieve the Issuer of its obligations under this Section 10.06(B). The Issuer will defend such claim, and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent will cooperate in such defense. If the Trustee or the Collateral Agent is advised by counsel that it may have defenses available to it that are in conflict with the defenses available to the Issuer, or that there is an actual or potential conflict of interest, then the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may retain separate counsel, and the Issuer will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent incurred in evaluating whether such a conflict exists). The Issuer need not pay for any settlement of any such claim made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

(C) The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 10.06 will survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, the repayment of the Notes and the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture.

 

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(D) To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section 10.06, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of, or interest on, particular Notes, which lien will survive the discharge of this Indenture.

(E) If the Trustee or the Collateral Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default pursuant to Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) occurs, then such expenses and the compensation for such services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration for purposes of priority under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 10.07. REPLACEMENT OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.07, a resignation or removal of the Trustee, and the appointment of a successor Trustee, will become effective only upon such successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 10.07.

(B) The Trustee may resign at any time and be discharged from the trust created by this Indenture by so notifying the Issuer. The Majority Holders may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the requested date of removal. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any series of Notes after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes of such series for at least six (6) months;

(ii) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 10.09;

(iii) the Trustee is adjudged to be bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(iv) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(v) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(C) If the Trustee resigns or is removed, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, then (i) the Issuer will promptly appoint a successor Trustee; and (ii) at any time within one (1) year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Majority Holders may appoint a successor Trustee to replace such successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

(D) If a successor Trustee does not take office within sixty (60) days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, then the retiring Trustee (at the expense of the Issuer), the Issuer or the Holders of at least ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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(E) If the Trustee, after written request by a Holder of at least six (6) months, fails to comply with Section 10.09, then such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(F) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer, upon which notice the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will send notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will, upon payment of all amounts due to it under this Indenture, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, which property will, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to the lien provided for in Section 10.06(D).

(G) For as long as any First-Priority Obligations remain outstanding, the successor Trustee shall concurrently with its appointment as the successor Trustee accede as a party to the Intercreditor Agreements.

Section 10.08. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, sells or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, then such corporation will become the successor Trustee without any further act.

Section 10.09. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION.

There will at all times be a Trustee under this Indenture that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia, that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. Neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary Guarantor nor any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall serve as Trustee under this Indenture.

Section 10.10. REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act (including, without limitation, Sections 313(a), (b) and (c)) at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty (60) days after each July 15 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such July 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve (12) months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted).

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with the SEC and with the Issuer.

 

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Article 11. COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 11.01. COLLATERAL AGENT.

(A) The Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby appoint U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association to act as Collateral Agent, and each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof, irrevocably consents and agrees to such appointment on its behalf. The Collateral Agent shall have the privileges, powers and immunities as set forth in this Indenture and the Security Documents. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(B) The Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that the Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral on behalf of and for the benefit of all of the Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, in each case pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and that the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of all the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, and that the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents in respect of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and actions that may be taken thereunder. The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in the Collateral which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.

(C) Each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof, irrevocably consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure, exercises of remedies and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, agrees to the appointment of the Collateral Agent and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent (i) to enter into the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, and perform its obligations and exercise its rights, powers and discretions under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance therewith, (ii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and (iii) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

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(D) The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder or under any Security Documents or Intercreditor Agreements to which it is a party, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Collateral Agent shall have no liability for any action taken, or errors in judgment made, in good faith by it or any of its officers, employees or agents, unless it shall have been grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

(E) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to seek and shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Majority Holders as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Except as otherwise provided in the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Majority Holders and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Majority Holders with respect to any action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from taking such action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Majority Holders, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(F) The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee or the Majority Holders (subject to this Section 11.01(F)), subject to the terms of the Security Documents.

(G) Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Affiliates shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof.

(H) If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Note Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and to the extent such proceeds or payments are permitted to be paid to the Trustee or the Holders under the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article 7, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

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(I) Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have any obligation whatsoever to any of the Holders or to the Trustee, in the case of the Collateral Agent, to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all of the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the value, genuineness, validity, ownership, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreements other than to exercise such rights, authorities and powers pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Majority Holders or as otherwise provided in the Security Documents. Further to the foregoing and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any Security Document or any Intercreditor Agreement, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any Uniform Commercial Code financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent be responsible for, or makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Security Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

(J) The Collateral Agent shall exercise reasonable care in the custody of any Collateral in its possession or control or any income thereon. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which they accord similar property held for its own benefit and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in value of any of the Collateral, including, without limitation, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith. The Collateral Agent shall be permitted to use overnight carriers to transmit possessory collateral and shall be not liable for any items lost or damages in transmit.

(K) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written request of the Issuer signed by an Officer (a “Security Document Order”), the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Security Document to be executed after the Issue Date. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Security Document Order referred to in, this Section 11.01(K), (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Security Document and (iii) certify that all covenants and conditions precedent, if any to the execution and delivery of the Security Document have been compiled with; provided that in no event shall the Collateral Agent be required to enter into a Security Document that it reasonably determines adversely affects the Collateral Agent. The Holders, through their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Security Documents.

 

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(L) Upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of a Security Document Order, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Intercreditor Agreement to be entered into after the Issue Date. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is an Intercreditor Agreement referred to in this Section 11.01(L), (ii) certify that such Intercreditor Agreement complies with the terms of this Indenture and the Note Documents and that all covenants and conditions precedent, if any, under this Indenture and the Note Documents to such execution and delivery have been complied with and (iii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Intercreditor Agreement; provided that in no event shall the Collateral Agent be required to enter into any intercreditor agreement if it reasonably determines that such document adversely affects the Collateral Agent. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such intercreditor agreements and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on such Security Document Order.

(M) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.15 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(N) In acting under this Indenture or any other Note Document, the Collateral Agent shall have all the rights and protections provided hereunder and in the Note Documents as well as the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee (including its rights to be compensated, reimbursed and indemnified under Section 10.06). For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Collateral Agent hereunder, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified prior to taking action, shall survive the satisfaction, discharge or termination of this Indenture or its earlier termination, resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent, in such capacity.

(O) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the Mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has reasonably determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

(P) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or

 

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property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Security Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent or the Trustee shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral. In the event that the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §9601, et seq., or otherwise cause the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to incur liability under CERCLA or any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign as the Collateral Agent or the Trustee or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other Person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to the discharge, release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment. If at any time it is necessary or advisable for property to be possessed, owned, operated or managed by any Person (including the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) other than the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors, subject to the terms of the Security Documents, the Majority Holders shall direct the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to appoint an appropriately qualified Person (excluding the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) who they shall designate to possess, own, operate or manage, as the case may be, the property.

(Q) Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to effect or maintain insurance or to renew any policies of insurance or to make any determination or inquire as to the sufficiency of any policies of insurance carried by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or to report, or make or file claims or proof of loss for, any loss or damage insured against or that may occur, or to keep itself informed or advised as to the payment of any taxes or assessments, or to require any such payment to be made.

(R) Without limiting the foregoing, with respect to any Collateral located outside of the United States (“Foreign Collateral”), the Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to directly enforce, or exercise rights and remedies in respect of, or otherwise exercise any judicial action or appear before any court in any jurisdiction outside of the United States. To the extent the Majority Holders determine that it is necessary or advisable in connection with any enforcement or exercise of rights with respect to Foreign Collateral to exercise any judicial action or appear before any such court, the Majority Holders shall be entitled to direct the Collateral Agent to appoint a local agent for such purpose (subject to the receipt of such protections, security and indemnities as the Collateral Agent shall determine in its sole discretion to protect the Collateral Agent from liability).

 

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(S) Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for the actions or omissions of the any other agent under the Intercreditor Agreements, nor shall the Trustee or Collateral Agent be obligated at any time to indemnify any person in connection with the exercise of any remedy under the Security Documents.

(T) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by notice to the Trustee and the Issuer, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent may be removed by the Issuer at any time, upon thirty days written notice to the Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns or is removed under this Indenture, the Issuer shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed and has accepted such appointment within 30 days after the Collateral Agent gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Agent may (at the expense of the Issuer), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Agent or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring or removed Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder, the provisions of this Section 11.01 (and Section 10.06) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring or removed Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation or removal be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(U) If the Collateral Agent consolidates, mergers, converts into or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to another corporation, such successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Collateral Agent.

(V) Permissive rights of the Collateral Agent to do things enumerated in this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements shall not be construed as a duty.

(W) Nothing in this Indenture shall require the Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers hereunder.

(X) The Collateral Agent 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 the Holders, unless the Holders have offered to the Collateral Agent security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with such direction or request.

(Y) In no event shall the Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Collateral Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

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(Z) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 13.03. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely on and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the advice of counsel or other professionals retained or consulted by the Collateral Agent.

(AA) The Collateral Agent may act through attorneys or agents and shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of any such attorney or agent appointed with due care.

(BB) The Collateral Agent shall not be charged with knowledge of (i) any events or other information, or (ii) any default under this Indenture or any other agreement unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have actual knowledge thereof.

(CC) The Collateral Agent may conclusively rely and shall 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 them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties, not only as to due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein.

(DD) The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority; acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; terrorism; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions; or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility.

(EE) The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 7.07. The Majority Holders may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Collateral Agent or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Collateral Agent. However, the Collateral Agent may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or the Notes, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or that the Collateral Agent determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (provided that the Collateral Agent shall not have an affirmative duty to determine whether any such action is unduly prejudicial) or would involve the Collateral Agent in personal liability; provided, however, that the Collateral Agent may take any other action deemed proper by the Collateral Agent that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses) that may be caused by taking or not taking such action.

(FF) The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law).

 

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(GG) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary set forth herein, whenever reference is made herein or in any other Note Document to any discretionary action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Collateral Agent or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Collateral Agent, (i) such provision shall refer to the Collateral Agent exercising each of the foregoing at the instruction of the Majority Holders (or such other number or percentage of Holders as is required by the Note Documents) and (ii) it is understood that in all cases, the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any such action if it shall not have received written instruction, advice or concurrence from the Majority Holders (or such other number or percentage of Holders as shall be expressly provided for in any Note Document) in respect of such action.

Section 11.02. DELEGATION OF DUTIES.

(A) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent (each, an “Agent”) may execute any of their respective duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof)) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, attorneys-in-fact or Subagent selected by it with reasonable care. Each Agent may also from time to time, when it deems it to be necessary or desirable, appoint one or more trustees, co-trustees, collateral co-agents, collateral subagents or attorneys-in-fact (each, a “Subagent”) with respect to all or any part of the Collateral; provided, that no such Subagent shall be authorized to take any action with respect to any Collateral unless and except to the extent expressly authorized in writing by the applicable Agent. Should any instrument in writing from the Issuer or any other Note Party be required by any Subagent so appointed by an Agent to more fully or certainly vest in and confirm to such Subagent such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Issuer shall, or shall cause such Note Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by such Agent. If any Subagent, or successor thereto, shall become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Subagent, to the extent permitted by law, shall automatically vest in and be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent until the appointment of a new Subagent.

Section 11.03. SECURITY DOCUMENTS.

(A) The Holders and the other Secured Parties authorize the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to release any Collateral or Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with Section 11.05 or Section 12.04 or if approved, authorized or ratified in accordance with Article 8.

(B) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby authorize and instruct the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to, without any further consent of any Holders or any other Secured Party (other than any consent of the Holders to the form of any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, to the extent required by Article 8 or Article 14), enter into (or acknowledge and consent to) or amend, renew, extend, supplement, restate, replace, waive or otherwise modify (i) the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement or (iii) any

 

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Additional Intercreditor Agreement, in each case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness or other obligations that is to be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is expressly permitted (including with respect to priority) under this Indenture and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations to the provisions thereof. The Holders and the other Secured Parties agree that (x) the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer as to whether any such other Liens are expressly permitted and that all covenants and conditions precedent to the execution of such Intercreditor Agreement have been complied with and (y) any Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in compliance with the terms of this Indenture shall be binding on the Secured Parties, and each Holder and the other Secured Parties hereby agrees that it will take no actions contrary to the provisions of, if entered into in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and if applicable, any Intercreditor Agreement. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to any provider of any Indebtedness or other obligations expressly permitted by Section 3.12 to extend credit to the Note Parties and such persons are intended third-party beneficiaries of such provisions.

Section 11.04. AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN.

(A) Each Holder, by its acceptance of Notes, consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document and each Intercreditor Agreement as originally in effect and as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, authorizes and directs the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, the Security Documents and each Intercreditor Agreement permitted hereunder and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to bind the holders of Notes and other holders of Note Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and each Intercreditor Agreement permitted hereunder and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

(B) Subject to the provisions of each Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the holders of Notes any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

(C) Subject to the provisions of Article 7, Section 10.01 and Section 10.02, each Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders, direct, on behalf of the Holders, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(i) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the Liens securing the Note Obligations;

(ii) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(iii) collect and receive payment of any and all Note Obligations.

 

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(D) Subject to the terms of each Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the Liens securing the Note Obligations or the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

(E) Notwithstanding anything contrary under this Indenture, the Holders are deemed to have consented to, and shall be deemed to have directed the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent (as applicable), to execute and deliver any of the following amendments, waivers and other modifications to the Note Documents, in each case, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 8.07, Section 13.02 and Section 13.03:

(i) to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing any Indebtedness replacing the applicable series of First Lien Notes permitted to be incurred under the First-Priority Debt Documents that represent First-Priority Obligations shall be senior to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Note Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, which obligations shall continue to be secured on a second-priority basis on the Collateral;

(ii) to give effect to any amendment, waiver or consent to any of the First-Priority Debt Documents, to the extent applicable to the Collateral (including the release of any Liens on Collateral), that applies automatically to the comparable Security Documents with respect to the security interest of the Holders in such Collateral pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements; and

(iii) upon any cancellation, repayment, redemption or termination of the First Lien Notes and all other First-Priority Obligations without a replacement thereof, and to the extent the Note Obligations have not been discharged in full in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements, to establish that the Liens on the Collateral securing any Note Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall become first priority perfected Lien, except as set forth below under Section 11.05.

 

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Section 11.05. RELEASE OR SUBORDINATION OF LIENS.

(A) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Note Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released: (i) in full upon the occurrence of the Termination Date subject to Section 11.05(D); (ii) upon the Disposition of such Collateral by any Note Party to a person that is not (and is not required to become) a Note Party in a transaction not prohibited by this Indenture (and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) to the extent that such Collateral comprises property leased to a Note Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iv) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Holders (or such other percentage of the Holders whose consent may be required in accordance with Article 8), (v) to the extent that the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture (and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry), (vi) as required by the Trustee to effect any Disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents and (vii) as required by the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement. The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Note Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically subordinated to the Liens securing other Indebtedness or other obligations to the extent expressly contemplated by this Indenture and required by any Intercreditor Agreement permitted by this Indenture. Any such release or subordination shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Note Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Note Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Note Parties, including the proceeds of any Disposition, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Note Documents.

(B) [Reserved].

(C) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby authorize the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence and confirm the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor or the release or subordination of any Collateral pursuant to Section 11.03 and the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.05 and to return to the Issuer all title documents (including share certificates (if any)) held by it in respect of any Collateral, all without the further consent or joinder of any Holder or any other Secured Party. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Note Document relating to any such Collateral or Subsidiary Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be made. In connection with any release or subordination hereunder, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall promptly (and the Secured Parties hereby authorize the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Issuer and at the Issuer’s expense in connection with the release or subordination of any Liens or release of Guarantees created by any Note Document in respect of such Subsidiary, property or asset; provided that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate containing such certifications as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall reasonably request (and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein

 

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or any other Note Document, on the Termination Date, upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral (including returning to the Issuer all share certificates (if any) held by it in respect of any Collateral), and to release all obligations under any Note Document, whether or not on the date of such release there may be any contingent indemnification obligations or expense reimbursement claims not then due; provided that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer containing such certifications as the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request (and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry).

(D) Any such release of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such Guaranteed Obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. The Issuer agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (and their respective representatives) in connection with taking such actions to release security interest in all Collateral and all obligations under the Note Documents as contemplated by this Section 11.05(D).

Section 11.06. POWERS EXERCISABLE BY RECEIVER OR TRUSTEE.

(A) In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 11 upon the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the release, subordination, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 11; and if the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent.

Section 11.07. RELEASE UPON TERMINATION OF THE ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS.

(A) In the event (i) that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that all the Note Obligations (other than any contingent indemnification obligations or expense reimburse claims not then due) have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Note Obligations, and all such Note Obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a discharge of this Indenture occurs under Article 9, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the Holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary at the request and expense of the Issuer to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

 

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Section 11.08. RIGHT TO REALIZE ON COLLATERAL AND ENFORCE GUARANTEES.

(A) Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, in case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Note Party, (i) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of any Note Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuer) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise (A) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of any or all of the Note Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Holders and the Trustee and any Subagents allowed in such judicial proceeding, and (B) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and (ii) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under the Note Documents. Nothing contained herein 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 Note Obligations or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

(B) Anything contained in any of the Note Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party hereby agree that (a) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Subsidiary Guarantee, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Trustee, on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Security Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent, and (b) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Collateral Agent or any Holder may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Note Party or Note Parties in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Supermajority Holders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Note Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other Disposition.

 

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Section 11.09. PARALLEL DEBT (COVENANT TO PAY THE COLLATERAL AGENT).

(A) The Issuer and, subject to Section 12.06, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Collateral Agent amounts equal to any amounts owing from time to time by the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor to any Secured Party under any Note Document as and when those amounts are due and payable.

(B) The Issuer, each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral Agent acknowledges that the obligations of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 11.09(A) above are several and are separate and independent from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the corresponding obligations of the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor to any Secured Party under any Note Document (its “Corresponding Debt”), nor shall it constitute the Collateral Agent and any Note Party as joint creditors of any Corresponding Debt, nor shall the amounts for which the Issuer or each Subsidiary Guarantor is liable under Section 11.09(A) above (its “Parallel Debt”) be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt; provided that:

(i) The Parallel Debt of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be decreased and the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment to the extent that its Corresponding Debt has been paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged; and

(ii) The Corresponding Debt of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be decreased and the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment to the extent that its Parallel Debt has been paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged.

(C) For the purposes of this Section 11.09, the Collateral Agent acts in its own name and not as a trustee, and its claims in respect of the Parallel Debt shall not be held on trust and instead shall be owed to it in its individual capacity. The Collateral granted under the Security Documents to the Collateral Agent to secure the Parallel Debt is granted to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as Parallel Debt Creditor and shall not be held on trust.

(D) All moneys received or recovered by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 11.09, and all amounts received or recovered by the Collateral Agent from or by the enforcement of any Collateral granted to secure the Parallel Debt, shall be applied in accordance with this Indenture.

Article 12. GUARANTEES

Section 12.01. SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.

(A) Subject to this Article 12, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees, on a senior basis, as primary obligors and not as a surety, to each the Collateral Agent for the benefit of each Holder (and its successors and assigns) of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and each of the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Documents and/or the Note Obligations of the Issuer:

(i) that the principal of, interest on, or any other amount payable to the Holders, under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest (including but not limited to any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of applicable Bankruptcy Law after any insolvency proceeding), on the Notes, if any, if lawful; and

 

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(ii) that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or the payment of any other amount payable to the Holders, the same shall be promptly paid in full when due (such obligations in clauses (i) and (ii) being herein collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”).

(B) Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Subsidiary Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the Guaranteed Obligations in the same manner and to the same extent as the Note Obligations.

(C) The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree that their Guaranteed Obligations shall be absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety of Subsidiary Guarantor, all to the fullest extent permitted by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder which remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above, to the fullest extent permitted by law:

(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Subsidiary Guarantors, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(ii) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

(iii) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Indenture, Notes, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(iv) any Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of any Holder, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected; or

(v) the release of any other Subsidiary Guarantor.

(D) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Note Obligations.

 

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(E) Until terminated in accordance with Section 12.05, each Subsidiary Guarantee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee or other similar officer be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’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 of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

(F) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations may be accelerated as provided in Section 7.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances in Section 7.02) for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Section 7.02, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee. The Subsidiary Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Subsidiary Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees.

(G) Each Subsidiary Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in enforcing any rights under the Note Documents.

(H) Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Section 12.01; provided that no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuer under this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Documents shall have been paid in full in cash.

(I) Each payment to be made by a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

(J) Each Subsidiary Guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held in connection with the Note Documents or any of them.

 

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Section 12.02. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY.

(A) To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 12.01, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture) shall be executed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor by one of its authorized officers.

(B) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 12.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee on the Notes. If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates a Note, the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be valid nevertheless.

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

Section 12.03. [RESERVED].

Section 12.04. RELEASES OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.

(A) The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released:

(i) in connection with (x) any disposition (including by way of merger or consolidation) of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor (or the Equity Interests of the direct parent of such Subsidiary Guarantor) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Note Party, to the extent such sale is permitted under any First-Priority Debt Documents and is not in violation of Section 3.16 or (y) any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of that Subsidiary Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise solely to the extent that such sale or other disposition is permitted pursuant to Section 6.01, in each case, only provided that the applicable guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor under First-Priority Debt Documents is also released under any First-Priority Debt Documents substantially at the same time;

(ii) the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that no Event of Default occurs as a result thereof or has occurred or is continuing;

(iii) upon exercise of the Legal Defeasance Option or Covenant Defeasance Option, or the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the other Note Documents, in each case in accordance with Article 9;

(iv) if such Subsidiary Guarantor is an Immaterial Subsidiary (or would be deemed an Immaterial Subsidiary (as defined in the First Lien Notes Indenture)) under the First Lien Notes Indenture; provided that no Event of Default occurs as a result thereof or has occurred or is continuing;

 

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(v) upon the occurrence of the Termination Date subject to Section 11.05(D);

(vi) if such Subsidiary Guarantor is an Excluded Subsidiary or upon consummation of any transaction not prohibited hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary Guarantor ceasing to constitute a Subsidiary or otherwise becoming an Excluded Subsidiary; or

(vii) in accordance with the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement.

(B) Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any of the conditions described in Section 12.04(A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) has occurred and the conditions precedent to such transactions provided for in this Indenture have been complied with, the Trustee shall promptly execute any documents reasonably requested by the Issuer in order to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest, premium, if any, on, the Notes and for the other obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 12.

(C) Further, the Subsidiary Guarantees are not convertible and will automatically terminate when the Notes are all converted in full in accordance with Article 5.

Section 12.05. INSTRUMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONEY.

(A) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article 12 constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Holder (to the extent that the Holder is otherwise entitled to exercise rights and remedies hereunder) or the Trustee, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213 to the extent permitted thereunder.

Section 12.06. LIMITATION ON SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR LIABILITY.

(A) Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any bankruptcy law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law or any comparable laws in any other jurisdiction to the extent applicable to any Subsidiary Guarantee. The Guaranteed Obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the Guaranteed Obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law or any comparable laws in any other jurisdiction and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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Section 12.07. “TRUSTEETO INCLUDE PAYING AGENT.

(A) In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article 12 shall in each case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully and for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article 12 in place of the Trustee.

Article 13. MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01. NOTICES.

Any notice or communication by any Note Party or the Trustee, Collateral Agent and Note Agent to the other must be provided in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given in writing if delivered in person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission, electronic transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic communication or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or to the other’s address, which initially is as follows:

If to any Note Party:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, North Carolina 27703

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legaldept@wolfspeed.com

If to the Trustee or Collateral Agent:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

333 Commerce Street, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Wolfspeed, Inc.

Facsimile No.: 615-251-0737

Any Note Party, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, by notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses (including facsimile numbers and electronic addresses) for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: (A) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (B) five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (C) when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile, electronic transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic communication; and (D) the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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All notices or communications required to be made to a Holder pursuant to this Indenture must be made in writing and will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing if mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to its address shown on the Register; provided, however, that a notice or communication to a Holder of a Global Note may, but need not, instead be sent pursuant to the Depositary Procedures (in which case, such notice will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing). The failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder, or any defect in such notice or communication, will not affect its sufficiency with respect to any other Holder.

If the Trustee is then acting as the Depositary’s custodian for the Notes, then, at the reasonable request of the Issuer to the Trustee, the Trustee will cause any notice prepared by the Issuer to be sent to any Holder(s) pursuant to the Depositary Procedures, provided such request is evidenced in a Issuer Order delivered, together with the text of such notice, to the Trustee at least two (2) Business Days before the date such notice is to be so sent. For the avoidance of doubt, such Issuer Order need not be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee will not have any liability relating to the contents of any notice that it sends to any Holder pursuant to any such Issuer Order.

If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it will be deemed to have been duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, (A) whenever any provision of this Indenture requires a party to send notice to another party, no such notice need be sent if the sending party and the recipient are the same Person acting in different capacities; and (B) whenever any provision of this Indenture requires a party to send notice to more than one receiving party, and each receiving party is the same Person acting in different capacities, then only one such notice need be sent to such Person.

Facsimile, documents executed, scanned and transmitted electronically and electronic signatures, including those created or transmitted through a software platform or application, will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Indenture and all matters and agreements related thereto, with such facsimile, scanned and electronic signatures having the same legal effect as original signatures. The parties agree that this Indenture or any instrument, agreement or document necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or related hereto or thereto (including addendums, amendments, notices, instructions, communications with respect to the delivery of securities or the wire transfer of funds or other communications) (“Executed Documentation”) may be accepted, executed or agreed to through the use of an electronic signature in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations in effect from time to time applicable to the effectiveness and enforceability of electronic signatures. Any Executed Documentation accepted, executed or agreed to in conformity with such laws, rules and regulations will be binding on all parties to this Indenture to the same extent as if it were physically executed and each party hereby consents to the use of any third- party electronic signature capture service providers as may be reasonably chosen by a signatory hereto or thereto. When the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a Note Agent acts on any Executed Documentation sent by electronic transmission, the Trustee, Collateral Agent or Note Agent will not be responsible or liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from its reliance upon and compliance with such Executed Documentation, notwithstanding that such Executed Documentation (A) may not be an authorized or authentic communication of the party involved or in the form such party sent

 

- 163 -


or intended to send (whether due to fraud, distortion or otherwise); or (B) may conflict with, or be inconsistent with, a subsequent written instruction or communication; it is understood and agreed that the Trustee, Collateral Agent and each Note Agent will conclusively presume that Executed Documentation that purports to have been sent by an authorized officer of a Person has been sent by an authorized officer of such Person. The party providing Executed Documentation through electronic transmission or otherwise with electronic signatures agrees to assume all risks arising out of such electronic methods, including the risk of the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a Note Agent acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 13.02. DELIVERY OF OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee or to the Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture or the other Note Documents (other than with respect to clause (B) below, the initial authentication of Notes under this Indenture), the Issuer will furnish to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent:

(A) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent that complies with Section 13.03 and states that, in the opinion of the signatory thereto, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture and, as applicable, the other Note Documents, relating to such action have been satisfied; and

(B) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that complies with Section 13.03 and states that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants, if any, have been satisfied.

Section 13.03. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL.

Upon any application or request by the Issuer to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to take or refrain from taking any action under any provision of this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent such certificates and opinions as may be required under the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act made a part of this Indenture and hereunder. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an Officer of the Issuer, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Each Officer’s Certificate (other than an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 3.06) or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture or the other Note Documents will include:

(A) a statement that the signatory making such certificate or opinion thereto has read such covenant or condition;

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

 

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

(D) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such signatory, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Officer of the Issuer or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous.

Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

Section 13.04. RULES BY THE TRUSTEE, THE REGISTRAR AND THE PAYING AGENT.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 13.05. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS.

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of any Note Party, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of such Note Party under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting any Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

Section 13.06. GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE NOTE PARTIES, THE TRUSTEE AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE HOLDERS BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES.

 

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Section 13.07. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.

Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture or the transactions contemplated by this Indenture may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America or the courts of the State of New York, in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in Section 13.01 will be effective service of process for any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court. Each of the Note Parties, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and Holders (by its acceptance of any Note) irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 13.08. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.

Neither this Indenture nor the Notes may be used to interpret any other indenture, note, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person, and no such indenture, note, loan or debt agreement may be used to interpret this Indenture or the Notes.

Section 13.09. SUCCESSORS.

All agreements of each Note Parties in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture will bind their respective successors.

Section 13.10. FORCE MAJEURE.

The Trustee, Collateral Agent and each Note Agent will not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility under this Indenture, the Notes or any other Note Document by reason of any occurrence beyond its control (including any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, act of terrorism or unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).

Section 13.11. U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT.

In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Terrorism Law”), the Trustee, Collateral Agent and the Note Agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee, Collateral Agent and/or the Note Agents. Accordingly, each of the Note Parties (including any Person that executes an agreement to become a Subsidiary Guarantor) agrees to provide to the Trustee, Collateral Agent or any of the Note Agents (or any additional party that executes an agreement to become party to this Indenture as a trustee, a collateral trustee or a note agent) upon its request from time to time such documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any of the Note Agents (or any such additional party) to comply with Applicable Terrorism Law.

 

- 166 -


Section 13.12. CALCULATIONS.

The Issuer will be responsible for making all calculations called for under this Indenture or the Notes, including, but not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Price, the Daily Conversion Value, the Daily Cash Amount, the Daily Share Amount, accrued interest on the Notes, the Conversion Rate and the Conversion Price.

The Issuer will make all calculations in good faith, and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on all Holders. The Issuer will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Issuer’s calculations without independent verification. The Issuer will promptly forward a copy of each such schedule to a Holder upon its written request therefor.

Section 13.13. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Indenture or the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Indenture or the Notes will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.14. COUNTERPARTS.

This Indenture and the Notes may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture or the Notes and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF transmission or similar imaged document transmitted by electronic transmission (including .jpeg file or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, including Orbit, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, or any other similar platform identified by the Issuer and reasonably available at no undue burden or expense to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent) shall be deemed original signatures for all purposes hereunder and shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture or the Notes as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture or Notes for all purposes. Any electronically signed document delivered via email from a person purporting to be an authorized officer shall be considered signed or executed by such authorized officer on behalf of the applicable Person. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such electronic signature without any liability with respect thereto.

Section 13.15. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.

The table of contents and the headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture.

 

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Section 13.16. WITHHOLDING TAXES.

Each Holder of a Note agrees, and each beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note by its acquisition of such interest is deemed to agree, that if the Issuer or other applicable withholding agent (including the Trustee) is required by applicable law to pay withholding taxes or backup withholding on behalf of a Holder or beneficial owner as a result of an adjustment or the non-occurrence of an adjustment to the Conversion Rate, and the Issuer or such other withholding agent pays such taxes to the applicable taxing authority, then the Issuer or such other withholding agent, as applicable, may, at its option, withhold such amounts paid on behalf of the Holder or beneficial owner from or set off such payments against, payments of cash or the delivery of other Conversion Consideration on such Note, or any payments on the Issuer’s Common Stock or sales proceeds received by, or other funds or assets of, the Holder or beneficial owner of such Note.

Article 14. INTERCREDITOR ARRANGEMENTS

Section 14.01. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS.

(A) The Indenture is entered into with the benefit of, and subject to the terms of, the Intercreditor Agreements and each Holder, by accepting a Note, shall be deemed to have agreed to, and accepted the terms and conditions of, the Intercreditor Agreements, to have authorized the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the Intercreditor Agreements on its behalf, and to have agreed that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be bound by the Intercreditor Agreements, as well as this Indenture. The rights, duties and benefits of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are governed by this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent any provision of any of the Intercreditor Agreements conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and be controlling.

Section 14.02. ADDITIONAL INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS.

(A) At the request of the Issuer, at the time of, or prior to, the incurrence of any Indebtedness that is expressly permitted under this Indenture to share the Collateral or that is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, the Issuer, the relevant Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent will (without the consent of Holders), to the extent authorized and permitted under the then-existing applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s), enter into such amendments, supplements or agreements as necessary to add the obligees of such Indebtedness and/or any representative(s) thereof as party to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s), or an additional intercreditor agreement (each such agreement, an “Additional Intercreditor Agreement”); provided that such amendments, supplements, agreements or such Additional Intercreditor Agreement will not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under the Indenture or any Intercreditor Agreement.

(B) At the written direction of the Issuer and without the consent of the Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, to the extent authorized and permitted under the applicable Intercreditor Agreement, shall upon the written direction of the Issuer from time to time enter into one or more Additional Intercreditor Agreements or amendments or supplements of the

 

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Intercreditor Agreement(s) to: (1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency therein; (2) increase the amount of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred or issued under this Indenture of the types covered thereby that may be incurred by the Issuer or any other Note Party that is subject thereto (including the addition of provisions relating to new Indebtedness); (3) add Subsidiary Guarantors thereto; (4) further secure the Notes (including any Additional Notes); (5) allow any successor Trustee and/or Collateral Agent to accede as a party thereto; or (6) make any other such change thereto that does not adversely affect the rights of holders of the Notes in any material respect; provided that such Additional Intercreditor Agreement will not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under the Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreements.

(C) In executing any execution of the Additional Intercreditor Agreement or the amendments or supplements of an Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with this Section 14.02, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, will be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.02) will be fully protected in relying on, an Officer’s Certificate provided in accordance with Section 13.02, stating that the execution and delivery of such Additional Intercreditor Agreement or such amendments or supplements of the Intercreditor Agreement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and the other Note Documents;

(D) Each Holder, by accepting a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to and accepted the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreements and each Additional Intercreditor Agreement (in each case as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or other Note Documents), to have authorized the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to become a party to any such Intercreditor Agreements, and Additional Intercreditor Agreement(s), and any amendment referred to in Article 8 and the Trustee or the Collateral Agent will not be required to seek the consent of any Holders to perform their respective obligations under and in accordance with this Article 14.

[The Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]

 

- 169 -


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

 

Issuer:
WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:  

/s/ Melissa Garrett

 

Name:  Melissa Garrett

 

Title:   Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Subsidiary Guarantor:
WOLFSPEED TEXAS LLC
By:  

/s/ Melissa Garrett

 

Name:  Melissa Garrett

 

Title:   Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Non-Renesas Convertible Indenture]


Trustee:

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent

By:  

/s/ Wally Jones

 

Name:  Wally Jones

 

Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Non-Renesas Convertible Indenture]


Collateral Agent:

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Wally Jones

 

Name:  Wally Jones

 

Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Non-Renesas Convertible Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF NOTE

[Insert Global Note Legend, if applicable]

[Insert Restricted Note Legend, if applicable]

[THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE NOTES WERE ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT” (“OID”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. NOTEHOLDERS MAY OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF ANY OID, THE ISSUE PRICE, THE ISSUE DATE, AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY RELATING TO THE NOTES BY CONTACTING THE ISSUER.]

Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031

CUSIP No.: [_][[Insert for a “unrestricted” / “restricted” CUSIP number:*]]

Certificate No. [_]

ISIN No.: [_][[Insert for a “unrestricted” / “restricted” ISIN number:*]]

Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation, for value received, promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] dollars ($[_]) [(as revised by the attached Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note)] on June 15, 2031 and to pay interest thereon, as provided in the Indenture referred to below, until the principal and all accrued and unpaid interest are paid or duly provided for.

Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on [December 15, 2025], unless otherwise provided in the definition of “Interest Payment Date.”

Regular Record Dates: June 1 and December 1, unless otherwise provided in the definition of “Regular Record Date.”

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

 
*

[This Note will be deemed to be identified by CUSIP No. [   ] and ISIN No. [   ] from and after such time when the Issuer delivers, pursuant to Section 2.12 of the within-mentioned Indenture, written notice to the Trustee of the deemed removal of the Restricted Note Legend affixed to this Note.]

 

Insert bracketed language for Global Notes Only.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Wolfspeed, Inc. has caused this instrument to be duly executed as of the date set forth below.

 

    WOLFSPEED, INC.
Date:                   By:  

 

     

Name:

     

Title:

 

A-2


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Date:                 By:  

 

      Authorized Signatory

 

A-3


Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), designated as its 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”), all issued or to be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Indenture”), between the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used in this Note without definition have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

The Indenture sets forth the rights and obligations of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders and the terms of the Notes. The Notes are secured pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements (as defined in the Indenture) and the Security Documents referred to in the Indenture and subject to the Liens securing First-Priority Obligations as defined in the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, to the extent that any provision of this Note conflicts with the provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture will control.

1. Interest. This Note will accrue interest at a rate and in the manner set forth in Section 2.05 of the Indenture. Stated Interest on this Note will begin to accrue from, and including, [date].

2. Maturity. This Note will mature on June 15, 2031, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted.

3. Guarantees. The Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors as provided in Article 12 of the Indenture.

4. Method of Payment. Cash amounts due on this Note will be paid in the manner set forth in Section 2.04 of the Indenture.

5. Persons Deemed Owners. The Holder of this Note will be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

6. Denominations; Transfers and Exchanges. All Notes will be in registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $ 1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $ 1,000 in excess thereof. Subject to the terms of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note may transfer or exchange this Note by presenting it to the Registrar and delivering any required documentation or other materials.

7. Right of Holders to Require the Issuer to Repurchase Notes upon a Fundamental Change. If a Fundamental Change occurs, then each Holder will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) for cash in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 4.02 of the Indenture.

 

A-4


8. Redemption of the Notes. The Notes will be subject to Redemption for cash in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 4.03 of the Indenture.

9. Limitation on Conversion. Any conversion of any Note is subject to Section 5.10 of the Indenture.

10. Conversion. The Holder of this Note may convert this Note into Conversion Consideration in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Article 5 of the Indenture.

11. When the Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors May Merge, Etc. Article 6 of the Indenture places certain restrictions on the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ ability to be a party to a Business Combination Event.

12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs, then the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding may (and, in certain circumstances, will automatically) become due and payable in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Article 7 of the Indenture.

13. Amendments, Supplements and Waivers. The Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent, may amend or supplement the Note Documents or waive compliance with any provision of the Note Documents in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 7.05 and Article 8 of the Indenture.

14. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture or the Notes or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting any Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

15. Authentication. No Note will be valid until it is authenticated by the Trustee. A Note will be deemed to be duly authenticated only when an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication of such Note.

16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or its assignee, such as TEN COM (tenants in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (custodian), and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

* * *

 

A-5


To request a copy of the Indenture, which the Issuer will provide to any Holder at no charge, please send a written request to the following address:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, North Carolina 27703

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legaldept@wolfspeed.com

 

A-6


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

INITIAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE: $[ ]

The following exchanges, transfers or cancellations of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date    Amount of Increase
(Decrease) in
Principal Amount of
this Global Note
   Principal Amount of
this Global Note
After Such Increase
(Decrease)
   Signature of
Authorized Signatory
of Trustee

 

 

 

 

 
*

Insert for Global Notes only.

 

A-7


CONVERSION NOTICE

Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, by executing and delivering this Conversion Notice, the undersigned Holder of the Note identified below directs the Issuer to convert (check one):

 

the entire principal amount of

 

$     * aggregate principal amount of

the Note identified by CUSIP No.       and Certificate No.      .

The undersigned acknowledges that if the Conversion Date of a Note to be converted is after a Regular Record Date and before the next Interest Payment Date, then such Note, when surrendered for conversion, must, in certain circumstances, be accompanied with an amount of cash equal to the interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date.

 

Date:                    

 

    (Legal Name of Holder)
   

By:

 

 

     

Name:

     

Title:

 

  Signature Guaranteed:
 

 

  Participant in a Recognized Signature
  Guarantee Medallion Program
  By:   

 

     Authorized Signatory

 

 
*

Must be an Authorized Denomination.

 

A-8


FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE

Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, by executing and delivering this Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, the undersigned Holder of the Note identified below is exercising its Fundamental Change Repurchase Right with respect to (check one):

 

the entire principal amount of

 

$      * aggregate principal amount of

the Note identified by CUSIP No. and Certificate No.

The undersigned acknowledges that this Note, duly endorsed for transfer, must be delivered to the Paying Agent before the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price will be paid.

 

Date:                    

 

    (Legal Name of Holder)
   

By:

 

 

     

Name:

     

Title:

 

  Signature Guaranteed:
 

 

  Participant in a Recognized Signature
  Guarantee Medallion Program
  By:   

 

     Authorized Signatory

 

 
*

Must be an Authorized Denomination.

 

A-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, the undersigned Holder of the within Note assigns to:

 

Name:      
Address:      
Social security ortax identificationnumber:          

the within Note and all rights thereunder irrevocably appoints:

as agent to transfer the within Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him/her.

 

Date:                    

 

    (Legal Name of Holder)
   

By:

 

 

     

Name:

     

Title:

 

  Signature Guaranteed:
 

 

  Participant in a Recognized Signature
  Guarantee Medallion Program
  By:   

 

     Authorized Signatory

 

A-10


TRANSFEROR ACKNOWLEDGMENT*

If the within Note bears a Restricted Note Legend, the undersigned further certifies that (check one):

 

1.  ☐

Such Transfer is being made to the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer.

 

2.  ☐

Such Transfer is being made pursuant to, and in accordance with, a registration statement that is effective under the Securities Act at the time of the Transfer.

 

3.  ☐

Such Transfer is being made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and, accordingly, the undersigned further certifies that the within Note is being transferred to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is purchasing the within Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A. If this item is checked, then the transferee must complete and execute the acknowledgment contained on the next page.

 

4.  ☐

Such Transfer is being made pursuant to, and in accordance with, any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (including, if available, the exemption provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act).

 

Dated:                       

 

(Legal Name of Holder)

By:

   

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

By:    
  Authorized Signatory

 

 
*

To be included only if the Note constitutes a “restricted security” (as defined in Rule 144).

 

A-11


TRANSFEREE ACKNOWLEDGMENT*

The undersigned represents that it is purchasing the within Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which the undersigned exercises sole investment discretion, and that and the undersigned and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The undersigned acknowledges that the transferor is relying, in transferring the within Note on the exemption from the registration and prospectus- delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Rule 144A and that the undersigned has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A.

Dated:                        

 
  (Name of Transferee)

 

By:

   

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 
*

This paragraph and the immediately preceding paragraph will be deemed to be removed from the face of this Note at such time when the Issuer delivers written notice to the Trustee of such deemed removal pursuant to Section 2.12 of the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

A-12


EXHIBIT B-1

FORM OF RESTRICTED NOTE LEGEND

THE OFFER AND SALE OF THIS NOTE AND THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, IF ANY, ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS NOTE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT ONLY:

 

(1)

REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT; AND

 

(2)

AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY

BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT ONLY:

 

  (A)

TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF;

 

  (B)

PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT IS EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT;

 

  (C)

TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT;

 

  (D)

PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT;

 

  (E)

PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

 

  (F)

PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

BEFORE THE REGISTRATION OF ANY SALE OR TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (C), (D), (E) OR (F) ABOVE, THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND THE REGISTRAR RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH CERTIFICATES OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION OR EVIDENCE AS THEY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED SALE OR TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

B1-1


EXHIBIT B-2

FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND

THIS IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS THE OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER 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 HEREON 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 SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE WILL 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 NOTE WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 2 OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO.

 

B2-1


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [•], 2025 among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (or its successor) (the “Issuer”), (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”), under the indenture referred to below.

WHEREAS the Issuer (or its successor) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of September 29, 2025, providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”); and

WHEREAS, Section 8.01(B) of the Indenture provides that the parties may amend or supplement the Note Documents in order to add Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture, without the consent of the Holders; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the parties in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) as follows:

1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the provisions, including the limitations and conditions, set forth herein and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 12 thereof, and hereby further agrees to accede to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and be bound by the covenants therein applicable to Subsidiary Guarantors.

3. [Limitation on Guarantee. The Issuer, as it deems necessary and appropriate, to insert limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor language applicable to the relevant jurisdiction of such Subsidiary Guarantor.]

4. Releases. The Subsidiary Guarantee of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged in accordance with Section 12.04 of the Indenture.

 

C-1


5. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder shall be bound hereby.

6. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

7. Trustee and Collateral Agent Make No Representation. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent make no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.

8. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

9. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.

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

 

WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

C-2


U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Collateral Agent
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

AGREED SECURITY PRINCIPLES

 

1.

Agreed Security Principles

 

  (a)

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Indenture to which this Exhibit D is attached.

 

  (b)

An Applicable Acceleration Event (as defined below) is “continuing” unless the relevant demand or notice has been revoked in accordance with the Note Documents.

 

  (c)

The guarantees and security required to be provided under the Note Documents will be given in accordance with the principles set out in this Exhibit D (the Agreed Security Principles). This Exhibit D identifies the Agreed Security Principles and addresses the manner in which the Agreed Security Principles will impact and determine the extent and terms of the guarantees and security proposed to be provided under any Note Documents.

 

  (d)

These Agreed Security Principles shall apply to any security or guarantee to be provided by, or over the Equity Interests in, any Foreign Subsidiary irrespective of where such person is organized or incorporated (and irrespective of what law governs the relevant security agreement).

 

2.

Guarantees

Subject to the guarantee limitations set out in the Note Documents and customary limitations in the relevant jurisdiction, each guarantee will be an upstream, cross-stream and downstream guarantee for the Note Obligations in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Agreed Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction (references to “security” to be read for this purpose as including guarantees).

 

3.

Secured Liabilities

Security documents will secure the Note Obligations in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Agreed Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction.

 

4.

Overriding Principle

 

  (a)

Subject to paragraph (b) below, the parties agree that the overriding intention is for security in respect of the Note Documents only to be granted over (subject, in each case, to any timeframes set out in the Note Documents for granting such security), (i) substantially all assets of each Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor (subject to customary exclusions and the terms of these Agreed Security Principles) in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is available; provided that a floating charge (or similar security) shall not be required to be granted or continue to subsist where to do so would be expected to have an adverse effect on the ability of the grantor to conduct its operations and business (as determined in good faith by such grantor and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes)) and, subject to the Collateral Agent’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with local counsel and at the expense of the Issuer as set forth in the Indenture) the Collateral Agent shall be required (and shall be pre-authorized) to issue a non-crystallization certificate (or

 

D-1


  similar certificate) solely at the request of the applicable grantor in an Officer’s Certificate (a) that such non-crystallization certificate (or similar certificate) is authorized or permitted by the Indenture (including, for purposes of clarity, this schedule), and (b) certifying that no event of default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is not available, (A) Material Real Property, (B) Material IP, (C) material bank accounts, (D) Equity Interests in Subsidiaries, (E) trade receivables, (F) inventory (unless such grant would be expected to have an adverse effect on the ability of the grantor to conduct its operations and business (as determined in good faith by such grantor and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes)) and (F) material intra-group receivables (Material Intercompany Receivables).

 

  (b)

Without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, no guarantees shall be required to be granted by and no security shall be required to be granted by (or over shares, ownership interests or investments in) any Person other than the Issuer and Subsidiaries thereof.

 

5.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction of Security

 

  (a)

All security (other than share security) will be governed by the law of, and secure only assets located in, (i) the jurisdiction of incorporation of the applicable grantor of the security (or, in respect of Equity Interests in a Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of incorporation of that person) and (ii) any other Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction.

 

  (b)

No action in relation to security (including any perfection step, further assurance step, filing or registration) will be required in jurisdictions other than (i) the jurisdiction where the grantor of security is incorporated and (ii) any other Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction, except as provided in Section 5(a) above insofar as it contemplates that security over Equity Interests in Subsidiaries may not be subject to the governing law of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the applicable grantor of security (the Relevant Share Security) in which case (and subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the other provisions of these Agreed Security Principles) security may be perfected in, and only to the extent required by, the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Subsidiary whose Equity Interests are subject to the Relevant Share Security.

 

6.

Excluded Jurisdictions

 

  (a)

The guarantees and security to be provided under the Note Documents in accordance with the Agreed Security Principles are only to be given by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries which are not incorporated in or organized in Japan, Turkey, Taiwan, Hungary, India, Italy, Switzerland, Dubai, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Malaysia and any other jurisdiction agreed between the Issuer and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) (acting reasonably) (together, theExcluded Jurisdictions).

 

  (b)

No guarantees shall be required to be given by and no security shall be required to be given by (or over shares, ownership interests or investments in) any person incorporated in an Excluded Jurisdiction.

 

  (c)

No guarantees or security shall be required to be governed by the law of, nor shall any security or perfection steps be required to be taken in, any Excluded Jurisdiction.

 

D-2


7.

Terms of Security Documents

The following principles will be reflected in the terms of any security taken in connection with the Note Documents:

 

  (a)

security will not be enforceable or crystallise until the Trustee has exercised its rights under the relevant acceleration provisions of the Indenture to declare all or part of the applicable Note to be immediately due and payable (an Applicable Acceleration Event) which is continuing;

 

  (b)

the beneficiaries of the security or any agent will only be able to exercise a power of attorney (or set-off granted to them under the terms of the Note Documents) following the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing;

 

  (c)

notification of receivables security to debtors will only be given (i) with respect to material receivables security and (ii) only if notice is required to perfect the Collateral Agent’s security interest in an applicable Foreign Jurisdiction;

 

  (d)

the security documents should only operate to create security rather than to impose new commercial obligations or repeat clauses in the Indenture (accordingly they should not contain additional representations, undertakings or indemnities (including in respect of insurance, information, inspections, limitations on dispositions, distributions or transfers, maintenance or protection of assets or the payment of fees, costs and expenses)) except to the extent that these are: (1) the same as or consistent with those contained in the Indenture; and (2) required for the creation or perfection of security;

 

  (e)

notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Security Document, the terms of a Security Document shall not operate or be construed so as to prohibit or restrict any transaction, matter or other step (or a grantor of security taking or entering into the same) or dealing in any manner whatsoever in relation to any asset (including all rights, claims, benefits, proceeds and documentation, and contractual counterparties in relation thereto) the subject of (or expressed to be the subject of) the Security Document if not prohibited by the Indenture or where the consent of the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) has been obtained and, subject to the Collateral Agent’s and the Trustee’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with counsel) the Collateral Agent and the Trustee shall promptly enter into such documentation and/or take such other action as is required by a relevant Note Party (acting reasonably) in order to facilitate any such transaction, matter or other step, including by way of executing any confirmation, consent to dealing, release or other similar or equivalent document, provided that any costs and expenses incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent entering into such documentation and/or taking such other action at the request of such Note Party pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Note Party;

 

  (f)

other than to the extent required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, no control agreement (or perfection by control or similar arrangements) or control, lockbox or similar arrangement shall be required with respect to any assets; provided that the foregoing shall not limit the requirement for notices to account banks;

 

D-3


  (g)

Security Documents will, where possible and practical, automatically create security over future assets of the applicable security provider of the same type as those already secured; where local law requires supplemental pledges or notices to be delivered in respect of future acquired assets in order for effective security to be created over that class of asset, such supplemental pledges or notices will be provided only upon request of the the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) and at intervals no more frequent than quarterly;

 

  (h)

each Security Document must contain a clause which records that if there is a conflict between the security document and the Indenture or (if applicable) any Intercreditor Agreement specifically entered into in connection with the Indenture then (to the fullest extent permitted by law) the provisions of the Indenture or (as applicable) the Intercreditor Agreement will take priority over the provisions of the security document;

 

  (i)

there will be no “fixed” security over fixed assets, insurance policies, Intellectual Property, bank accounts, cash or receivables (other than Material Intercompany Receivables) or any obligation to hold or pay cash or receivables in a particular account until the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing; provided that “fixed” security over bank accounts shall be required to the extent required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture;

 

  (j)

all security shall only be given in favor of the Collateral Agent and not any other of the secured parties; “parallel debt” provisions will be used where necessary; and

 

  (k)

whether expressly so stated or not, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, under the Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to seek direction and be indemnified prior to taking action shall be deemed to be incorporated, mutatis mutandis in each security document.

 

8.

Intercompany and Trade Receivables

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, any person will be free to deal with, amend, waive, repay, prepay or terminate its Material Intercompany Receivables and trade receivables.

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, no lists of or other information in respect of Material Intercompany Receivables or trade receivables will be required to be provided.

 

  (c)

No security will be granted over any trade receivables which cannot be secured under the terms of the relevant contract.

 

  (d)

If required under local law, security over Material Intercompany Receivables will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

  (e)

Any security over trade receivables (including any list of trade receivables required) shall be structured so as not to cause the relevant Obligor to breach any data protection obligations owed by it in the underlying applicable contracts or under applicable law, and if such structuring is not possible (based on advice of external legal counsel), then such security shall not be required.

 

D-4


9.

Equity Interests

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing and Collateral Agent has given the applicable shareholder written notice, the legal title of the Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) subject to any Security Document will remain with the relevant grantor of the security (unless transfer of title on granting such security is customary in the applicable jurisdiction).

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing and Collateral Agent has given the applicable shareholder written notice, any grantor of share security will be permitted to retain and to exercise all voting rights and powers in relation to any Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) and other related rights charged by it and receive, own and retain all assets and proceeds in relation thereto without restriction or condition. With respect to security over shares in a German company only, to the extent required under German law, the voting rights will remain with the Obligor even after an Enforcement Event has occurred.

 

  (c)

Where customary and applicable as a matter of law and following a request by the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes), as soon as reasonably practicable (taking into account any stamping or other transfer requirements) following the granting of any share security over certificated Equity Interests, the applicable Equity Interest certificate (or other documents evidencing title to the relevant Equity Interests) and a stock transfer form executed in blank (or applicable law equivalent) will be provided to the Collateral Agent.

 

  (d)

No “fixed” security shall be required to be granted over any Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interest) in any person which are not directly owned by its immediate holding company.

 

  (e)

If required under local law, security over Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

10.

Bank Accounts

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event or a Control Triggering Event (with respect to Controlled Accounts only) has occurred and is continuing, any person will be free to deal, operate and transact business in relation to any bank accounts over which it grants security (including opening and closing accounts).

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, unless the Indenture expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use, there will be:

 

  (i)

no “fixed” security over bank accounts, cash or receivables (other than Material Intercompany Receivables), except as required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture; and

 

  (ii)

no obligation to hold, pay or sweep cash or receivables into a particular account.

 

D-5


  (c)

Where “fixed” security is required, if required by local law to perfect that security and if possible without disrupting operation of the account, notice of that security will be served on the account bank by the applicable grantor in relation to applicable accounts within ten (10) Business Days of the creation of that security and the applicable grantor of that security will use its reasonable endeavors to obtain an acknowledgement of that notice within twenty (20) Business Days of service. If the grantor of that security has used its reasonable endeavors but has not been able to obtain acknowledgement or acceptance, its obligation to obtain acknowledgement will cease on the expiry of that twenty (20) Business Day period. Irrespective of whether notice of that security is required for perfection, if the service of notice would prevent any Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor from using a bank account in the course of its business, except as required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, no notice of security will be served until the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing.

 

  (d)

Any security over bank accounts will be subject to any security interests in favour of the account bank which are created either by law or in the standard terms and conditions of the account bank, whether created or arising before or after the security in favour of the Secured Parties has been given. No grantor of security will be required to change its banking arrangements or standard terms and conditions in connection with the granting of bank account security.

 

  (e)

No control agreements (or perfection by control or similar arrangements) shall be required with respect to any Excluded Account.

 

  (f)

If any bank account is required to be opened as a matter of local law in order to perfect any share security required to be granted in accordance with these Agreed Security Principles (i) such bank account shall not be required to be opened prior to the date falling 90 days after such share security is granted and (ii) the Secured Parties authorise, instruct and direct the Collateral Agent to, and the Collateral Agent shall, promptly subject to the Collateral Agent’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with local counsel and at the expense of the Issuer as set forth in the Indenture) enter into any documentation requested by the applicable account bank in connection with such security.

 

  (g)

If required under applicable local law, security over bank accounts will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

  (h)

If the consent of an account bank is required to grant security over a bank account, and such bank account is not required to be subject to an Account Control Agreement by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor shall use its commercially reasonable endeavours to attempt once to obtain the consent of the relevant account bank. If the account bank is not willing to give such consent in the first instance, the Loan Party shall not be required to change its banking arrangements or to replace its account bank.

 

11.

Additional Principles

The Agreed Security Principles embody the recognition by all parties that there may be certain legal and practical difficulties in obtaining effective or commercially reasonable guarantees and/or security from all relevant Foreign Subsidiaries in each jurisdiction in which it has been agreed that guarantees and security will be granted by those members. In particular:

 

D-6


  (a)

general legal and statutory limitations, regulatory restrictions, financial assistance, anti-trust and other competition authority restrictions, corporate benefit, fraudulent preference, equitable subordination, “transfer pricing”, “thin capitalisation” (and in particular, guarantees and security shall not result in all or part of the Note Obligations being considered related debt for thin capitalisation purposes), “earnings stripping”, “exchange control restrictions”, “capital maintenance” rules and “liquidity impairment” rules, tax restrictions, retention of title claims, employee consultation or approval requirements and similar principles may limit the ability of a Foreign Subsidiary to provide a guarantee or security or may require that the guarantee or security be limited as to amount or otherwise and, if so, the guarantee or security will be limited accordingly, provided that, to the extent requested by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) before signing any applicable security or accession document, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary shall use reasonable endeavors (for a period of not more than ten (10) Business Days but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such guarantee or Security Document shall be subject to such limit;

 

  (b)

a key factor in determining whether or not a guarantee or security will be taken (and in respect of the security, the extent of its perfection and/or registration) is the applicable time and cost (including adverse effects on taxes, interest deductibility, stamp duty, registration taxes, notarial costs guarantee fees payable to any person that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof and all applicable legal fees) which will not be disproportionate to the benefit accruing to the Secured Parties of obtaining such guarantee or security, as determined in good faith by Issuer;

 

  (c)

subject always to sections 4 and 6 above, Foreign Subsidiaries will not be required to give guarantees or enter into Security Documents if it is not within the legal capacity of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary or if it would conflict with the fiduciary or statutory duties of their directors or contravene any applicable legal, regulatory or contractual prohibition or restriction, require the consent of any legal or regulatory authority or contractual counterparty or have the potential to result in a material risk of personal or criminal liability for any director or officer of or for the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that, to the extent requested by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (in each case, acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) before signing any applicable Security Document or guaranty document, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary shall, in relation to a contractual restriction only, use reasonable endeavors (for a period of not more than ten (10) Business Days but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such guarantee or Security Document shall be subject to such limit;

 

  (d)

it is expressly acknowledged that it may be either impossible or impractical to create security over certain categories of assets, as determined in good faith by Issuer, in which event security will not be taken over such assets;

 

  (e)

the giving of a guarantee, the granting of security and the registration and/or the perfection of the security granted will not be required if it would have an adverse effect on the ability of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course as otherwise permitted by the Indenture (including dealing with the secured assets and all contractual counterparties or amending, waiving or terminating (or allowing to lapse) any rights, benefits or obligations, in each case prior to an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing), and any requirement under the Agreed Security Principles to seek consent of any person or take or not take any other action shall be subject to this paragraph (e);

 

D-7


  (f)

any security document will only be required to be notarized if required by law in order for the relevant security to become effective or admissible in evidence;

 

  (g)

if not required by the laws of the applicable Foreign Jurisdiction, no title investigations or other diligence on assets will be required and no title insurance will be required;

 

  (h)

to the extent legally effective, all security will be given in favour of the Collateral Agent and not the Secured Parties individually; “parallel debt” provisions will be used where necessary (and included in the Indenture and not the individual security documents);

 

  (i)

neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary will be required to take any action in relation to any guarantees or security as a result of any assignment, sub-participation or transfer by a Secured Party (and neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall bear or otherwise be liable for any taxes, any notarial registration or perfection fees or any other costs, fees or expenses that result from any assignment, sub-participation or transfer by a Secured Party);

 

  (j)

other than a general security agreement and related filing, no perfection, filing or other action will be required with respect to assets of a type not owned by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

  (k)

no translation of any document relating to any security or any asset subject to any security will be required to be prepared or provided to the Secured Parties (or any agent or similar representative appointed by them at the relevant time) unless (i) required for such documents to become effective or admissible in evidence, and (ii) an Applicable Acceleration Event is continuing; provided, however, if the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is asked to sign a document in a language other than English, a courtesy translation shall be provided at the expense of the Issuer (upon which translation the Collateral Agent shall conclusively rely); and

 

  (l)

no security shall be required to be provided over any of the following property:

 

  (i)

any Real Property other than Material Real Property;

 

  (ii)

(x) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and letter of credit rights (in each case, other than to the extent a Lien on such assets or such rights can be perfected by filing of a general notice filing or similar) and (y) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $10,000,000;

 

  (iii)

pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contractual obligation (with respect to any such contractual obligation, only to the extent such restriction is permitted under Section 8.09(c) of the Indenture and such restriction is binding on such assets on the Closing Date or on the date of acquisition thereof and not entered into in contemplation thereof (and renewals and replacements thereof) (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law) or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

 

D-8


  (iv)

assets to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Issuer in consultation with the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes);

 

  (v)

any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law;

 

  (vi)

those assets as to which the Issuer and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes) reasonably agree that the cost or other consequence of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby;

 

  (vii)

any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law;

 

  (viii)

pending “intent to use” trademark applications for which an Amendment to Allege Use or a Statement of Use under Section 1(c) or 1(d) of the Lanham Act has not been filed with or accepted by the United States Trademark Office;

 

  (ix)

any Excluded Account and any cash and Permitted Investments maintained in an Excluded Account;

 

  (x)

any Excluded Securities;

 

  (xi)

any Third Party Funds;

 

  (xii)

any equipment or other real or personal property or asset that is subject to a Lien permitted by clause (i) of Section 8.02 of the Indenture if permitted by Section 8.01 of the Indenture, if the agreement governing such Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) prohibits or requires the consent of any person (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such equipment or other real or personal property or asset and, in each case, such prohibition or requirement is permitted hereunder after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

  (xiii)

any other property mutually agreed upon between the Issuer and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Notes).

 

12.

Amendment

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between any term of these Agreed Security Principles and any term of a Security Document, the Secured Parties authorise, instruct and direct the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to, and the Collateral Agent and Trustee shall promptly (at the option and upon request of Issuer) and in accordance with Article XIII of the Indenture, enter into such amendments to such Security Document as shall be necessary or desirable to cure such conflict or inconsistency.

 

D-9

Exhibit 4.7

FINAL FORM

WOLFSPEED, INC.

as Issuer

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

as Subsidiary Guarantors

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of September 29, 2025

 

 

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031

THIS INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR

AGREEMENTS (AS DEFINED HEREIN).


WOLFSPEED, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025

 

§ 310(a)(1)

   10.09

(a)(2)

   10.09

(a)(3)

   Not Applicable

(a)(4)

   Not Applicable

(a)(5)

   10.09

(b)

   10.09

§ 311(a)

   10.10

(b)

   10.10

(c)

   Not Applicable

§ 312(a)

   2.08

(b)

   2.08

(c)

   2.08

§ 313(a)

   10.10

(b)(1)

   10.10

(b)(2)

   10.10

(c)

   10.10

(d)

   10.10

§ 314(a)

   3.03, 13.01, 13.03

(b)

   Not Applicable

(c)(1)

   13.02

(c)(2)

   13.02

(c)(3)

   Not Applicable

(d)

   Not Applicable

(e)

   13.03

(f)

   Not Applicable

§ 315(a)

   10.01

(b)

   10.05

(c)

   10.01

(d)

   10.01

(e)

   7.04

§ 316(a)(last sentence)

   2.16

(a)(1)(A)

   7.07

(a)(1)(B)

   7.05

(a)(2)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   7.09

(c)

   2.05

§ 317(a)(1)

   7.09

(a)(2)

   7.11

(b)

   2.07

§ 318(a)

   13.16

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.

 

- i -


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

Article 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

     1  

SECTION 1.01.

   DEFINITIONS      1  

SECTION 1.02.

   OTHER DEFINITIONS      45  

SECTION 1.03.

   RULES OF CONSTRUCTION      46  

SECTION 1.04.

   CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT      48  

SECTION 1.05.

   LIMITED CONDITION TRANSACTIONS      48  

Article 2. THE NOTES

     49  

SECTION 2.01.

   FORM, DATING AND DENOMINATIONS      49  

SECTION 2.02.

   EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY      50  

SECTION 2.03.

   INITIAL NOTES AND ADDITIONAL NOTES      51  

SECTION 2.04.

   METHOD OF PAYMENT      51  

SECTION 2.05.

   ACCRUAL OF INTEREST; DEFAULTED AMOUNTS; WHEN PAYMENT DATE IS NOT A BUSINESS DAY      51  

SECTION 2.06.

   REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT      53  

SECTION 2.07.

   PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT TO HOLD PROPERTY IN TRUST      53  

SECTION 2.08.

   HOLDER LISTS      54  

SECTION 2.09.

   LEGENDS      54  

SECTION 2.10.

   TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES      55  

SECTION 2.11.

   EXCHANGE AND CANCELLATION OF NOTES TO BE CONVERTED OR TO BE REPURCHASED PURSUANT TO A REPURCHASE UPON FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE, REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL OR REDEMPTION      59  

SECTION 2.12.

   [RESERVED]      59  

SECTION 2.13.

   REPLACEMENT NOTES      59  

SECTION 2.14.

   REGISTERED HOLDERS; CERTAIN RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO GLOBAL NOTES      59  

SECTION 2.15.

   CANCELLATION      60  

SECTION 2.16.

   NOTES HELD BY THE ISSUER OR ITS AFFILIATES      60  

SECTION 2.17.

   TEMPORARY NOTES      60  

SECTION 2.18.

   OUTSTANDING NOTES      60  

SECTION 2.19.

   REPURCHASES BY THE ISSUER      61  

SECTION 2.20.

   CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS      61  

SECTION 2.21.

   TAX TREATMENT      62  

Article 3. COVENANTS

     62  

SECTION 3.01.

   CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION      62  

SECTION 3.02.

   PAYMENT ON NOTES      62  

SECTION 3.03.

   EXCHANGE ACT REPORTS      63  

SECTION 3.04.

   RULE 144A INFORMATION      63  

SECTION 3.05.

   [RESERVED]      63  

 

- i -


SECTION 3.06.

   [RESERVED]      63  

SECTION 3.07.

   COMPLIANCE AND DEFAULT CERTIFICATES      63  

SECTION 3.08.

   STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS      64  

SECTION 3.09.

   CORPORATE EXISTENCE      64  

SECTION 3.10.

   [RESERVED]      64  

SECTION 3.11.

   FURTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS      64  

SECTION 3.12.

   INDEBTEDNESS      64  

SECTION 3.13.

   LIENS      71  

SECTION 3.14.

   SALE AND LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS      71  

SECTION 3.15.

   RESTRICTED PAYMENTS      72  

SECTION 3.16.

   ASSET DISPOSITIONS      75  

SECTION 3.17.

   DISPOSITION OF MATERIAL IP      78  

SECTION 3.18.

   TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES      78  

SECTION 3.19.

   [RESERVED]      80  

SECTION 3.20.

   DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES      80  

SECTION 3.21.

   FURTHER ASSURANCES; ADDITIONAL SECURITY      82  

SECTION 3.22.

   POST-CLOSING      86  

Article 4. REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION

     86  

SECTION 4.01.

   NO SINKING FUND      86  

SECTION 4.02.

   RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE THE ISSUER TO REPURCHASE NOTES UPON A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE ON OR PRIOR TO THE CONVERSION EXPIRATION DATE      86  

SECTION 4.03.

   RIGHT OF THE ISSUER TO REDEEM THE NOTES      91  

SECTION 4.04.

   RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE THE ISSUER TO REPURCHASE NOTES UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL AFTER THE CONVERSION EXPIRATION DATE      93  

Article 5. CONVERSION

     97  

SECTION 5.01.

   RIGHT TO CONVERT      97  

SECTION 5.02.

   CONVERSION PROCEDURES      98  

SECTION 5.03.

   SETTLEMENT UPON CONVERSION      100  

SECTION 5.04.

   RESERVE AND STATUS OF COMMON STOCK ISSUED UPON CONVERSION      103  

SECTION 5.05.

   ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONVERSION RATE      103  

SECTION 5.06.

   VOLUNTARY ADJUSTMENTS      114  

SECTION 5.07.

   ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONVERSION RATE IN CONNECTION WITH A MAKE-WHOLE EVENT      114  

SECTION 5.08.

   EXCHANGE IN LIEU OF CONVERSION      116  

SECTION 5.09.

   EFFECT OF COMMON STOCK CHANGE EVENT      117  

SECTION 5.10.

   [RESERVED]      119  

SECTION 5.11.

   RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEE AND CONVERSION AGENT      119  

SECTION 5.12.

   REGULATORY APPROVALS      120  

Article 6. SUCCESSORS

     120  

SECTION 6.01.

   WHEN THE ISSUER AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS MAY MERGE, ETC.      120  

SECTION 6.02.

   SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED      121  

 

- ii -


Article 7. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     122  

SECTION 7.01.

   EVENTS OF DEFAULT      122  

SECTION 7.02.

   ACCELERATION      125  

SECTION 7.03.

   SOLE REMEDY FOR A FAILURE TO REPORT      125  

SECTION 7.04.

   OTHER REMEDIES      126  

SECTION 7.05.

   WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS      126  

SECTION 7.06.

   [RESERVED]      127  

SECTION 7.07.

   CONTROL BY MAJORITY      127  

SECTION 7.08.

   LIMITATION ON SUITS      127  

SECTION 7.09.

   ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO INSTITUTE SUIT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAYMENT AND CONVERSION      128  

SECTION 7.10.

   COLLECTION BY TRUSTEE      128  

SECTION 7.11.

   PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST ISSUER      128  

SECTION 7.12.

   TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM      128  

SECTION 7.13.

   [RESERVED]      129  

SECTION 7.14.

   SUMS RECEIVED BY DEBTORS AND THIRD-PARTY SECURITY PROVIDERS      129  

SECTION 7.15.

   PRIORITIES      130  

SECTION 7.16.

   UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS      130  

SECTION 7.17.

   COLLATERAL AGENT EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT      130  

Article 8. AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

     131  

SECTION 8.01.

   WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS      131  

SECTION 8.02.

   WITH THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS      133  

SECTION 8.03.

   [RESERVED]      134  

SECTION 8.04.

   NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS      134  

SECTION 8.05.

   REVOCATION, EFFECT AND SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS; SPECIAL RECORD DATES; ETC.      134  

SECTION 8.06.

   NOTATIONS AND EXCHANGES      135  

SECTION 8.07.

   TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      135  

Article 9. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

     136  

SECTION 9.01.

   TERMINATION OF ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS      136  

SECTION 9.02.

   APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY      138  

SECTION 9.03.

   REPAYMENT TO ISSUER      138  

SECTION 9.04.

   REINSTATEMENT      139  

Article 10. TRUSTEE

     139  

SECTION 10.01.

   DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE      139  

SECTION 10.02.

   RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE      140  

SECTION 10.03.

   INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE      141  

 

- iii -


SECTION 10.04.

   TRUSTEES DISCLAIMER      141  

SECTION 10.05.

   NOTICE OF DEFAULTS      142  

SECTION 10.06.

   COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY      142  

SECTION 10.07.

   REPLACEMENT OF THE TRUSTEE      143  

SECTION 10.08.

   SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.      144  

SECTION 10.09.

   ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION      144  

SECTION 10.10.

   REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE      145  

Article 11. COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

     145  

SECTION 11.01.

   COLLATERAL AGENT      145  

SECTION 11.02.

   DELEGATION OF DUTIES      152  

SECTION 11.03.

   SECURITY DOCUMENTS      153  

SECTION 11.04.

   AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN      153  

SECTION 11.05.

   RELEASE OR SUBORDINATION OF LIENS      155  

SECTION 11.06.

   POWERS EXERCISABLE BY RECEIVER OR TRUSTEE      157  

SECTION 11.07.

   RELEASE UPON TERMINATION OF THE ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS      157  

SECTION 11.08.

   RIGHT TO REALIZE ON COLLATERAL AND ENFORCE GUARANTEES      157  

SECTION 11.09.

   PARALLEL DEBT (COVENANT TO PAY THE COLLATERAL AGENT)      158  

Article 12. GUARANTEES

     159  

SECTION 12.01.

   SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES      159  

SECTION 12.02.

   EXECUTION AND DELIVERY      161  

SECTION 12.03.

   [RESERVED]      161  

SECTION 12.04.

   RELEASES OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES      162  

SECTION 12.05.

   INSTRUMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONEY      163  

SECTION 12.06.

   LIMITATION ON SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR LIABILITY      163  

SECTION 12.07.

   “TRUSTEETO INCLUDE PAYING AGENT      163  

Article 13. MISCELLANEOUS

     163  

SECTION 13.01.

   NOTICES      163  

SECTION 13.02.

   DELIVERY OF OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT      165  

SECTION 13.03.

   STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL      166  

SECTION 13.04.

   RULES BY THE TRUSTEE, THE REGISTRAR AND THE PAYING AGENT      166  

SECTION 13.05.

   NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS      167  

SECTION 13.06.

   GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      167  

SECTION 13.07.

   SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION      167  

SECTION 13.08.

   NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS      167  

SECTION 13.09.

   SUCCESSORS      168  

SECTION 13.10.

   FORCE MAJEURE      168  

SECTION 13.11.

   U.S.A      168  

SECTION 13.12.

   CALCULATIONS      168  

SECTION 13.13.

   SEVERABILITY      169  

SECTION 13.14.

   COUNTERPARTS      169  

SECTION 13.15.

   TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.      169  

SECTION 13.16.

   WITHHOLDING TAXES      169  

 

- iv -


Article 14. INTERCREDITOR ARRANGEMENTS

     169  

SECTION 14.01.

   INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS      169  

SECTION 14.02.

   ADDITIONAL INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS      169  

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A: Form of Note

   A-1

Exhibit B: Form of Global Note Legend

   B2-1

Exhibit C: Form of Supplemental Indenture

   C-1

Exhibit D: Agreed Security Principles

   D-1

Schedules

 

Schedule 1.01(A)    Certain Excluded Equity Interests
Schedule 1.01(B)    Dispositions
Schedule 1.01(C)    Immaterial Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.01(D)    Investments
Schedule 1.01(E)    Liens
Schedule 3.12(B)    Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 3.18    Existing Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 3.22    Post-Closing Actions

 

 

- v -


INDENTURE, dated as of September 29, 2025, among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below) party hereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely as the trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”) and as the collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) hereunder.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on June 30, 2025, the Issuer and its wholly owned subsidiary, Wolfspeed Texas LLC, commenced voluntary cases, jointly administered under the caption In re Wolfspeed, Inc., et al., Case No. 25-90163 (CML) (the “Chapter 11 Cases”), under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) (the “Bankruptcy Court”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate (Docket No. 8), dated June 27, 2025 (as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time, and together with all appendices, exhibits and supplements thereto, the “Bankruptcy Plan”) relating to the reorganization under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code of the Issuer and its wholly owned subsidiary, Wolfspeed Texas LLC, which Bankruptcy Plan was confirmed by order, dated September 8, 2025, of the Bankruptcy Court (the “Confirmation Order”), Renesas (as defined herein) is to be issued the Notes (as defined herein) in an initial aggregate principal amount equal to $203,599,000 (the “Initial Notes”);

WHEREAS, (a) all acts and things necessary to make (i) the Notes, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent, as provided in this Indenture, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Issuer; (ii) the Guarantees of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors; and (iii) this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors, according to its terms, have been done and performed, and (b) the execution of this Indenture and the issuance hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized.

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises set forth herein, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors covenant and agree with the Trustee and Collateral Agent for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:

Article 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.01. DEFINITIONS.

Account Control Agreement” means (a) with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account held or located in the United States, a customary account control agreement which provides for the Collateral Agent to have “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code or Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) of Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, as applicable and (b) with respect to any other Deposit Account or Securities Account, such agreement as is necessary to obtain a perfected security

 

- 1 -


interest under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction over such Deposit Account or Securities Account and which provides for the Collateral Agent to have the equivalent of “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code or Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable) (to the extent such equivalent concept exists under the laws of the jurisdiction where such Deposit Account or Securities Account, as applicable, is held or located) of such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, as applicable.

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specific Person: (a)(i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person or any Subsidiary of such Person; and (b) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing.

Affiliate” means, when used with respect to a specified person, another person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the person specified. For the avoidance of doubt, the Note Parties and the Trustee hereby acknowledge that Renesas shall not be considered an Affiliate of any Note Party for purposes of this Indenture.

Agreed Security Principles” means the principles set forth in Exhibit D.

Asset Disposition” means: (i) any sale, lease, conveyance or other Disposition (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of all or any part of its assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, or by operation of law) (provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall not be an “Asset Disposition” but instead shall be governed by Section 6.01) or (ii) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of the Issuer, or the sale by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Issuer, in each case, in one transaction or in a series of related transactions (in each case, other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares to be held by third parties to meet applicable legal requirements); provided that the term “Asset Disposition” shall not include any of the following:

(A) (i) the Disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (ii) the acquisition or lease (pursuant to an operating lease) of any other asset in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary or, with respect to operating leases, otherwise for fair market value on market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), (iii) the Disposition of surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (iv) the Disposition of tools, equipment and similar property in exchange for, or the proceeds of the Disposition of which will be applied towards the purchase price of, new or replacement tools, equipment or similar property or (v) the Disposition of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

(B) the Specified IP Disposition; provided that the net proceeds in respect thereof are applied in accordance with the First Lien Notes Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(C) Dispositions (i) to the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise), (ii) [reserved] or (iii) by any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(D) so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted by Section 3.14; provided that if such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction results in a Capitalized Lease Obligation, such Capitalized Lease Obligation is permitted by Section 3.12 and any Lien made the subject of such Capitalized Lease Obligation is permitted by Section 3.13;

(E) any Restricted Payments permitted by Section 3.15 and any Permitted Investments;

(F) Dispositions of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(G) other Dispositions of assets to a person that is not an Affiliate of any Note Party; provided that (i) at the time of the execution of the definitive documentation for such Disposition, no Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) the requirements of Section 3.16(A) shall apply to such Disposition and (iii) the Net Proceeds thereof, if any, are applied in accordance with Section 3.16(B);

(H) [Reserved];

(I) leases or subleases or licenses or sublicenses of any real or personal property (including licenses of Intellectual Property) in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(J) Dispositions or abandonment of Intellectual Property of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries determined in good faith by the management of the Issuer to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries;

(K) commencing with the Issuer’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, other Dispositions for fair market value as determined in good faith by the Issuer (acting in its reasonable discretion) with an aggregate value per fiscal year not in excess of the greater of (x) $12,000,000 and (y) 6.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that this clause (K) may not be used in combination with any other clause of this definition of “Asset Disposition” in connection with any Disposition (or portion thereof) or series of related Dispositions (or portion thereof);

(L) dedications or dispositions of roads constituting Real Property, or the granting of easements, rights of way, rights of access and/or similar rights in Real Property, to any Governmental Authority, utility providers, cable or other communication providers and/or other parties providing services or benefits to any project that, would not reasonably be expected to interfere in any material respect with the operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that upon request by the Issuer accompanied by the documents required by Section 11.05, the Collateral Agent shall (i) release its Mortgage on the portions of such Real Property dedicated or disposed of or (ii) subordinate its Mortgage on such Real Property to such easement, right of way, right of access or similar agreement, in each case, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and the Issuer;

 

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(M) Dispositions contractually committed as of, or contemplated as of, the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(B); and

(N) to the extent constituting an Asset Disposition, any termination, settlement or extinguishment of Hedging Agreements or other contractual obligations.

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 3.16 or the definition of “Asset Disposition”, other than with respect to clause (K) of the definition of “Asset Disposition”, a Disposition need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Dispositions (or portion thereof) described in the above clauses but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

Authorized Denomination” means, with respect to a Note, a principal amount thereof equal to $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Issuer or a committee of such board duly authorized to act on behalf of such board.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City (and in respect of payments, the place of payment) are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any person in respect of any period, the aggregate of all expenditures incurred by such person during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “additions to property, plant or equipment” or similar items reflected in the statement of cash flows of such person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease or finance lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP; provided that obligations of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, either existing on the Issue Date or created thereafter that (a) initially were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer as capital lease or finance lease obligations and were subsequently recharacterized as capital lease or finance lease obligations or, in the case of a special purpose or other entity becoming consolidated with the Issuer and its Subsidiaries were required to be characterized as capital lease or finance obligations upon such consolidation, in either case, due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, or (b) did not exist on the Issue Date and were required to be characterized as capital lease or finance lease obligations but would not have been required to be treated as capital lease or finance lease obligations on the Issue Date had they existed at that time, shall for all purposes not be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

 

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Cash Equivalents” shall mean:

(A) direct obligations of the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(B) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank, trust company or other financial institution that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $500,000,000 and whose long-term debt, or whose parent holding company’s long-term debt, is rated A (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(C) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 185 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (A) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (B) above;

(D) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of P-1 (or higher) according to Moody’s, or A-1 (or higher) according to S&P or F1 or higher by Fitch (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(E) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, issued and fully guaranteed by any State, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s or A by Fitch (or such similar equivalent rating or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));

(F) shares of mutual funds whose investment guidelines restrict 95% of such funds’ investments to those satisfying the provisions of clauses (A) through (E) above;

(G) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Fitch and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500,000,000;

(H) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits in an aggregate face amount not in excess of 0.5% of Consolidated Total Assets;

(I) any Investments permitted by the Issuer’s investment policy (other than any Investment permitted by Section IX thereof), as in effect on the Issue Date; and

(J) instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (A) through (I) above denominated in any foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and commonly used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States of America to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Note Party or any Subsidiary, in each case, organized in such jurisdiction.

 

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Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide to the Issuer or any Subsidiary cash management services for collections, treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), any demand deposit, payroll, trust or operating account relationships, commercial credit cards, merchant card, purchase or debit cards, non-card e-payables services, and other cash management services, including electronic funds transfer services, lockbox services, stop payment services and wire transfer services.

Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, assets or property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, assets or property or as compensation for such casualty or condemnation event.

Change of Control” means any of the following events:

(A) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Issuer or its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, or their respective employee benefit plans, or Renesas, files a Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) or any report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of Common Stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the Common Stock; provided, however, that, for purposes of this clause (A), no person or group will be deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such person or group until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange in such offer;

(B) the consummation of (i) any sale, lease or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than solely to one or more of the Issuer’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; or (ii) any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of merger, consolidation, share exchange, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition, liquidation or otherwise) (other than changes solely resulting from a subdivision or combination of the Common Stock or solely a change in the par value or nominal value of the Common Stock) all of the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitute solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property; provided, however, that any transaction described in clause (B)(ii) above pursuant to which the Persons that directly or indirectly “beneficially owned” (as defined below) all classes of the Issuer’s common equity immediately before such transaction directly or indirectly “beneficially own,” immediately after such transaction, more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, in substantially the same proportions vis-a-vis each other as immediately before such transaction will be deemed not to be a Change of Control pursuant to this clause (B); and

 

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(C) the Issuer’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer;

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the distribution of securities pursuant to the Bankruptcy Plan shall in no event be deemed a Change of Control.

For the purpose of this Indenture, whether a Person is a “beneficial owner” and whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

Change of Control Repurchase Date” means the date fixed for the repurchase of any Notes by the Issuer pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

Change of Control Repurchase Notice” means a notice (including a notice substantially in the form of the “Change of Control Repurchase Notice” set forth in Exhibit A) containing the information, or otherwise complying with the requirements, set forth in Section 4.04(F)(i) and Section 4.04(F)(ii).

Change of Control Repurchase Price” means the cash price payable by the Issuer to repurchase any Note upon its Repurchase Upon Change of Control, calculated pursuant to Section 4.04(D).

CHIPS Act” means Title XCIX — Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283), as amended by the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Division A of Pub. L. 117-167).

CHIPS Program Office” means United States Department of Commerce, CHIPS Program Office.

Close of Business” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

Collateral” means all the “Collateral” (or similar term) as defined in any Security Document and shall also include the Mortgaged Properties, and all other property that is subject to any Lien in favor of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Subagent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to any Security Document.

Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent, together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.

Collateral Agreement” means the Collateral Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, and as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, among the Issuer, each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral Agent.

 

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Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means the requirement that (in each case subject to the Agreed Security Principles, Sections 3.21(A)(iii), (iv) and (vii), Section 3.22 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement):

(A) on the Issue Date, (x) the Collateral Agent shall have received from the Issuer and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor an executed counterpart to the Collateral Agreement and each other Security Documents required to be executed by the Issuer and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral Agreement on the Issue Date in order to secure the Note Obligations thereunder and (y) the Trustee shall have received from each Subsidiary Guarantor, an executed counterpart to this Indenture, in each case duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person;

(B) on the Issue Date, (i)(x) all outstanding Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, other than Excluded Securities, and (y) all Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, other than Excluded Securities, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests and such notes or other instruments required to be delivered pursuant to the applicable Security Documents, together with stock powers, note powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(C) in the case of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, shall have received (i) a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor, a supplement to the Collateral Agreement and supplements to the other Security Documents, if applicable, substantially in the form specified therefor, in each case, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor, such other Security Documents governed by the law of any Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction as are necessary for the grant of a perfected security interest in the Equity Interests of, and assets of, such Subsidiary Guarantor, which shall include, among other things, security over substantially all assets in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is customary, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor;

(D) after the Issue Date, (i) (x) all outstanding Equity Interests of any person that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date and (y) subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), all Equity Interests directly acquired by the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date, other than Excluded Securities, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement or other applicable Security Documents, and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have received all certificates or other instruments (if any) representing such Equity Interests, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(E) on the Issue Date, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 3.22, all documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, and filings with the United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (including any Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property), and all other actions reasonably necessary (including those required by applicable Requirements of Law) to be delivered, filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents (in each case, including any supplements thereto) and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents, shall have been delivered, filed, registered or recorded concurrently with, or promptly following, the execution and delivery of each such Security Document;

 

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(F) subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), within the time periods set forth in Section 3.21 with respect to Mortgaged Properties encumbered pursuant to said Section 3.21, the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of each Mortgage to be entered into with respect to each such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Mortgaged Property and suitable for recording or filing in all filing or recording offices that may be necessary or reasonably desirable to create a valid and enforceable Lien subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens, at the time of recordation thereof, (ii) with respect to the Mortgage encumbering each such Mortgaged Property, opinions of counsel in favor of the Collateral Agent regarding the enforceability, due authorization, execution and delivery of the Mortgages and such other matters customarily covered in real estate counsel opinions and customarily given in similar financing transactions, (iii) with respect to each such Mortgaged Property, the Flood Documentation and (iv) such other customary certificates, affidavits and similar deliverables that are customarily given in similar financing transactions in connection with the delivery of a Mortgage reasonably necessary that are available to the Issuer without material expense with respect to any such Mortgage or Mortgaged Property;

(G) [Reserved];

(H) [Reserved]; and

(I) after the Issue Date, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, shall have received (i) such other Security Documents as may be required to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.21 or the Collateral Agreement, and (ii) evidence of compliance with any other requirements of Section 3.21.

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Issuer, par value $0.00125 per share, at the date of this Indenture, subject to Section 5.09.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any person for any period, all interest expense, including the amortization of debt discount and premium, the amortization or expensing of all fees and expenses payable in connection with the incurrence of indebtedness, the interest component under Capitalized Lease Obligations, capitalized interest, interest paid in kind and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Agreements, in each case, of such person and its subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding:

(A) extraordinary gains or losses;

 

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(B) net earnings of any business entity (other than a Subsidiary) in which any Note Party or any Subsidiary thereof has an ownership interest unless such net earnings shall have actually been received by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in the form of cash distributions;

(C) any gain or loss from Dispositions not in the ordinary course of business during such period; and

(D) any portion of the net earnings of any Subsidiary which for any reason is unavailable for payment of dividends to the Note Parties.

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the date of determination less the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which are listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of such date as of the last day of the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such date of determination, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000,000 (other than any cash that is “restricted” in favor of the First Lien Notes, the Second Lien Takeback Notes, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes and the Notes), to (b) EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended.

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date, the total assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer delivered pursuant to Section 3.03.

Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis consisting of (a) Indebtedness for borrowed money (including the Notes), (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (c) purchase money debt, (d) debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar debt instruments, (e) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price with respect to acquisitions, including, subject to the limitation below, earn-outs (but excluding (i) customary working capital and purchase price adjustments and trade accounts payables and other accrued trade obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and (ii) all earn-out obligations and other similar contingent consideration not yet due and payable), (f) all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all preferred stock of the Subsidiaries of the Issuer, in each case issued to third parties, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its Maximum Fixed Repurchase Price (as defined below) and (g) guarantees of the foregoing; provided, however, that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include Permitted Warrant Transactions. For purposes hereof, the “Maximum Fixed Repurchase Price” of any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock means the price at which such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock could be redeemed or repurchased by the issuer thereof in accordance with its terms or, if such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock cannot be so redeemed or repurchased, the fair market value of such preferred stock, in each case, determined on any date on which Consolidated Total Debt shall be required to be determined.

 

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Contribution Debt” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not greater than 100% (or 50% in the case of Permitted Disqualified Stock) of the aggregate net amount of cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date in excess of $240,000,000 in the aggregate from (x) the issuance or sale of the Issuer’s Qualified Equity Interests and Permitted Disqualified Stock or (y) a contribution to the Issuer’s common equity, in each case after the Issue Date (in each case of (x) and (y), other than proceeds (i) from the sale of Equity Interests by the Issuer to any Subsidiary or contributions to the common equity of the Issuer by any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) from the conversion of any Convertible Notes or the exercise of any Renesas Warrants), in each case, to the extent such proceeds have not otherwise been applied to voluntarily redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 4.03, make any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.15 or any Permitted Investments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (A) Contribution Debt may only be allocated to Section 3.12(B)(xi) and (B) Section 3.12(B)(xi) may not be used to incur any other Indebtedness.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Conversion Date” means, with respect to a Note, the first Business Day on which the requirements set forth in Section 5.02(A) to convert such Note are satisfied.

Conversion Expiration Date” means September 29, 2027.

Conversion Price” means, as of any time, an amount equal to (A) one thousand dollars ($1,000) divided by (B) the Conversion Rate in effect at such time.

Conversion Rate” means, initially 54.5005 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, provided, however, that the Conversion Rate is subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 5; provided, further, that whenever this Indenture refers to the Conversion Rate as of a particular date without setting forth a particular time on such date, such reference will be deemed to be to the Conversion Rate immediately after the Close of Business on such date.

Conversion Share” means any share of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of any Note.

Convertible Notes” means, collectively, (i) the Notes, (ii) the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes and (iii) any other debt securities issued by the Issuer from time to time permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity interests of the Issuer (and cash in lieu of any fractional interests), cash or any combination thereof (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such equity interests).

Core Assets” means any (i) MVF Assets, Siler City Assets or Durham Assets, in each case, excluding any immaterial ordinary course assets utilized in the applicable facility or campus or (ii) Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that directly or indirectly owns any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed that there is no limitation on any MVF Asset, Siler City Asset or Durham Asset moving to and from such locations.

 

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Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 333 Commerce Street, Suite 900, Nashville, Tennessee 37201, Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Wolfspeed, Inc., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor trustee (or such other address as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

Credit Facilities” means one or more credit agreements, indentures or debt facilities to which the Issuer and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries is party from time to time (including without limitation the First Lien Notes Indenture), in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, debt securities, bankers acceptances, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case as such agreements or facilities may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement exchanging, extending the maturity of, refinancing, renewing, replacing, substituting or otherwise restructuring, whether in the bank or debt capital markets (or combination thereof) (including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder or adding or removing Subsidiaries as borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or facility or any successor or replacement agreement or facility.

Daily Cash Amount” means, with respect to any VWAP Trading Day, the lesser of (A) the applicable Daily Maximum Cash Amount; and (B) the Daily Conversion Value for such VWAP Trading Day.

Daily Conversion Value” means, with respect to any VWAP Trading Day, one-thirtieth (1/30th) of the product of (A) the Conversion Rate on such VWAP Trading Day; and (B) the Daily VWAP per share of Common Stock on such VWAP Trading Day.

Daily Maximum Cash Amount” means, with respect to the conversion of any Note, the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Specified Dollar Amount applicable to such conversion by (B) thirty (30).

Daily Share Amount” means, with respect to any VWAP Trading Day, the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the excess, if any, of the Daily Conversion Value for such VWAP Trading Day over the applicable Daily Maximum Cash Amount by (B) the Daily VWAP for such VWAP Trading Day. For the avoidance of doubt, the Daily Share Amount will be zero for such VWAP Trading Day if such Daily Conversion Value does not exceed such Daily Maximum Cash Amount.

Daily VWAP” means, for any VWAP Trading Day, the per share volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page identified by “WOLF” (or such other ticker symbol for such shares of Common Stock) appended by the suffix “<EQUITY> AQR” (or, if such page is not available, its equivalent successor page) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such VWAP Trading Day (or, if such volume-

 

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weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of Common Stock on such VWAP Trading Day, reasonably determined, using a volume-weighted average price method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm selected by the Issuer). The Daily VWAP will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session.

Default” means any event or condition that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default.

Default Settlement Method” means Physical Settlement; provided, however, that subject to Section 5.03(A)(ii), the Issuer may, from time to time, change the Default Settlement Method by sending notice of the new Default Settlement Method to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent.

Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company or its successor.

Depositary Participant” means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.

Depositary Procedures” means, with respect to any conversion, transfer, exchange or other transaction involving a Global Note or any beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary applicable to such conversion, transfer, exchange or transaction.

Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction entered into pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(xviii), so long as (i) the economic terms of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, taken as a whole, are no less favorable to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries than the economic terms of the First Lien Notes Indenture, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer and (ii) the proceeds of such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, regardless of whether such arrangement is structured as a Capitalized Lease Obligation or an obligation under an operating lease, are used to prepay Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien and to pay reasonable and documented fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

Discharged Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that has been defeased (pursuant to a contractual or legal defeasance) or discharged pursuant to the prepayment or deposit of amounts sufficient to satisfy such Indebtedness as it becomes due or irrevocably called for redemption (and regardless of whether such Indebtedness constitutes a liability on the balance sheet of the obligor thereof); provided, however, that such Indebtedness shall be deemed Discharged Indebtedness if the payment or deposit of all amounts required for defeasance or discharge or redemption thereof have been made even if certain conditions thereto have not been satisfied, so long as such conditions are reasonably expected to be satisfied within 95 days after such prepayment or deposit; provided, further, however, that if the conditions referred to in the immediately preceding proviso are not satisfied within 95 days after such prepayment or deposit, such Indebtedness shall cease to constitute Discharged Indebtedness after such 95-day period.

 

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Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any person and transaction, a member of the Board of Directors of such person who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

Dispose” or “Disposed of” means to convey, sell, lease, sub-lease, license, sub-license, sell and leaseback, assign, farm-out, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property, business or asset, in one transaction or a series of transactions, including any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction and any sale or issuance of Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, and including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith. The term “Disposition” shall have a correlative meaning to the foregoing.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any person, any Equity Interests of such person that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior redemption or repurchase in full of the Notes and payment in full of all other Note Obligations that are accrued and payable), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash or (d) at the option of the holder thereof, is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in each case of the preceding clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date (provided, that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock). Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) any Equity Interests issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (ii) any class of Equity Interests of such person that by its terms authorizes such person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

DOE Borrower” means any borrower of any DOE Financing.

DOE Financing” means any Indebtedness of any DOE Borrower owing to (x) the United States Department of Energy Loan Programs Office or (y) any financial institution acting as an administrator, facilitator, agent, trustee, servicer, conduit, instrumentality or similar capacity with respect to the United States Department of Energy Loans Programs Office.

DOE Parent Entity” means the Issuer or any other Subsidiary which is a direct or indirect parent company of any DOE Borrower.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

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Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) Wolfspeed Texas LLC and (b) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (unless the Issuer has elected to cause such Domestic Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor).

Durham Assets” means any assets of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries (i) located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, Durham, North Carolina and (ii) located at, or used in, Durham, North Carolina from and after the Issue Date (it being understood and agreed that such assets in clauses (i) and (ii) shall at all times constitute “Durham Assets” even if subsequently removed from, or no longer used in, Durham, North Carolina).

EBITDA” means, for any period, in each case for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (other than amounts specifically excluded from Consolidated Net Income under clauses (A) through (C) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income): (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) all non-recurring expenses and charges which do not represent a cash item in such period, (v) expenses in connection with the issuance of stock options or other equity as compensation to employees and/or management of the Issuer or any Subsidiary, (vi) costs and expenses, in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 in the aggregate during any four (4) fiscal quarter period, incurred in connection with any investment, acquisition, asset disposition, equity issuance or incurrence, payment, prepayment, refinancing or redemption of Indebtedness (including fees and expenses related to this Indenture and any amendments, supplements and modifications thereof), including the amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses (in each case, whether or not consummated) and (vii) all adjustments used in the calculation of non-GAAP net loss by the Issuer as reported in its filings with the SEC for the relevant period, minus (b) to the extent included in calculating Consolidated Net Income, (i) all non-recurring, non-cash items increasing net income for such period and (ii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (a)(iv) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were incurred plus (or minus) (c) non-cash losses (or gains) arising from the impact of mark-to-market valuation of the Note Parties’ Investment in Lextar Electronics Corporation; provided that (x) in no event shall any fees, costs or expenses of the type referred to as “Start-up and Underutilization Costs” in the Issuer’s filings with the SEC be added back in the calculation of EBITDA, (y) if any Disposition occurs during such period, any EBITDA attributable to the property, business or assets of such Disposition shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA and such Disposition shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the relevant Test Period and (z) if any acquisition or Investment occurs during such period, any EBITDA attributable to the property, business or assets so acquired or invested in shall be included in the calculation of EBITDA and such acquisition or Investment shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the relevant Test Period.

ELOC/ATM” means the equity line of credit or “at the market” program entered into to facilitate the sale of Common Stock as set forth in the Plan of Reorganization.

Equity Interests” of any person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity or ownership of such person, including any Preferred Stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest, and any securities or other rights or interests convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing; provided that Equity Interests shall not include any Convertible Notes, Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction.

 

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Escrowed Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) issued to refinance in full any Indebtedness, (ii) in a principal amount no greater than the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness to be so refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest thereon, underwriting discounts and fees, commissions and expenses related to such offering) and (iii) the proceeds of which are funded into an escrow account (pursuant to customary escrow arrangements) pending the release thereof for such refinancing; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, proceeds released from the escrow account and used to refinance the outstanding Indebtedness shall reduce dollar for dollar the amount of “Escrowed Indebtedness” permitted hereunder.

Excluded Account” means (a) any Deposit Account specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of the employees of any Note Party, (b) any tax account (including any sales tax account), (c) any fiduciary, pension, 401(k) or similar trust account holding employee funds, (d) any impound, escrow, trust, cash collateral (including any Deposit Account or Securities Account holding only cash collateral for letters of credit or Hedging Agreements secured by Liens permitted by clauses (AA) or (EE) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”) or similar account and (e) any Deposit Account and Securities Account that has cash or Permitted Investments that do not have a balance at any time exceeding $20,000,000 individually and $50,000,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts constituting Excluded Accounts; provided that no account held by any Note Party over which a Lien has been granted to secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture or the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be an Excluded Account.

Excluded Securities” means any of the following:

(A) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness with respect to which the Issuer reasonably determines in good faith that the cost or other consequences of pledging such Equity Interests or Indebtedness in favor of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents are excessive to the Issuer in relation to the value to be afforded to the Holders thereby;

(B) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Requirement of Law or would require governmental or other regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

(C) any Equity Interests of any person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the extent (i) that a pledge thereof to secure the Note Obligations is prohibited by any organizational documents, joint venture agreement or stockholder agreement of such Subsidiary with an unaffiliated third party without the consent of such third party; provided that this clause (i) shall not apply if (1) such other party is a Note Party or a Subsidiary of any Note Party or (2) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be

 

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deemed to obligate the Issuer or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and shall only apply for so long as such organizational documents, joint venture agreement or stockholder agreement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, or (ii) a pledge thereof to secure the Note Obligations would give any other party (other than a Note Party or a Subsidiary of a Note Party) to any organizational document or stockholder agreement governing such Equity Interests the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (so long as, in each case of subclause (i) and (ii) of this clause (C), such provision prohibits the granting of a security interest over such Equity Interests generally (and not solely a pledge to secure the Note Obligations));

(D) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Equity Interests could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(E) any Equity Interests that are set forth on Schedule 1.01(A) ; and

(F) any Margin Stock;

provided that no Equity Interest or Indebtedness held by any Note Party over which a Lien has been granted to secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture or the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be Excluded Securities.

Excluded Subsidiary” means any of the following (except as otherwise provided in clause (b) of the definition of Subsidiary Guarantor):

(A) each Immaterial Subsidiary;

(B) each Subsidiary that is prohibited from Guaranteeing the Note Obligations by a contractual obligation (to the extent such prohibition exists as of the Issue Date or at the time of the acquisition of such Subsidiary (or is a renewal or replacement thereof); provided that such contractual obligation was not entered into or created in contemplation of this Indenture and only for so long as such prohibition exists);

(C) each Subsidiary that is prohibited from Guaranteeing the Note Obligations by any Requirement of Law or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a Governmental Authority to Guarantee the Note Obligations (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received and is in effect);

(D) [reserved];

(E) [reserved];

(F) each not-for-profit Subsidiary or political action committee;

(G) each Subsidiary which is a foreign sales office, to the extent such Subsidiary does not own any material assets;

 

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(H) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, the providing of a Guarantee of the Note Obligations could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer; and

(I) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Issuer reasonably determines in good faith that the cost or other consequences of providing a Guarantee of the Note Obligations are excessive to the Issuer in relation to the value to be afforded to the Holders thereby.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any Note Document, in no event shall any Subsidiary that (x) is a borrower or guarantor of any DOE Financing, (y) owns any Material IP or (z) is a borrower, issuer or guarantor of any First Lien Notes, Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes or Second Lien Takeback Notes (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness), be an Excluded Subsidiary.

Ex-Dividend Date” means, with respect to an issuance, dividend or distribution on the Common Stock, the first date on which shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such issuance, dividend or distribution (including pursuant to due bills or similar arrangements required by the relevant stock exchange). For the avoidance of doubt, any alternative trading convention on the applicable exchange or market in respect of the Common Stock under a separate ticker symbol or CUSIP number will not be considered “regular way” for this purpose.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exempted Fundamental Change” means any Fundamental Change with respect to which, in accordance with Section 4.02(K), the Issuer does not offer to repurchase any Notes.

First Lien Notes” means $1,259,210,125 aggregate principal amount of First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2030 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the First Lien Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the First Lien Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

First Lien Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the First Lien Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of First Lien Notes Indenture.

First Lien Notes Indenture” means, an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the trustee and the collateral agent, in relation to the First Lien Notes, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

First Lien Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for First Lien Notes, or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of First Lien Notes Indenture.

 

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First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, made between, among others, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the First Lien Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Collateral Agent and the other parties named therein, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

First-Priority Debt Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

First-Priority Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

Flood Documentation” means, with respect to each Mortgaged Property located in the United States of America or any territory thereof, (i) a completed “life-of-loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination (to the extent a Mortgaged Property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (as defined below), together with a notice about Special Flood Hazard Area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Issuer and the applicable Note Party relating thereto) and (ii) a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, and a declaration page relating to, the insurance policies required by the applicable provisions of the Security Documents, each of which shall (A) be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a “standard” or “New York” lender’s loss payable or mortgagee endorsement (as applicable), (B) name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured and loss payee/mortgagee, (C) identify the address of each property located in an area within the United States identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area (each a “Special Flood Hazard Area”), the applicable flood zone designation and the flood insurance coverage and deductible relating thereto and (D) be otherwise in customary form and substance (as reasonably determined by the Issuer).

Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction” means, as of any date of determination, any jurisdiction in which a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor is formed or incorporated.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary (unless the Issuer has elected to cause such Foreign Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor).

 

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Fundamental Change” means any of the following events:

(A) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Issuer or its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, or their respective employee benefit plans, or Renesas, files a Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) or any report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of Common Stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the Common Stock; provided, however, that, for purposes of this clause (A), no person or group will be deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such person or group until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange in such offer;

(B) the consummation of (i) any sale, lease or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than solely to one or more of the Issuer’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; or (ii) any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of merger, consolidation, share exchange, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition, liquidation or otherwise) (other than changes solely resulting from a subdivision or combination of the Common Stock or solely a change in the par value or nominal value of the Common Stock) all of the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitute solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property; provided, however, that any transaction described in clause (B)(ii) above pursuant to which the Persons that directly or indirectly “beneficially owned” (as defined below) all classes of the Issuer’s common equity immediately before such transaction directly or indirectly “beneficially own,” immediately after such transaction, more than fifty percent (50%) of all classes of common equity of the surviving, continuing or acquiring company or other transferee, as applicable, or the parent thereof, in substantially the same proportions vis-a-vis each other as immediately before such transaction will be deemed not to be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (B);

(C) the Issuer’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer;

(D) the Common Stock is not listed on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Market or The NASDAQ Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors) (each, the “Stock Exchange”); or

(E) any event or circumstance that constitutes, or results in any “fundamental change,” “change of control” or any comparable term under, and as defined in, the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture or the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture;

provided, however, that (i) a transaction or event described in clause (A) or (B) above will not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least ninety percent (90%) of the consideration received or to be received by the holders of Common Stock (excluding cash payments for fractional shares or pursuant to dissenters rights), in connection with such transaction or event, consists of ordinary shares or shares of common stock or other corporate common equity listed on any of the Stock Exchanges, or that will be so listed when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or event, and such transaction or event constitutes an Common Stock Change Event whose Reference Property consists of such consideration and (ii) notwithstanding the foregoing, the distribution of securities pursuant to the Bankruptcy Plan shall in no event be deemed a Fundamental Change.

 

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For the purposes of this definition, any transaction or event described in both clause (A) and in clause (B) above (without regard to the proviso in clause (B) above) will be deemed to occur solely pursuant to clause (B) above (subject to such proviso).

For the purpose of this Indenture, whether a Person is a “beneficial owner” and whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” means the date fixed for the repurchase of any Notes by the Issuer pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change.

Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” means a notice (including a notice substantially in the form of the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” set forth in Exhibit A) containing the information, or otherwise complying with the requirements, set forth in Section 4.02(F)(i) and Section 4.02(F)(ii).

Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” means the cash price payable by the Issuer to repurchase any Note upon its Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, calculated pursuant to Section 4.02(D).

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America on the Issue Date, applied on a consistent basis, subject to the provisions of Section 1.03.

Global Note” means a Note that is represented by a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee, and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary.

Global Note Legend” means a legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B.

Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government, court, governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, department, commission, board, bureau, tribunal agency, other authority, instrumentality or regulatory or legislative body.

Gross Cash Proceeds” means the gross cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the applicable event; provided that, to constitute “Gross Cash Proceeds,” the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer from such applicable event may not be less than 95.00% of the gross cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the applicable event.

Guarantee” of or by any person (the “guarantor”) means (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or

 

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payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness or other obligation (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness or other obligation to be secured by such a Lien) of any other person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor; provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Issue Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition of assets permitted by this Indenture (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as reasonably determined by such person in good faith.

Hedging Agreement” means any agreement entered into with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction, or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value, or credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reserve repurchase transaction, securities lending transaction, weather index transaction, spot contracts, fixed price physical delivery contracts, or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, in each case of the foregoing, whether or not exchange traded; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.

Holder” means a person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that does not have (i) revenue, determined on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as of such date, in excess of 1% of the aggregate revenue of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period or (ii) total assets, determined on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, at any time, in excess of 1% of the Consolidated Total Assets; provided that (x) the aggregate amount of revenue of all Subsidiaries constituting Immaterial Subsidiaries, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, shall not exceed 5% of the aggregate revenue of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period and (y) the total assets of all Subsidiaries constituting Immaterial Subsidiaries shall not at any time exceed 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets; provided, further, that (A) the Issuer may elect in its sole discretion to exclude from classification as an Immaterial Subsidiary any Subsidiary that would otherwise meet the definition thereof and (B) for the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer may at any time designate any Subsidiary that complies with the terms of this definition as an “Immaterial Subsidiary”. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this definition,

 

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no Subsidiary shall be an Immaterial Subsidiary if such Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, owns any Core Asset or is a borrower or guarantor under any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness)(it being understood and agreed that any such Subsidiary, if applicable, may otherwise be deemed an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with the definition thereof). Each Immaterial Subsidiary as of the Issue Date shall be set forth in Schedule 1.01(C).

Indebtedness” of any person means, if and to the extent (other than with respect to clause (i)) the same would constitute indebtedness or a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person, (d) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than such obligations accrued in the ordinary course), (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such person, (f) all net payments that such person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such person is being determined in respect of outstanding Hedging Agreements, (g) the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (h) the principal component of all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (i) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) to (h) above and (j) the amount of all obligations of such person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock); provided that Indebtedness shall not include (A) trade and other ordinary-course payables, accrued expenses, and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) prepaid or deferred revenue, (C) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase prices of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset, (D) earn-out obligations (to the extent permitted hereunder) until such obligations become a liability on the balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP, (E) obligations in respect of Third Party Funds incurred in the ordinary course of business, (F) in the case of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (G) completion guarantees or (H) any Permitted Warrant Transaction. The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness limits the liability of such person in respect thereof.

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Intellectual Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreements” means the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, collectively.

Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to a Note, each June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2025 (or commencing on such other date specified in the certificate representing such Note). For the avoidance of doubt, the Maturity Date is an Interest Payment Date.

 

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Investment” means (i) the purchase or acquisition (including pursuant to any merger with a person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger) of any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any other person, (ii) the making of any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the Indebtedness of any other person (other than in respect of intercompany liabilities incurred in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries) or (iii) the purchase or acquisition, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of (x) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another person or (y) assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such person.

If the Issuer or any Subsidiary sells or otherwise Disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or Disposition, such person is no longer a Subsidiary, the Issuer will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or Disposition equal to the fair market value of the Issuer’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or Disposed of. The acquisition by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of a person that holds an Investment in a third person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Issuer or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Investor Rights Agreement” means the Investor Rights and Disposition Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Issuer and Renesas.

Issue Date” means September 29, 2025.

Issuer” means the Person named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture and, subject to Article 6, its successors and assigns.

Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by one (1) of its Officers and delivered to the Trustee.

Junior Financing” means (i) any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is subordinated in right of payment to the Note Obligations (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or (ii) any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is either unsecured or secured by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(xii) constitute Junior Financing.

Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock for any Trading Day means the closing sale price per share of Common Stock (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the last bid price and the last ask price per share of Common Stock or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average last bid prices and the average last ask prices per share of Common Stock) on such Trading Day as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed. If the Common Stock

 

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is not listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on such Trading Day, then the Last Reported Sale Price will be the last quoted bid price per share of Common Stock on such Trading Day in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted on such Trading Day, then the Last Reported Sale Price will be the average of the mid-point of the last bid price and the last ask price per share of Common Stock on such Trading Day from each of at least three (3) nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Issuer. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will have any duty to determine the Last Reported Sale Price.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, security interest or similar monetary encumbrance in or on such asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided that in no event shall an operating lease or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Transaction” means any Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Equity Interests, Indebtedness or otherwise) the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

Majority Holders” means, at any applicable time and subject to Section 2.16 and Section 2.18, Holders owning more than 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

Make-Whole Event” means (A) a Fundamental Change (determined after giving effect to the proviso immediately after clause (E) of the definition thereof, but without regard to the proviso to clause (B)(ii) of such definition) (an event referred to in this clause (A), a “Make-Whole Fundamental Change”); or (B) the sending of a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 4.03(G) in respect of a Redemption; provided, however, that the sending of a Redemption Notice for a Redemption of less than all of the outstanding Notes will constitute a Make-Whole Event only with respect to the Notes called (or deemed to be called pursuant to Section 4.03(K)) for Redemption pursuant to such Redemption Notice and not with respect to any other Notes.

Make-Whole Event Conversion Period” has the following meaning:

(A) in the case of a Make-Whole Event pursuant to clause (A) of the definition thereof, the period from, and including, the Make-Whole Event Effective Date of such Make-Whole Event to, and including, the thirty fifth (35th) Trading Day after such Make-Whole Event Effective Date (or, if such Make-Whole Event also constitutes a Fundamental Change (other than an Exempted Fundamental Change), to, but excluding, the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date); and

(B) in the case of a Make-Whole Event pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof, the period from, and including, the Redemption Notice Date for the related Redemption to, and including, the second (2nd) Business Day immediately before the related Redemption Date;

 

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provided, however, that if the Conversion Date for the conversion of a Note that has been called (or deemed, pursuant to Section 4.03(K), to be called) for Redemption occurs during the Make- Whole Event Conversion Period for both a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurring pursuant to clause (A) of the definition of “Make-Whole Event” and a Make-Whole Event resulting from such Redemption pursuant to clause (B) of such definition, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.07, solely for purposes of such conversion, (x) such Conversion Date will be deemed to occur solely during the Make-Whole Event Conversion Period for the Make-Whole Event with the earlier Make-Whole Event Effective Date; and (y) the Make-Whole Event with the later Make-Whole Event Effective Date will be deemed not to have occurred.

Make-Whole Event Effective Date” means (A) with respect to a Make-Whole Event pursuant to clause (A) of the definition thereof, the date on which such Make-Whole Event occurs or becomes effective; and (B) with respect to a Make-Whole Event pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof, the applicable Redemption Notice Date.

Make-Whole Fundamental Change” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Make-Whole Event.

Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Market Disruption Event” means, with respect to any date, the occurrence or existence, during the one-half hour period ending at the scheduled close of trading on such date on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or other market on which the Common Stock is listed for trading or trades, of any material suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect on the business, property, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operating results or financial condition of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, excluding in any event the effect of filing the Chapter 11 Cases, the events and conditions leading up to and customarily resulting from the commencement and continuation of the Chapter 11 Cases, the effects thereof and any action required to be taken under the Chapter 11 Cases or the Bankruptcy Plan themselves, (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform any of their payment obligations under any Note Document to which the Issuer or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors is a party or (c) a material adverse effect on the validity or enforceability of any of the Note Documents or the rights and remedies of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or the Holders thereunder.

Material IP” means any intellectual property (including any trade secrets) of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (and excluding commercial off the shelf products) that is material to any Product Family of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided that Material IP does not include (i) the intellectual property subject to the Specified IP Disposition or (ii) any other expiring intellectual property that the Issuer determines is no longer material to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

 

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Material Real Property” means any parcel or parcels of Real Property now or hereafter owned in fee by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor and having a fair market value (on a per-property basis) of at least $5,000,000, as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith on the Issue Date (or, if acquired after the Issue Date, the date of acquisition); provided that “Material Real Property” shall not include (i) any Real Property in respect of which the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor does not own the land in fee simple or (ii) any Real Property which the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor leases to a third party.

Maturity Date” means June 15, 2031.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and any successor to the ratings business thereof.

Mortgaged Properties” means each Material Real Property encumbered by a Mortgage pursuant to Section 3.21.

Mortgages” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents (including amendments to any of the foregoing) delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties, each, (i) in the case of Material Real Property located in the United States, in a form customary for financing transactions similar to this Indenture and reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer or (ii) in the case of Material Real Property located outside of the United States in such form as is customary for the applicable jurisdiction and reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

MVF” means the Mohawk Valley Fab facility and campus in Marcy, New York.

MVF Assets” means (i) any assets of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, MVF and (ii) any additional assets located at, or used in, MVF from and after the Issue Date (it being understood and agreed that such assets in clauses (i) and (ii) shall at all times constitute “MVF Assets” even if subsequently removed from, or no longer used in, MVF).

Net Income” means, with respect to any person, the net income (loss) of such person, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Net Proceeds” means 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer or any Subsidiary (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but only as and when received) from any Disposition of, or Casualty Event with respect to, (x) any Core Asset (other than any Disposition under clause (A) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions”), (y) any Non-Core Assets pursuant to clause (G) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions” or (z) any assets or property pursuant to clause (B)(i) of the definition of “Asset Dispositions”, in each case, net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required

 

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debt payments and required payments of other obligations that are secured by the applicable asset or property (including without limitation principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts) (other than pursuant to the Note Documents), other expenses and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) [reserved], (iii) Taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (provided, that if the amount of any such estimated Taxes exceeds the amount of Taxes actually required to be paid in respect of such Disposition or Casualty Event, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Proceeds at the time such Taxes are actually paid) and (iv) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (iii) above) (A) related to any of the applicable assets and (B) retained by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event occurring on the date of such reduction); provided, that, with respect to any Net Proceeds arising from any Casualty Event with respect to any Core Assets, if no Default or Event of Default exists and the Issuer intends to use such proceeds within 12 months of such receipt to acquire assets that reasonably replace or remediate the property or assets subject to such Casualty Event to a similar level of such property or assets as prior to such Casualty Event, such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not, within 12 months of such receipt, so used (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used within such 12 month period, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such expiry without giving effect to this proviso).

Non-Core Assets” means any assets owned by the Issuer or any Subsidiary that do not constitute Core Assets.

Note Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent.

Note Documents” means (i) this Indenture, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Security Documents, (iv) any Intercreditor Agreement, (v) the Investor Rights Agreement and (vi) all other fee letters, documents, certificates, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by or on behalf of a Note Party for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee, the Holders or any other person in connection herewith.

Note Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Issuer of (i) the unpaid principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Notes issued by the Issuer under this Indenture, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for redemption or otherwise and (ii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer owed under or pursuant to this Indenture and each other Note Document, including obligations to pay fees, expense reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), and (b) the due and punctual payment of all obligations of each other Note Party under or pursuant to each of the Note Documents.

 

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Note Parties” means, collectively, the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor and each of them is an “Note Party”.

Notes” means (i) the Initial Notes and (ii) following the issuance of any Additional Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, such Additional Notes, treated as a single class. For the avoidance of doubt, Initial Notes and Additional Notes shall vote together on all matters as one class, and except as where expressly provided otherwise, shall be deemed to constitute a single class or series for all purposes under this Indenture.

Observation Period” means, with respect to any Note to be converted, (A) subject to clause (B) below, if the Conversion Date for such Note occurs on or before the thirty fifth (35th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Conversion Expiration Date, the thirty (30) consecutive VWAP Trading Days beginning on, and including, the third (3rd) VWAP Trading Day immediately after such Conversion Date; (B) if such Conversion Date occurs on or after the date the Issuer has sent a Redemption Notice calling all or any Notes for Redemption pursuant to Section 4.03(G) and before the related Redemption Date, the thirty (30) consecutive VWAP Trading Days beginning on, and including, the thirty first (31st) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before such Redemption Date; and (C) subject to clause (B) above, if such Conversion Date occurs after the thirty fifth (35th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Conversion Expiration Date, the thirty (30) consecutive VWAP Trading Days beginning on, and including, the thirty first (31st) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Conversion Expiration Date.

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Group Treasurer, any Treasury Director, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of the Issuer.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate that is signed on behalf of the Issuer by one (1) of its Officers and that meets the requirements of Section 13.03.

Open of Business” means 9:00 a.m., New York City time.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion, from legal counsel (including an employee of, or counsel to, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, and, when applicable, the Collateral Agent, that meets the requirements of Section 13.03, subject to customary qualifications and exclusions.

Parallel Debt Creditor” means the Collateral Agent in its capacity as creditor of the Parallel Debt.

Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, made between, among others, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Trustee, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Collateral Agent and the other parties named therein, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Issuer’s common stock purchased by the Issuer in connection with the issuance of any Convertible Notes; provided that the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction, does not exceed the net proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of such Convertible Notes issued in connection with the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

Permitted Disqualified Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer that constitutes Disqualified Stock solely due to clause (c) of the definition thereof; provided that (i) such Preferred Stock has been broadly marketed to potential investors and (ii) such Preferred Stock does not provide for scheduled payments of dividends in cash in an amount in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination).

Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap” means an amount equal to the sum of (a) on or prior to June 22, 2026, 4.00% per annum and thereafter, 0.00% per annum plus (b) 300 basis points per annum.

Permitted Investments” shall mean:

(A) any Investment in a Person if, as a result of such Investment, (i) such Person becomes a Note Party, or (ii) such Person (other than the Issuer except as permitted under Section 6.01) either (a) is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into a Note Party and a Note Party is the surviving Person, or (b) transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, a Note Party;

(B) (i) Investments by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; (ii) intercompany loans from the Issuer or any Subsidiary to the Issuer or any Subsidiary; and (iii) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations permitted pursuant to Section 3.12 (except to the extent such Guarantee is expressly subject to Section 3.15); provided that (x) the aggregate amount of Investments made pursuant to this clause (B) by Note Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties and Guarantees made pursuant to this clause (B) by any Note Party of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party in any fiscal year shall not exceed the greater of (x) $12,500,000 and (y) 6.25% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended and (y) any Investment by any Note Party in any Subsidiary in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents shall only be permitted to the extent such Investment was made in reliance on the foregoing clause (x) of this proviso;

(C) any Investments in Cash Equivalents;

(D) Investments arising out of the receipt by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of non-cash consideration for the Disposition of assets permitted under Section 3.16 (other than clause (C) of the definition of “Asset Disposition”);

(E) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary (i) in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate outstanding amount (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs

 

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thereof) not to exceed the greater of (x) $6,000,000 and (y) 3.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended, (ii) in respect of payroll payments and expenses in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice and (iii) in connection with such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer solely to the extent that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Issuer in cash as common equity;

(F) accounts receivable, security deposits and prepayments arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices and any assets or securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and any prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business;

(G) Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(H) Investments existing on, or contractually committed as of, or contemplated as of, the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(D) and any extensions, renewals, replacements or reinvestments thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this clause (H) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing, committed or contemplated on the Issue Date;

(I) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits under clauses (F), (G), (N), (O), (R), (S), (U), (AA), (BB), (EE) and (LL) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(J) Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice by Note Parties into Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties on a transfer pricing basis to fund expenses of such Subsidiaries;

(K) [Reserved];

(L) any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction, to the extent constituting Investments;

(M) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices or Investments acquired by the Issuer or a Subsidiary as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(N) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of a person merged into the Issuer or merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary after the Issue Date, in each case, to the extent that such Investments of the acquired Subsidiary were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

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(O) other Investments in an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (x) $62,500,000 and (y) 31.25% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that no Investments may be made pursuant to this clause (O) in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, unless such Investment constitutes the acquisition of additional Equity Interests in such non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

(P) Guarantees by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(Q) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with (or that are received in exchange for) Equity Interests of the Issuer or the cash proceeds of Equity Interests of the Issuer;

(R) [Reserved];

(S) Investments consisting of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 3.15 (and without duplication of any baskets thereunder);

(T) Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

(U) [Reserved];

(V) [Reserved];

(W) advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of the Issuer or such Subsidiary; and

(X) to the extent constituting Investments, (i) purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or non-exclusive licenses or leases of Intellectual Property in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice and not constituting all or substantially all of the assets of another person and (ii) development and expansion Capital Expenditures (which shall exclude, for the avoidance of doubt, any acquisition of Equity Interests of any person).

Permitted Liens” means:

(A) Liens on property or assets of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(E) and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that such Liens shall secure only those obligations that they secure on the Issue Date (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such obligations permitted by Section 3.12(B)(i)) and shall not subsequently apply to any other property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (B) proceeds and products thereof;

 

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(B) any Lien created under the Note Documents or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property by the terms of the applicable Mortgage filed in connection with the Note Documents;

(C) [Reserved];

(D) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(E) Liens imposed by law, such as landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, supplier’s, construction or other like Liens, securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, the Issuer or any Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP or with respect to which the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(F) (i) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations, (ii) Liens pursuant to Section 8a of the German Partial Retirement Act (Altersteilzeitgesetz) or Section 7d of the German Social Law Act No. 4 (Sozialgesetzbuch IV) and (iii) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(G) deposits and other Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, completion guarantees, bids, leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(H) zoning and other land use restrictions, easements, survey exceptions, servitudes, trackage rights, leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), subleases, licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, reservations of rights, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of Real Property or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its Real Property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar non-monetary encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and title defects or irregularities that are of a minor nature and that, in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

 

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(I) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(ix); provided that such Liens (i) only apply to assets permitted under Section 3.12(B)(ix) and (ii) do not apply to any property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than (A) the property or assets acquired, leased, constructed, replaced, repaired or improved with such Indebtedness, (B) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (C) proceeds and products thereof; provided, further, that individual financings provided by one lender (and its Affiliates) may be cross-collateralized to other financings provided by such lender (and its Affiliates);

(J) (i) first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets securing DOE Financing permitted under Section 3.12(B)(xii)(x) and (ii) first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets representing a federal interest and security interest in favor of the United States Department of Commerce, the CHIPS Program Office or any other Governmental Authority of the United States securing obligations permitted under Section 3.12(B)(xii)(y), so long as, in each case, the Note Obligations are secured on a third-priority basis on such assets and such Indebtedness or other obligations is subject to an Intercreditor Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt the parties agree that if first-priority Liens on the Siler City Assets were granted pursuant to either of the foregoing clauses, the Lien securing the First-Priority Obligations would be permitted to be secured on a second-priority basis as it relates to the Siler City Assets);

(K) Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(A)(x);

(L) Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Issue Date and pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, Section 3.21 or Section 3.22 and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien; provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (B) proceeds and products thereof; provided, further, that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Indenture;

(M) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under any leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(N) Liens in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice that are contractual rights of set-off and/or pledges of cash collateral (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks and other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposits, sweep accounts, reserve accounts or similar accounts of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, including with respect to credit card charge-backs and similar obligations, (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers, suppliers or service providers of the Issuer or any Subsidiary or (iv) relating to any other Cash Management Agreement permitted by this Indenture;

 

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(O) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice (i) arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision or customary standard terms relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts, (iii) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred and not for speculative purposes, (iv) in respect of Third Party Funds or (v) in favor of credit card companies pursuant to agreements therewith;

(P) Liens securing obligations in respect of trade-related letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations permitted under Section 3.12(B)(vi) or (xv) and covering the property (or the documents of title in respect of such property) financed by such letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations and the proceeds and products thereof;

(Q) leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to Intellectual Property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(R) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of applicable law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(S) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in respect of any Investment permitted to be made hereunder;

(T) Liens with respect to property or assets of any Subsidiary that is not a Note Party securing obligations of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party permitted under Section 3.12;

(U) Liens on any amounts held by a trustee or agent under any indenture or other debt agreement issued in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the release thereof, or under any indenture or other debt agreement pursuant to customary discharge, redemption or defeasance provisions to the extent the relevant Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred and discharged, redeemed or defeased, as applicable, hereunder;

(V) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(W) (i) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii) (other than Indebtedness in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction); provided that such Liens under this clause (i) shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement; and (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided that such Liens under this clause (ii) are limited to the assets or property that is the subject of such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(X) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix); provided that such Liens shall be pari passu to the Liens securing the Note Obligations or junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and in each case and shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements;

 

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(Y) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (and similar instruments under the laws of any other jurisdiction) regarding operating leases or other obligations not constituting Indebtedness;

(Z) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Cash Equivalents under clause (C) of the definition thereof;

(AA) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents securing letters of credit permitted by Section 3.12(B)(xv) or (xvi); provided that such cash and Cash Equivalents do not exceed 105% of the stated face amount of such letters of credit secured thereby;

(BB) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(CC) in the case of Real Property that constitutes a leasehold interest, any Lien to which the fee simple interest (or any superior leasehold interest) is subject;

(DD) [Reserved];

(EE) Liens on deposits securing Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not more than the greater of (x) $240,000,000 and (y) 120.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

(FF) Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit, bank guarantee or bankers’ acceptance issued or created for the account of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices; provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Issuer or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit, bank guarantee or banker’s acceptance to the extent permitted under Section 3.12;

(GG) [Reserved];

(HH) Liens securing Guarantees permitted to be secured by Section 3.12(B)(xiii); provided that any such Liens on any Collateral shall be pari passu with or expressly junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and such Liens shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements;

(II) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business;

(JJ) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(KK) customary payment in lieu of tax arrangements and other similar structures customary in the applicable jurisdiction in which assets or properties are located;

 

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(LL) other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary securing obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of the obligations secured by such Liens, would not exceed the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended; provided that any such Liens on any Collateral shall be pari passu with or expressly junior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations and shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement;

(MM) Liens pursuant to Section 1136 (alone or in conjunction with 1192(1)) of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch); and

(NN) Liens required to be granted under mandatory law in favor of creditors as a consequence of a merger or conversion permitted under the Indenture due to §§ 22, 204 German Transformation Act (Umwandlungsgesetz—UmwG).

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “Refinance” or “Refinancing”), the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided that (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the sum of (i) the principal amount of the Indebtedness so Refinanced, plus (ii) unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs and fees, commissions and expenses) (any amounts under the subclause (ii), the “Incremental Refinancing Amounts”), (b) the final maturity date of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is after the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (excluding customary amortization) is greater than or equal to the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (c) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment and/or in lien priority to the Note Obligations under this Indenture, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment and/or in lien priority, as applicable, to such Note Obligations on terms not materially less favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced (it being understood that secured Indebtedness may be Refinanced with unsecured Indebtedness), (d) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have obligors that are not (or would not have been) obligated with respect to the Indebtedness being so Refinanced as of the Issue Date (provided that any Note Party may be an obligor for the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of any other Note Party to the extent otherwise permitted under this Indenture), (e)(i) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any Indebtedness if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is unsecured Indebtedness as of the Issue Date, (ii) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by any collateral that did not secure the Indebtedness being Refinanced as of the Issue Date and (iii) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may have a higher payment or Lien priority than the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (f) the other terms of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (other than interest rates, fees, floors, funding discounts and redemption or prepayment premiums and other pricing terms) are substantially similar to, or not more restrictive to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries than, the terms applicable to the Notes (except for (1) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date or (2) those that are otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Issuer (or, if more restrictive, the Note Documents are amended, prior to or concurrently with such Refinancing, to contain such more restrictive terms to the extent required to satisfy the foregoing

 

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standard)); provided, however, this clause (f) shall not apply to any First-Priority Obligations (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof) and (g) at the time of such Refinancing, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing. Subject to the foregoing conditions, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may also be incurred in respect of any Indebtedness that constitutes Discharged Indebtedness. For the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness that directly or indirectly Refinances (including any previous refinancings) Indebtedness incurred under a fixed dollar basket shall be deemed to utilize capacity under such original fixed dollar basket (other than with respect to Incremental Refinancing Amounts).

Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion” means 300 basis points per annum.

Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap” means (i) with respect to Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix)(b), an amount equal to the sum of (a) 12.00% per annum plus (b) the Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion and (ii) with respect to any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(ii) and Section 3.12(B)(xix)(A), the Permitted Second Lien PIK Cushion.

Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Issuer’s common stock sold by the Issuer substantially concurrently with any purchase by the Issuer of a related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

Person” or “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof. Any division or series of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust will constitute a separate “person” under this Indenture.

Physical Note” means a Note (other than a Global Note) that is represented by a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, registered in the name of the Holder of such Note and duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee.

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Product Family” means (a) each product family (as referred to in the Issuer’s most recent Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filings prior to the Issue Date or in any of the Issuer’s Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filings after the Issue Date) and (b) shall also include (i) within the “materials” product family, each of (x) the bare wafers and (y) the epitaxial wafers, lines of business and (ii) within the “power devices” product family, each of (w) dies, (x) the Schottky diodes, (y) the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and (z) the power modules, lines of business.

Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest other than Disqualified Stock.

Qualified Successor Entity” means, with respect to a Business Combination Event, a corporation; provided, however, that a limited liability company, limited partnership or other similar entity shall also constitute a Qualified Successor Entity with respect to such Business Combination Event if either (x) such limited liability company, limited partnership or other similar

 

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entity, as applicable, is treated as a corporation or is a direct or indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of, and disregarded as an entity separate from, a corporation, in each case for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or (y) the Issuer has received an opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel to the effect that such Business Combination Event will not be treated as an exchange under Section 1001 of the Code, for Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes.

Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee or leased by any Note Party, whether by lease, license, or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Redemption Date” means the date fixed, pursuant to Section 4.03(E), for the settlement of the redemption of any Notes by the Issuer pursuant to a Redemption.

Redemption Notice Date” means the date on which the Issuer sends the Redemption Notice for a Redemption pursuant to Section 4.03(G).

Redemption Price” means the cash price determined and payable by the Issuer to redeem any Note upon its Redemption, calculated pursuant to Section 4.03(F).

Refinance” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness,” and “Refinanced” shall have a meaning correlative thereto.

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Issuer, Renesas and the other parties thereto.

Regular Record Date” has the following meaning with respect to an Interest Payment Date: (A) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on June 15, the immediately preceding June 1; (B) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on December 15, the immediately preceding December 1; and (C) if such Interest Payment Date occurs on the Maturity Date, the date falling 15 calendar days prior to the Maturity Date.

Renesas” means Renesas Electronics Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Renesas Warrants” means those certain warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock issued to Renesas Electronics America Inc. by the Issuer on the Issue Date.

Repurchase Upon Change of Control” means the repurchase of any Note by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.04.

Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change” means the repurchase of any Note by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.02.

Requirement of Law” means, as to any person, any law, treaty, rule, regulation, statute, order, ordinance, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such person or any of its property or assets or to which such person or any of its property or assets is subject.

 

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Responsible Officer” means (A) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee); and (B) with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of, and familiarity with, the particular subject, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereto), as the same may be amended from time to time.

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereto), as the same may be amended from time to time.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, and any successor to the ratings business thereof.

Scheduled Trading Day” means any day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, then “Scheduled Trading Day” means a Business Day.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes” means $331,375,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture” means an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Trustee, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture.

 

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Second Lien Takeback Notes” means $296,401,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.00%/12.00% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture, and any additional notes which may be issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture, as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time.

Second Lien Takeback Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the collateral agent for the Second Lien Takeback Notes, and/or any successor collateral agent, additional collateral agent and/or any other supplemental collateral agent appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture” means an indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Collateral Agent and the Second Lien Takeback Notes Trustee, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Second Lien Takeback Notes Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for Second Lien Takeback Notes or its successors or assignees appointed pursuant to the terms of Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture.

Second-Priority Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor), each Holder and each Subagent appointed pursuant to Section 11.02 by the Trustee with respect to matters relating to the Note Documents or by the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor) with respect to matters relating to any Security Document.

Securities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Uniform Commercial Code.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Security” means any Note or Conversion Share.

Security Documents” means the Mortgages, the Collateral Agreement, each foreign collateral agreement, each Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), each Account Control Agreement and each of the security agreements, pledge agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered at any time pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 3.21.

Settlement Method” means Cash Settlement, Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement.

Significant Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person that constitutes a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) of such Person; provided, however, that, if a Subsidiary meets the criteria of clause (1)(iii), but not clause (1)(i) or (1)(ii), of the definition of “significant subsidiary” in

 

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Rule 1-02(w) (or, if applicable, the respective successor clauses to the aforementioned clauses), then such Subsidiary will be deemed not to be a Significant Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary’s income from continuing operations before income taxes, exclusive of amounts attributable to any non-controlling interests, for the last completed fiscal year before the date of determination exceeds $20,000,000.

Siler City Assets” means (i) any tangible personal or real property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries located at, or used in, as of the Issue Date, the Siler City Facility and (ii) any tangible personal or real property purchased after the Issue Date and located at, or used in, the Siler City Facility from and after the Issue Date which did not fall into any other definition under this Indenture prior to such movement or use; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Siler City Assets shall not include any intangible assets or property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.

Siler City Facility” means the materials facility and campus in Siler City, North Carolina.

Special Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 7.03, as applicable.

Specified Dollar Amount” means, with respect to the conversion of a Note to which Combination Settlement applies, the maximum cash amount per $1,000 principal amount of such Note deliverable upon such conversion (excluding cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock).

Specified Indebtedness” means Indebtedness incurred pursuant to, Section 3.12(B)(ix), Section 3.12(B)(xii) and/or Section 3.12(B)(xxix) or that is secured by a Lien incurred pursuant to paragraph (LL) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Specified IP Disposition” means the Disposition (whether in a single transaction or multiple transactions) of the assets and property described in item 1 of Schedule 1.01(B).

Stated Interest” means 2.5% per annum, payable solely in cash.

Stated Maturity” means, (1) with respect to any Indebtedness, the date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which the final installment of principal of such Indebtedness is due and payable as set forth in the documentation governing such Indebtedness and (2) with respect to any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, the date specified as the fixed date on which such installment is due and payable as set forth in the documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (A) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, but after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees, as applicable, of such corporation, association or other business entity is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such

 

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Person; and (B) any partnership or limited liability company where (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the capital accounts, distribution rights, equity and voting interests, or of the general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, of such partnership or limited liability company are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or limited liability company interests or otherwise or (ii) such Person or any one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person is a controlling general partner of, or otherwise controls, such partnership or limited liability company. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Subsidiaries herein shall be a reference to Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

Subsidiary Guarantee” means the joint and several guarantee pursuant to Article 12 by a Subsidiary Guarantor of its Guaranteed Obligations.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and (b) any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that may be designated by the Issuer (by way of delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly executed by such Subsidiary) in its sole discretion from time to time to be a guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, whereupon such Subsidiary shall be obligated to comply with the other requirements of Section 3.21(A)(iv) as if it were newly acquired.

Supermajority Holders” means, at any applicable time and subject to Section 2.16 and Section 2.18, Holders owning more than 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

Taxes” means any and all present or future federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes, duties, levies, imposts, charge assessments, deductions, withholdings or other similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or other basis and any interest, fines, penalties or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

Termination Date” means the date on which the principal of and interest on each Note, all Note Obligations, all fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Note Document shall have been paid in full (other than in respect of contingent indemnification and expense reimbursement claims not then due).

Test Period” means, on any date of determination, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer then most recently ended (taken as one accounting period) for which financial statements have been (or were required to be) delivered pursuant to Section 3.03; provided that prior to the first date financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 3.03, the Test Period in effect shall be the four fiscal quarter period ended June 30, 2025.

Third Party Funds” means any accounts or funds, or any portion thereof, received by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries as agent on behalf of third parties in accordance with a written agreement that imposes a duty upon the Issuer or one or more of its Subsidiaries to collect and remit those funds to such third parties.

Trading Day” means any day on which (A) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded; and (B) there is no Market Disruption Event. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, then “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

 

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Transactions” means, collectively, the transactions to occur pursuant to the Note Documents, including (a) the execution, delivery and performance of the Note Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents, and the issuance of the Notes hereunder and (b) the payment of all fees and expenses to be paid and owing in connection with the foregoing.

Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Trustee” means the Person named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, means such successor.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

VWAP Market Disruption Event” means, with respect to any date, (A) the failure by the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded, to open for trading during its regular trading session on such date; or (B) the occurrence or existence, for more than one half hour period in the aggregate, of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock, and such suspension or limitation occurs or exists at any time before 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date.

VWAP Trading Day” means a day on which (A) there is no VWAP Market Disruption Event; and (B) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, then “VWAP Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any person means a subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such person. Unless the context otherwise requires, “Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer.

 

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Section 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS.

 

Term    Defined in
Section
 

“Additional Intercreditor Agreement”

     14.02(A)  

“Additional Notes”

     2.03(B)  

“Additional Shares”

     5.07(A)  

“Agent”

     11.02(A)  

“Applicable Terrorism Law”

     13.11  

“Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date”

     3.16(E)  

“Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date”

     3.16(D)  

“Asset Sale Prepayment Date”

     3.16(B)  

“Business Combination Event”

     6.01(B)  

“Cash Settlement”

     5.03(A)  

“Change of Control Notice”

     4.04(E)  

“Change of Control Repurchase Right”

     4.04(A)  

“Combination Settlement”

     5.03(A)  

“Common Stock Change Event”

     5.09(A)  

“Conversion Agent”

     2.06(A)  

“Conversion Consideration”

     5.03(B)(i)  

“Corresponding Debt”

     11.09(B)  

“Default Interest”

     2.05(B)  

“Defaulted Amount”

     2.05(B)  

“Event of Default”

     7.01(A)  

“Excess Proceeds”

     3.16(C)  

“Excluded Property”

     3.21(A)(vii)  

“Executed Documentation”

     13.01  

“Expiration Date”

     5.05(A)(v)  

“Expiration Time”

     5.05(A)(v)  

“Foreign Collateral”

     11.01(R)  

“Fundamental Change Notice”

     4.02(E)  

“Fundamental Change Repurchase Right”

     4.02(A)  

“Guaranteed Obligations”

     12.01(A)(ii)  

“Guarantor Business Combination Event”

     6.01(B)  

“Indemnified Parties”

     10.06(B)  

“Initial Notes”

     2.03(A)  

 

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Term   

Defined in

Section

 

“Issuer Business Combination Event”

     6.01(A)  

“LCT Election”

     1.05  

“LCT Test Date”

     1.05  

“Legal Defeasance Option”

     9.01(B)  

“Parallel Debt”

     11.09(B)  

“Paying Agent”

     2.06(A)  

“Physical Settlement”

     5.03(A)  

“Redemption”

     4.03(B)  

“Redemption Notice”

     4.03(G)  

“Reference Property”

     5.09(A)  

“Reference Property Unit”

     5.09(A)  

“Register”

     2.06(B)  

“Registrar”

     2.06(A)  

“Restricted Payments”

     3.15(A)  

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction”

     3.14  

“Security Document Order”

     11.01(K)  

“Settlement Method Election Deadline”

     5.03(A)(i)(4)  

“Settlement Notice”

     5.03(A)(i)(4)  

“Specified Courts”

     13.07  

“Spin-Off”

     5.05(A)(iii)(2)  

“Spin-Off Valuation Period”

     5.05(A)(iii)(2)  

“Stock Price”

     5.07(C)  

“Subagent”

     11.02(A)  

“Successor Entity”

     6.01(A)(i)  

“Successor Guarantor”

     6.01(B)(i)  

“Successor Person”

     5.09(A)  

“Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”

     5.05(A)(v)  

“Underlying Issuer”

     5.09(A)  

Section 1.03. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

For purposes of this Indenture:

(A) “or” is not exclusive and “includes”, “include” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”;

(B) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference in this Indenture or any other Note Document or other agreement or document shall mean such agreement as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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(C) “will” expresses a command;

(D) the “average” of a set of numerical values refers to the arithmetic average of such numerical values;

(E) a merger involving, or a transfer of assets by, a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust will be deemed to include any division of or by, or an allocation of assets to a series of, such limited liability company, limited partnership or trust, or any unwinding of any such division or allocation;

(F) words in the singular include the plural and in the plural include the singular, unless the context requires otherwise;

(G) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture, unless the context requires otherwise;

(H) references to currency mean the lawful currency of the United States of America, unless the context requires otherwise;

(I) the exhibits, schedules and other attachments to this Indenture are deemed to form part of this Indenture;

(J) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, solely for purposes of determining whether any notice, direction, action to be taken or consent to be given under this Indenture or the other Note Documents is authorized, provided or given (as the case may be) by Holders of a sufficient aggregate principal amount of Notes, a beneficial owner of an interest in a Note shall be treated as a Holder, and the Trustee shall be permitted to rely in good faith on customary certificates of such beneficial ownership as evidence of holdings of Notes, which may be in the form of “screenshots” or other reasonable or customary electronic or other evidence of such beneficial owner’s position (and shall not require the provision of DTC proxies, medallion-stamped guarantees or other similar evidence) in connection with any determination with respect to the Holders of Notes giving any notice, direction, action to be taken or consent;

(K) the term “interest,” when used with respect to a Note, includes any Default Interest and Special Interest, unless the context requires otherwise;

(L) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference herein to any Requirement of Law means such Requirement of Law as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time; and

(M) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis with that used in preparing the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended 2025, as in effect on the Issue Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant contained herein, Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

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Section 1.04. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Trust Indenture Act to be part of and govern this Indenture, the Trust Indenture Act provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the Trust Indenture Act provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

(A) “Commission” means the SEC;

(B) “default” means Event of Default;

(C) “indenture securities” means the Notes;

(D) “indenture security holder” means a Holder;

(E) “indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

(F) “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

(G) “obligor” on the indenture securities means each Note Party and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

Section 1.05. LIMITED CONDITION TRANSACTIONS.

When calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture or compliance with any provision of this Indenture in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments), and determining compliance with Defaults and Events of Default, in each case, at the option of the Issuer (the Issuer’s election to exercise such option, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination for availability under any such basket or ratio and whether any such action or transaction is permitted (or any requirement or condition therefor is complied with or satisfied (including, without limitation, as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default)) under this Indenture shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (or, if applicable, the date of delivery of an irrevocable notice or similar event) (the “LCT Test Date”), and if, after giving effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries would have been permitted to

 

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take such actions or consummate such transactions on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions), such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions) shall be deemed to have been complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes under the indenture (in the case of Indebtedness, for example, whether such Indebtedness is committed, issued or otherwise incurred at the LCT Test Date or at any time thereafter); provided that compliance with such ratios, tests or baskets (and any related requirements and conditions) shall not be determined or tested at any time after the applicable LCT Test Date for such Limited Condition Transaction or any actions or transactions related thereto (including, without limitation, acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence of Indebtedness and issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds therefrom, the incurrence of Liens and Restricted Payments).

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer has made an LCT Election, (1) if any of the ratios, tests or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date have been exceeded or otherwise failed to have been complied with as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, test or basket, including due to fluctuations in EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets of the Issuer or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, such baskets, tests or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been complied with as a result of such fluctuations; (2) if any related requirements and conditions (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default) for which compliance or satisfaction was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date not have been complied with or satisfied (including due to the occurrence or continuation of a Default or Event of Default), such requirements and conditions will not be deemed to have been failed to be complied with or satisfied (and such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed not to have occurred or be continuing); and (3) in calculating the availability under any ratio, test or basket in connection with any action or transaction unrelated to such Limited Condition Transaction following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement or date for redemption, purchase or repayment specified in an irrevocable notice for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated, expires or passes, as applicable, without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio, test or basket shall be determined or tested giving pro forma effect to such Limited Condition Transaction.

Article 2. THE NOTES

Section 2.01. FORM, DATING AND DENOMINATIONS.

The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A. Any Additional Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A. The Notes will bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09 and may bear notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage or the Depositary. Each Note will be dated as of the date of its authentication.

Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Issuer Order delivered to the Trustee in connection with the issuance and authentication thereof, the Notes will be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes. Physical Notes may be exchanged for Global Notes, and Global Notes may be exchanged for Physical Notes, only as provided in Section 2.10.

 

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The Notes will be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and only in Authorized Denominations.

Each certificate representing a Note will bear a unique registration number that is not affixed to any other certificate representing another outstanding Note.

The terms contained in the Notes constitute part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Issuer and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, agree to such terms and to be bound thereby; provided, however, that, to the extent that any provision of any Note conflicts with the provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture will control for purposes of this Indenture and such Note.

Section 2.02. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY.

(A) Due Execution by the Issuer. At least one (1) duly authorized Officer will sign the Notes on behalf of the Issuer by manual, electronically (including “.pdf” or DocuSign or other electronic signature platform) or facsimile signature. A Note’s validity will not be affected by the failure of any Officer whose signature is on any Note to hold, at the time such Note is authenticated, the same or any other office at the Issuer.

(B) Authentication by the Trustee and Delivery.

(i) No Note will be valid until it is authenticated by the Trustee. A Note will be deemed to be duly authenticated only when an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication of such Note.

(ii) The Trustee will cause an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) to manually sign the certificate of authentication of a Note only if (1) the Issuer delivers such Note to the Trustee; (2) such Note is executed by the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.02(A); and (3) the Issuer delivers a Issuer Order to the Trustee that (a) requests the Trustee to authenticate such Note; and (b) sets forth the name of the Holder of such Note and the date as of which such Note is to be authenticated. If such Issuer Order also requests the Trustee to deliver such Physical Note to any Holder, then the Trustee will promptly electronically deliver such Note in accordance with such Issuer Order.

(iii) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. A duly appointed authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so under this Indenture, and a Note authenticated as provided in this Indenture by such an agent will be deemed, for purposes of this Indenture, to be authenticated by the Trustee. Each duly appointed authenticating agent will have the same rights to deal with the Issuer as the Trustee would have if it were performing the duties that the authentication agent was validly appointed to undertake.

 

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Section 2.03. INITIAL NOTES AND ADDITIONAL NOTES

(A) Initial Notes. On the Issue Date, there will be originally issued (i) $203,599,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, subject to the provisions of this Indenture (including Section 2.02). Notes issued pursuant to this Section 2.03(A), and any Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof, are referred to in this Indenture as the “Initial Notes.”

(B) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture and only so long as permitted by the terms of this Indenture, the Issuer may deliver additional notes (the “Additional Notes”) executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officer’s Certificate for the authentication and delivery of such Additional Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order of the Issuer shall authenticate and deliver such Additional Notes. The Additional Notes shall have the same terms and conditions as the Initial Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.03(A) (including the benefit of the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Collateral) in all respects except for the issue date, the issue price, the date of the first payment of interest, and, if applicable, restrictions on transfer in respect of such Additional Notes, and upon issuance, the Additional Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the previously outstanding Notes and vote together as one class on all matters with respect to the Notes; provided that if the Additional Notes and any Notes that are resold after such Notes have been purchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will be assigned a separate CUSIP and ISIN number or no CUSIP number.

Section 2.04. METHOD OF PAYMENT.

(A) Global Notes. The Issuer will pay, or cause the Paying Agent to pay, the principal (whether due upon maturity on the Maturity Date, Redemption on a Redemption Date, repurchase on a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, repurchase on a Change of Control Repurchase Date or otherwise) of, cash, interest on, and any cash Conversion Consideration for, any Global Note to the Depositary by wire transfer of immediately available funds no later than the time the same is due as provided in this Indenture.

(B) Physical Notes. The Issuer will pay, or cause the Paying Agent to pay, the principal (whether due upon maturity on the Maturity Date, Redemption on a Redemption Date, repurchase on a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, repurchase on a Change of Control Repurchase Date or otherwise) of, cash, interest on, and any cash Conversion Consideration for, any Physical Note no later than the time the same is due as provided in this Indenture by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of the Holder, as specified by the Holder.

Section 2.05. ACCRUAL OF INTEREST; DEFAULTED AMOUNTS; WHEN PAYMENT DATE IS NOT A BUSINESS DAY.

(A) Accrual of Interest. Each Note will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the Stated Interest, plus any Special Interest that may accrue pursuant to Section 7.03. Stated Interest on each Note will (i) accrue from, and including, the most recent date to which Stated Interest has been paid or duly provided for (or, if no Stated Interest has theretofore been paid or duly provided for, the date set forth in the certificate representing such Note as the date from, and including,

 

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which Stated Interest will begin to accrue in such circumstance) to, but excluding, the date of payment of such Stated Interest; and (ii) be, subject to Sections 4.02(D), 4.03(F), 4.04(D) and 5.02(D) (but without duplication of any payment of interest), payable semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning on the first Interest Payment Date set forth in the certificate representing such Note, to the Holder of such Note as of the close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date. Stated Interest, and, if applicable, Special Interest, on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

(B) Defaulted Amounts. If the Issuer fails to pay any cash amount (a “Defaulted Amount”) payable on a Note on or before the due date therefor as provided in this Indenture, then, regardless of whether such failure constitutes an Event of Default, (i) such Defaulted Amount will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder of such Note otherwise entitled to such payment; (ii) to the extent lawful, interest (“Default Interest”) will accrue on such Defaulted Amount at a rate per annum equal to the rate per annum at which Stated Interest accrues, from, and including, such due date to, but excluding, the date of payment of such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest; (iii) such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest will be paid as provided either in clause (i) or clause (ii) below, at the Issuer’s election.

(i) Payment of Default Amounts on a Special Payment Date. The Issuer will have the right to pay such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest on a payment date selected by the Issuer to the Holder of such Note as of the close of Business on a special record date selected by the Issuer; provided that such special record date must be no more than fifteen (15), nor less than ten (10), calendar days before such payment date; and at least fifteen (15) calendar days before such special record date, the Issuer will send notice to the Trustee and the Holders that states such special record date, such payment date and the amount of such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest to be paid on such payment date.

(ii) Payment of Default Amount in Any Other Lawful Manner. If not paid in accordance with Section 2.05(B)(i), such Defaulted Amount and Default Interest will be paid by the Issuer in any other lawful manner.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.05(B)(i), a Default in the payment or delivery of any Conversion Consideration when due will be cured upon the payment or delivery of the same (together, if applicable in the case of any cash Conversion Consideration, with Default Interest thereon) to the Person to whom such Conversion Consideration is payable or deliverable (determined in accordance with Article 5).

(C) Delay of Payment when Payment Date is Not a Business Day. If the due date for a payment on a Note as provided in this Indenture is not a Business Day, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, such payment may be made on the immediately following Business Day with the same force and effect as if such payment were made on such due date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no interest will accrue on such payment as a result of the related delay). Solely for purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, a day on which the applicable place of payment is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed will be deemed not to be a “Business Day.”

 

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(D) Special Provision for Global Notes. If the first date on which any Special Interest begins to accrue on a Global Note is on or after the fifth (5th) Business Day before a Regular Record Date and before the next Interest Payment Date, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, the amount thereof accruing in respect of the period from, and including, such first date to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date but will instead be deemed to accrue (without duplication) entirely on such Interest Payment Date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no interest will accrue as a result of the related delay).

Section 2.06. REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will maintain (i) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”); (ii) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”); and (iii) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for conversion (the “Conversion Agent”). If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, then the Trustee will act as such. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent.

(B) Duties of the Registrar. The Registrar will keep a record (the “Register”) of the names and addresses of the Holders, the Notes held by each Holder and the transfer, exchange, repurchase, Redemption and conversion of Notes. Absent manifest error, the entries in the Register will be conclusive and the Issuer and the Trustee may treat each Person whose name is recorded as a Holder in the Register as a Holder for all purposes. The Register will be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form reasonably promptly.

(C) Co-Agents; Issuer’s Right to Appoint Successor Registrars, Paying Agents and Conversion Agents. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-Registrars, co-Paying Agents and co-Conversion Agents, each of whom will be deemed to be a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as applicable, under this Indenture. Subject to Section 2.06(A), the Issuer may change any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent (including appointing itself or any of its Subsidiaries to act in such capacity) without notice to any Holder. The Issuer will notify the Trustee (and, upon request, any Holder) of the name and address of each Note Agent, if any, not a party to this Indenture and will enter into an appropriate agency agreement with each such Note Agent, which agreement will implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Note Agent.

(D) Initial Appointments. The Issuer appoints the Trustee as the initial Paying Agent, the initial Registrar and the initial Conversion Agent.

Section 2.07. PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT TO HOLD PROPERTY IN TRUST.

The Issuer will require each Paying Agent or Conversion Agent that is not the Trustee to agree in writing that such Note Agent will (A) hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money and other property held by such Note Agent for payment or delivery due on the Notes; and (B) notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment or delivery. The Issuer, at any time, may, and the Trustee, while any Default continues, may, require a Paying

 

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Agent or Conversion Agent to pay or deliver, as applicable, all money and other property held by it to the Trustee, after which payment or delivery, as applicable, such Note Agent (if not the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) will have no further liability for such money or property. If the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, then (i) it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money and other property held by it as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent and (ii) references in this Indenture or the Notes to the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent holding cash or other property, or to the delivery of cash or other property to the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, in each case for payment or delivery to any Holders or the Trustee or with respect to the Notes, will be deemed to refer to cash or other property so segregated and held separately, or to the segregation and separate holding of such cash or other property, respectively. Upon the occurrence of any event pursuant to Section 7.01(A)(x) or Section 7.01(A)(xi) with respect to the Issuer (or with respect to any Subsidiary of the Issuer acting as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent), the Trustee will serve as the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as applicable, for the Notes.

Section 2.08. HOLDER LISTS.

(A) If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer and any other obligor of the Notes will furnish to the Trustee, no later than seven (7) Business Days before each Interest Payment Date, and at such other times as the Trustee may request, a list, in such form and as of such date or time as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders, and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(B) The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 2.08(A) and (ii) received by it in the capacity of Paying Agent (if so acting), and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(C) The Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or any or all series of the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(D) Each and every Holder, by receiving the Notes and holding the same, agrees with the Issuer and the Trustee that neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.08.

Section 2.09. LEGENDS.

(A) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear the Global Note Legend (or any similar legend, not inconsistent with this Indenture, required by the Depositary for such Global Note).

(B) [Reserved].

(C) [Reserved].

 

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(D) Other Legends. A Note may bear any other legend or text, not inconsistent with this Indenture, as may be required by applicable law or by any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which such Note is traded or quoted.

(E) Acknowledgment and Agreement by the Holders. A Holder’s acceptance of any Note bearing any legend required by this Section 2.09 will constitute such Holder’s acknowledgment of, and agreement to comply with, the restrictions set forth in such legend.

Section 2.10. TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES.

(A) Provisions Applicable to All Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) Subject to this Section 2.10, Physical Notes and beneficial interests in Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged from time to time and the Registrar will record each such transfer or exchange in the Register.

(ii) Each Note issued upon transfer or exchange of any other Note (such other Note being referred to as the “old Note” for purposes of this Section 2.10(A)(ii)) or portion thereof in accordance with this Indenture will be the valid obligation of the Issuer, evidencing the same indebtedness, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as such old Note or portion thereof, as applicable.

(iii) The Issuer, the Trustee and the Note Agents will not impose any service charge on any Holder for any transfer, exchange or conversion of Notes, but the Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and the Conversion Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, exchange or conversion of Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 2.17 or 8.05 not involving any transfer.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, a Note may not be transferred or exchanged in part unless the portion to be so transferred or exchanged is in an Authorized Denomination.

(v) The Trustee will have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any transfer restrictions imposed under applicable law with respect to any Security.

(vi) Each Note issued upon transfer of, or in exchange for, another Note will bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

(vii) Upon satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Note, the Issuer will cause such transfer or exchange to be effected as soon as reasonably practicable but in no event later than the second (2nd) Business Day after the date of such satisfaction.

 

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(B) Transfers and Exchanges of Global Notes.

(i) Subject to the immediately following sentence, no Global Note may be transferred or exchanged in whole except (x) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary; (y) by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary; or (z) by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. No Global Note (or any portion thereof) may be transferred to, or exchanged for, a Physical Note; provided, however, that a Global Note will be exchanged, pursuant to customary procedures, for one or more Physical Notes if:

(1) (x) the Depositary notifies the Issuer or the Trustee that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Note or (y) the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act and, in each case, the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depositary within ninety (90) days of such notice or cessation;

(2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar has received a written request from the Depositary, or from a holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, to exchange such Global Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, for one or more Physical Notes; or

(3) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, permits the exchange of any beneficial interest in such Global Note for one or more Physical Notes at the request of the owner of such beneficial interest.

(ii) Upon satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Global Note (or any portion thereof):

(1) the Trustee will reflect any resulting decrease of the principal amount of such Global Note by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such Global Note (and, if such notation results in such Global Note having a principal amount of zero, the Issuer may (but is not required to) instruct the Trustee to cancel such Global Note pursuant to Section 2.15);

(2) if required to effect such transfer or exchange, then the Trustee will reflect any resulting increase of the principal amount of any other Global Note by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such other Global Note;

(3) if required to effect such transfer or exchange, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a new Global Note bearing each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

 

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(4) if such Global Note (or such portion thereof), or any beneficial interest therein, is to be exchanged for one or more Physical Notes, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note to be so exchanged; (y) are registered in such name(s) as the Depositary specifies (or as otherwise determined pursuant to customary procedures); and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

(iii) Each transfer or exchange of a beneficial interest in any Global Note will be made in accordance with the Depositary Procedures.

(C) Transfers and Exchanges of Physical Notes.

(i) Subject to this Section 2.10, a Holder of a Physical Note may (x) transfer such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) to one or more other Person(s); (y) exchange such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) for one or more other Physical Notes in Authorized Denominations having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Physical Note (or portion thereof) to be so exchanged; and (z) if then permitted by the Depositary Procedures, transfer such Physical Note (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) in exchange for a beneficial interest in one or more Global Notes; provided, however, that, to effect any such transfer or exchange, such Holder must:

(1) surrender such Physical Note to be transferred or exchanged to the office of the Registrar, together with any endorsements or transfer instruments reasonably required by the Issuer, the Trustee or the Registrar; and

(2) [Reserved].

(ii) Upon the satisfaction of the requirements of this Indenture to effect a transfer or exchange of any Physical Note (such Physical Note being referred to as the “old Physical Note” for purposes of this Section 2.10(C)(ii)) of a Holder (or any portion of such old Physical Note in an Authorized Denomination):

(1) such old Physical Note will be promptly cancelled pursuant to Section 2.15;

(2) if such old Physical Note is to be so transferred or exchanged only in part, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (a) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such old Physical Note not to be so transferred or exchanged; (b) are registered in the name of such Holder and (c) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09;

 

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(3) in the case of a transfer:

(a) to the Depositary or a nominee thereof that will hold its interest in such old Physical Note (or such portion thereof) to be so transferred in the form of one or more Global Notes, the Trustee will reflect an increase of the principal amount of one or more existing Global Notes by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of such Global Note(s), which increase(s) are in Authorized Denominations and aggregate to the principal amount to be so transferred, and which Global Note(s) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; provided, however, that if such transfer cannot be so effected by notation on one or more existing Global Notes (whether because no Global Notes bearing each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09 then exist, because any such increase will result in any Global Note having an aggregate principal amount exceeding the maximum aggregate principal amount permitted by the Depositary or otherwise), then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Global Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so transferred; and (y) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

(b) to a transferee that will hold its interest in such old Physical Note (or such portion thereof) to be so transferred in the form of one or more Physical Notes, the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02 one or more Physical Notes that (x) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so transferred; (y) are registered in the name of such transferee; and (z) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09; and

(4) in the case of an exchange, the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, one or more Physical Notes that (a) are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so exchanged; (b) are registered in the name of the Person to whom such old Physical Note was registered; and (c) bear each legend, if any, required by Section 2.09.

(D) [Reserved].

(E) Transfers of Notes Subject to Redemption, Repurchase or Conversion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note that (i) has been surrendered for conversion, except to the extent that any portion of such Note is not subject to conversion; (ii) is subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or Change of Control Repurchase Notice validly delivered, and not withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.02(F) or Section 4.04(F), respectively, except to the extent that any portion of such Note is not subject to such notice or the Issuer fails to pay the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price, as applicable, when due; or (iii) has been selected for Redemption pursuant to a Redemption Notice, except to the extent that any portion of such Note is not subject to Redemption or the Issuer fails to pay the applicable Redemption Price when due.

 

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Section 2.11. EXCHANGE AND CANCELLATION OF NOTES TO BE CONVERTED OR TO BE REPURCHASED PURSUANT TO A REPURCHASE UPON FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE, REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL OR REDEMPTION.

(A) Partial Conversions of Physical Notes and Partial Repurchases of Physical Notes Pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, Repurchase Upon Change of Control or Redemption. If only a portion of a Physical Note of a Holder is to be converted pursuant to Article 5 or repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, Repurchase Upon Change of Control or Redemption, then, as soon as reasonably practicable after such Physical Note is surrendered for such conversion or repurchase, as applicable, the Issuer will cause such Physical Note to be exchanged, pursuant and subject to Section 2.10(C), for one or more Physical Notes that are in Authorized Denominations and have an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Physical Note that is not to be so converted or repurchased, as applicable, and deliver such Physical Note(s) to such Holder; and a Physical Note having a principal amount equal to the principal amount to be so converted or repurchased, as applicable, which Physical Note will be converted or repurchased, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of this Indenture; provided, however, that the Physical Note referred to in this clause (ii) need not be issued at any time after which such principal amount subject to such conversion or repurchase, as applicable, is deemed to cease to be outstanding pursuant to Section 2.18.

Section 2.12. [RESERVED].

Section 2.13. REPLACEMENT NOTES.

If a Holder of any Note claims that such Note has been mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, then the Issuer will issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a replacement Note upon surrender to the Trustee of such mutilated Note, or upon delivery to the Trustee of evidence of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Issuer. In the case of a lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note, the Issuer and the Trustee may require the Holder thereof to provide such security or indemnity that is reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee to protect the Issuer and the Trustee from any loss that any of them may suffer if such Note is replaced.

Every replacement Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.13 will be an additional obligation of the Issuer and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all other Notes issued under this Indenture.

Section 2.14. REGISTERED HOLDERS; CERTAIN RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO GLOBAL NOTES.

Only the Holder of a Note will have rights under this Indenture as the owner of such Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Depositary Participants will have no rights as such under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or its nominee, or by the Trustee as its custodian, and the Issuer, the Trustee and the Note Agents, and their respective agents, may treat the Depositary as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever; provided, however, that (A) the Holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Depositary Participants and Persons that hold interests in Notes through Depositary Participants, to take any action that such Holder is entitled to take with respect to such Global Note under this Indenture or the Notes; and (B) the Issuer and the Trustee, and their respective agents, may give effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary.

 

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Section 2.15. CANCELLATION.

The Issuer may at any time deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent will forward to the Trustee each Note duly surrendered to them for transfer, exchange, payment or conversion. The Trustee will promptly cancel all Notes so surrendered to it in accordance with its customary procedures. Without limiting the generality of Section 2.03(B), the Issuer may not originally issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been cancelled upon transfer, exchange, payment or conversion.

Section 2.16. NOTES HELD BY THE ISSUER OR ITS AFFILIATES.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer and its Affiliates shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding; except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate, or to be under common control of any other Person with the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, solely as a result of such Person and/or such other Person being a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the voting power Issuer’s outstanding Common Stock, unless such Person and/or such other Person (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer) has the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Issuer, whether through the ownership of Common Stock of the Issuer, by contract, or otherwise. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

Section 2.17. TEMPORARY NOTES.

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes. The Issuer will promptly prepare, issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Until so exchanged, each temporary Note will in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.

Section 2.18. OUTSTANDING NOTES.

(A) Generally. The Notes that are outstanding at any time will be deemed to be those Notes that, at such time, have been duly executed and authenticated, excluding those Notes (or portions thereof) that have theretofore been (i) cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.15; (ii) assigned a principal amount of zero by notation on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” forming part of any a Global Note representing such Note; (iii) paid in full (including upon conversion) in accordance with this Indenture; or (iv) deemed to cease to be outstanding to the extent provided in, and subject to, clause (B), (C) or (D) of this Section 2.18. Subject to Section 2.16, the Notes do not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds such Notes.

 

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(B) Replaced Notes. If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.13, then such Note will cease to be outstanding at the time of its replacement, unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof reasonably satisfactory to them that such Note is held by a “protected purchaser” under applicable law.

(C) Maturing Notes and Notes Called for Redemption or Subject to Repurchase. If, on a Redemption Date, a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, a Change of Control Repurchase Date or the Maturity Date, the Paying Agent holds money sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, Change of Control Repurchase Price or principal amount, respectively, together, in each case, with the aggregate interest, in each case due on such date, then (unless there occurs a Default in the payment of any such amount) (i) the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or repurchased, or that mature, on such date will be deemed, as of such date, to cease to be outstanding, except to the extent provided in Sections 4.02(D), 4.03(F), 4.04(D) or 5.02(D); and (ii) the rights of the Holders of such Notes (or such portions thereof), as such, will terminate with respect to such Notes (or such portions thereof), other than the right to receive the Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, Change of Control Repurchase Price or principal amount, as applicable, of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, such Notes (or such portions thereof), in each case as provided in this Indenture.

(D) Notes to Be Converted. At the Close of Business on the Conversion Date for any Note (or any portion thereof) to be converted, such Note (or such portion) will (unless there occurs a Default in the delivery of the Conversion Consideration or interest due, pursuant to Section 5.03(B) or Section 5.02(D), upon such conversion) be deemed to cease to be outstanding, except to the extent provided in Section 5.02(D) or Section 5.08.

(E) Cessation of Accrual of Interest. Except as provided in Sections 4.02(D), 4.03(F), 4.04(D) or 5.02(D), interest will cease to accrue on each Note from, and including, the date that such Note is deemed, pursuant to this Section 2.18, to cease to be outstanding, unless there occurs a default in the payment or delivery of any cash or other property due on such Note.

Section 2.19. REPURCHASES BY THE ISSUER.

Without limiting the generality of Section 2.15, the Issuer may, from time to time, repurchase Notes in open market purchases or in negotiated transactions without delivering prior notice to Holders. The Issuer may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to the Issuer), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by the Issuer or the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or through a private or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties pursuant to private agreements, including cash-settled swaps or other derivatives, in each case, without prior notice to, or consent of, the Holders. The Issuer will promptly surrender to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes that the Issuer may repurchase. Any Notes that the Issuer may repurchase will be considered “outstanding” under this Indenture (except as provided in Section 2.16) unless and until such time the Issuer causes them to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and, upon receipt of a written order from the Issuer, the Trustee will cancel all Notes so surrendered.

 

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Section 2.20. CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS.

The Issuer may use one or more CUSIP or ISIN numbers to identify any of the Notes, and, if so, the Issuer and the Trustee will use such CUSIP or ISIN number(s) in notices to Holders; provided, however, that (i) the Trustee makes no representation as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP or ISIN number; and (ii) the effectiveness of any such notice will not be affected by any defect in, or omission of, any such CUSIP or ISIN number. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee, in writing, of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN number(s) identifying any Notes.

Section 2.21. TAX TREATMENT.

The Issuer agrees, and each Holder of a Note agrees, and each beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note by its acquisition of such interest is deemed to agree, for U.S. federal income tax purposes to treat the Notes as indebtedness that does not constitute a contingent payment debt instrument within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1275-4. The Issuer and each Holder or beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note shall file all tax returns consistent with, and take no position inconsistent with, the foregoing treatment (whether in audits, tax returns or otherwise) unless required to do so pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

Article 3. COVENANTS

Section 3.01. CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the transactions set forth in the “Contingent Consideration Term Sheet” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan) and contemplated in the Bankruptcy Plan or “Definitive Documents” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan) shall be expressly permitted under this Indenture, and no Default or Event of Default shall occur in connection with the implementation of such transactions.

Section 3.02. PAYMENT ON NOTES.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will pay or cause to be paid in cash all the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, Change of Control Repurchase Price and Redemption Price for, interest on, and other amounts due with respect to, the Notes on the dates and in the manner set forth in this Indenture and in the Notes.

(B) Deposit of Funds. Before 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on each Redemption Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Change of Control Repurchase Date or Interest Payment Date, and on the Maturity Date or any other date on which any cash amount is due on the Notes, the Issuer will deposit, or will cause there to be deposited, with the Paying Agent cash, in funds immediately available on such date, sufficient to pay the cash amount due on the applicable Notes on such date. All the funds provided to the Paying Agent must be in U.S. dollars. The Paying Agent will return to the Issuer, as soon as practicable, any money not required for such purpose.

 

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Section 3.03. EXCHANGE ACT REPORTS.

(A) Generally. The Issuer shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), copies of any documents or reports that the Issuer is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any such information, documents or reports, or portions thereof, subject to, or with respect to which the Issuer is actively seeking, confidential treatment and any correspondence with the SEC). Any such document or report that the Issuer files with the SEC via the SEC’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee for purposes of this Section 3.03(A) at the time such documents are filed via the EDGAR system.

(B) Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall have no duty to review or analyze reports delivered to it. Delivery of the reports and documents described in Section 3.03(A) to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate).

Section 3.04. RULE 144A INFORMATION.

At any time the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall, so long as any of the Notes or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, promptly provide to the Trustee and, upon written request, any Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Notes, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes or shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144A.

Section 3.05. [RESERVED].

Section 3.06. [RESERVED].

Section 3.07. COMPLIANCE AND DEFAULT CERTIFICATES.

(A) Annual Compliance Certificate. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of the fiscal year of 2026 and each fiscal year of the Issuer thereafter, the Issuer will deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating (i) that the signatory thereto has supervised a review of the activities of the Note Parties during such fiscal year with a view towards determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred and (ii) whether, to such signatory’s knowledge, a Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing (and, if so, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default and what action any Note Party is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(B) Default Certificate. If a Default or Event of Default occurs, then the Issuer will, within thirty (30) days after its occurrence, deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee describing the same and what action the Issuer or any Note Party is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto; provided, however, that such notice will not be required if such Default or Event of Default has been cured or waived before the date the Issuer is required to deliver such notice.

 

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Section 3.08. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS.

To the extent that it may lawfully do so, each of the Note Parties: (A) agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law (wherever or whenever enacted or in force) that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (B) expressly waives all benefits or advantages of any such law and agrees that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power granted to the Trustee by this Indenture, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 3.09. CORPORATE EXISTENCE.

Subject to Article 6, each Note Party will cause to preserve and keep in full force and effect: (A) its corporate existence in accordance with the organizational or constitutional documents of such Note Party; and (B) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of each Note Party and their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that each Note Party (other than the Issuer except in accordance with Section 6.01) need not preserve or keep in full force and effect any such existence, right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors determines that (i) the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Note Parties, taken as a whole; and (ii) the loss thereof is not, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the Holders.

Section 3.10. [RESERVED].

Section 3.11. FURTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS.

At the Trustee’s request, each Note Party will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to more effectively carry out the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 3.12. INDEBTEDNESS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Issuer will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock, in each case on or after the Issue Date; provided, however, the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue Disqualified Stock and any Subsidiary Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue preferred stock, in each case, if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, tested on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness or issuance of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, would have been no greater than (i) 4.00:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, (ii) 3.75:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, (iii) 3.50:1.00 if such incurrence or issuance occurs during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029 and (iv) 3.25:1.00 thereafter.

 

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(B) The provisions of Section 3.12(A) will not prohibit the Issuer or its Subsidiaries from incurring the following:

(i) Indebtedness existing or committed (including, for the avoidance of doubt, paid-in-kind interest payable on such Indebtedness) on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.12(B) on the Issue Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness Refinanced with Indebtedness owed to a person not affiliated with the Issuer or any Subsidiary);

(ii) (a) Indebtedness represented by the Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $203,599,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap applicable thereto minus (z) the principal amount of any Notes converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date and (b) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (b)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred under clause (b) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof;

(iii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary pursuant to Hedging Agreements entered into for non-speculative purposes;

(iv) Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to the Issuer or any Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(v) Indebtedness of the Issuer to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Issuer or any other Subsidiary; provided that (a) any such Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party owing to a Note Party is permitted by Section 3.15 and (b) any such Indebtedness of a Note Party owing to a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party is permitted by Section 3.15 and is subordinated to the Note Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Note Documents;

(vi) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

(vii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds or other cash management services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

 

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(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Subsidiary prior to or within 30 days after the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of the respective property (real or personal) permitted under this Indenture in order to finance such acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement, in an aggregate principal amount that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(ix), would not exceed the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any time;

(x) solely to the extent the Issuer has received at least $300,000,000 of Gross Cash Proceeds from the issuance or sale of the Issuer’s Qualified Equity Interests after the Issue Date, Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Disqualified Stock;

(xi) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi), would not exceed the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes that have been issued pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi), have not been reclassified and are converted pursuant to their terms into Qualified Equity Interests after the Issue Date (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the proceeds from the conversion of the Notes and/or the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes, the exercise of any Renesas Warrants or any refinancing of any of the foregoing shall not be included), and solely to the extent such proceeds have not otherwise been applied to make any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 3.15 or any Permitted Investment plus (b) the amount of Contribution Debt; provided that (I) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 3.12(B)(xi) shall have a maturity date no earlier than the Maturity Date and shall not permit or require scheduled cash interest payments in excess of 10.00% per annum (with variable interest rates converted to fixed rates based on implied forward interest rate curve for purposes of such determination) and (II) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 3.12(B)(xi) may not exceed the greater of (x) $550,000,000 and (y) 275.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any time;

(xii) Indebtedness and other obligations secured by the Siler City Assets in an outstanding amount not to exceed at any time (1) $750,000,000 of obligations in respect of any DOE Financing, plus (2) $750,000,000 of obligations to the United States Department of Commerce, the CHIPS Program Office or any other Governmental Authority of the United States, in each case under this Section 3.12(B)(xii)(2), in respect of award disbursements received pursuant to governmental grants under the CHIPS Act;

 

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(xiii) Guarantees by the Issuer or any DOE Parent Entity of any DOE Financing;

(xiv) [Reserved];

(xv) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued to support performance obligations and trade letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of other Indebtedness) in the ordinary course of business;

(xvi) Indebtedness in respect of cash collateralized letters of credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any one time;

(xvii) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or any Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase or acquisition price or similar obligations (including earn-outs), in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with any Investments or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary expressly permitted by this Indenture;

(xviii) (a) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien, or resulting from any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided, that immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness under this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) does not exceed (x) $1,385,131,138 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the sum of (I) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (a) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date mandatorily pursuant to the terms thereof (other than a mandatory prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase with the proceeds of a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction only to the extent that the lease payment obligations arising therefrom constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations) and (II) without duplication of any amount included in subclause (z)(I) above, the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (a) or (b) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date (for the avoidance of doubt, including any voluntary prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase) with the proceeds of any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction that does not otherwise constitute Indebtedness and (b) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (b)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted First Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under clause (b) hereof prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof mandatorily pursuant to the terms thereof (other than a mandatory prepayment, repayment, redemption or repurchase with the proceeds of a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction only to the extent that the lease payment obligations arising therefrom constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations); provided, further, (A) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall have no borrower, issuer or obligor in respect thereof that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor, (B) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien incurred in reliance on

 

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this Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall not be secured by any assets or property that are not Collateral and (C) Indebtedness resulting from any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall not be secured by any assets or property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary other than the assets or property that is the subject of or directly in connection with such Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, and (D) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities secured by a first-priority Lien incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii)(a)(x) after the Issue Date (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Credit Facilities outstanding on the Issue Date incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii)(a)(x)) shall not have a stated interest rate (excluding default and similar interest) greater than 15.875% per annum;

(xix)

(a) (I) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes issued on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $331,375,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under sub-clause (a)(I) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the Issue Date and (II) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (a)(II)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the applicable Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap minus (z) the principal amount of any Indebtedness under sub-clause (a)(II) hereof converted, prepaid, repaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased after the date of incurrence thereof;

(b) (I) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture in respect of the Second Lien Takeback Notes issued on the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed (x) $296,401,000 plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap and (II) (x) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (b)(II)) plus (y) any paid-in-kind interest in an amount not to exceed the Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap;; and

(c) to the extent regulatory approvals have not been obtained on or prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan), Indebtedness owed to Renesas in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000 plus any paid-in-kind interest paid thereon in an amount not to exceed the applicable Permitted Second Lien PIK Interest Cap, which may be in the form of incremental notes issued under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture or another form of indenture reasonably acceptable to Renesas and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof;

 

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provided that (x) the Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall not be senior to the Liens securing the Note Obligations (it being understand that Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) may be pari passu with the Liens securing the Note Obligations or a lower priority to the Liens securing the Note Obligations, or such Indebtedness may not be secured by any Lien), (y) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall have no borrower, issuer or obligor in respect thereof that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor and (z) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall not be secured by any assets or property that are not Collateral;

(xx) [Reserved];

(xxi) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services; provided that such obligations are incurred in connection with open accounts extended by suppliers on customary trade terms in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices and not in connection with the borrowing of money or any Hedging Agreements;

(xxii) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Issuer or any Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, without duplication of any amounts payable under Section 3.15;

(xxiii) [Reserved];

(xxiv) obligations in respect of Cash Management Agreements;

(xxv) Escrowed Indebtedness;

(xxvi) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such person in connection with any Investment permitted hereunder;

(xxvii) Guarantees of Indebtedness under customer financing lines of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(xxviii) Indebtedness consisting of (i) financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice; and

(xxix) other Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding amount not in excess of the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended at any one time outstanding.

 

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Except as specifically set forth herein, no Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to any clause of this Section 3.12(B) may be used to Refinance any Indebtedness that was incurred pursuant to, or outstanding under, any other clause of this Section 3.12(B) (other than Section 3.12(B)(i)); provided that Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(x) or (xi) may be used to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under any other clause of Section 3.12(B) and (b) no Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to any clause of this Section 3.12 (other than Section 3.12(B)(xii) and Credit Facilities incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii)) may be secured by the Collateral on a senior basis to the Note Obligations.

(C) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, if the use of proceeds from any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness is to fund the repayment of any Indebtedness, then such repayment shall be deemed to have occurred substantially simultaneously with such incurrence or issuance so long as (1) such repayment occurs within one Business Day of such incurrence or issuance and (2) the proceeds thereof are deposited with a trustee, agent or other representative for such Indebtedness being repaid pending such repayment.

(D) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, the amount of any Indebtedness denominated in any currency other than Dollars shall be calculated based on customary currency exchange rates in effect, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) on or prior to the Issue Date, on the Issue Date and, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred or assumed (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness) after the Issue Date, on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred or assumed (in respect of term Indebtedness) or committed (in respect of revolving Indebtedness); provided that if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred, assumed or committed to Refinance Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than Dollars (or in a different currency from the Indebtedness being Refinanced), and such Refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such Refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness being Refinanced.

(E) Further, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.12, (i) Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 3.12(A) and 3.12(B)(i) through (xxix) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof, (B) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 3.12(A) and Section 3.12(B)(i) through (xxix), the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such later time), such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 3.12 and at the time of incurrence, assumption, classification or reclassification will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) shall be treated as having been incurred, assumed or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (w) all Indebtedness outstanding under the First Lien Notes Indenture and in connection with any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in

 

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reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xviii), (x) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xix)(a), (y) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(xix)(b) and (z) all Indebtedness outstanding under this Indenture shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on Section 3.12(B)(ii) and, in each case, may not be so reclassified or divided.

Section 3.13. LIENS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any person) of the Issuer or any Subsidiary at the time owned by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof on or after the Issue Date, except Permitted Liens.

(B) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.13, (i) a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in clauses (A) through (NN) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (ii) in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in clauses (A) through (NN) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”, the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such later time), such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 3.13 and at the time of incurrence, classification or reclassification will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof) without giving pro forma effect to such item (or any portion thereof) when calculating the amount of Liens or Indebtedness that may be incurred, classified or reclassified pursuant to any other clause (or any portion thereof) at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xviii) shall only be permitted in reliance on clause (W) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and (ii) Liens securing any Indebtedness incurred under Section 3.12(B)(xix) shall only be permitted in reliance on clause (X) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”.

Section 3.14. SALE AND LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS.

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter, as part of such transaction, rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred (a “Sale and Lease-Back Transaction”), other than (i) any such transaction with respect to equipment or other personal property to the extent that any Indebtedness arising from such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is permitted under Section 3.12(B)(ix), and (ii) a Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

 

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Section 3.15. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any such payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as holders (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer’s or any of its Subsidiaries and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Issuer or a Subsidiary); or

(ii) redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any Subsidiary to purchase or acquire) (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer) any of the Issuer’s Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares);

(iii) make any principal payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Junior Financing (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Issuer and any of its Subsidiary Guarantors), except (a) a payment of principal upon the scheduled maturity of such Junior Financing or (b) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition of Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or scheduled maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition; or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment,

(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”).

(B) The provisions of Section 3.15(A) will not prohibit:

(i) Restricted Payments to the Issuer or to any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer (or, in the case of non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of the Issuer or such Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests);

(ii) [Reserved];

 

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(iii) Restricted Payments to purchase or redeem the Equity Interests of the Issuer (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held by then present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or by any Plan or any stockholders’ agreement then in effect upon such person’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or under the terms of any such Plan or any other agreement under which such shares of stock or related rights were issued; provided that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions under this clause (iii) shall not exceed in any fiscal year the greater of (x) $6,000,000 and (y) 3.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended (plus (x) the amount of net proceeds contributed to the Issuer that were (a) received by the Issuer during such fiscal year from sales of Equity Interests of the Issuer to directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any Subsidiary in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements, (b) the amount of net proceeds of any key-man life insurance policies received during such calendar year and (c) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees in such fiscal year that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests), which, if not used in any year, may be carried forward to any subsequent calendar year; provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Subsidiary from present or former directors, consultants, officers and employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 3.15;

(iv) non-cash repurchases of Equity Interests of the Issuer deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options;

(v) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Restricted Payments by the Issuer in the form of regularly scheduled dividends on Permitted Disqualified Stock (other than Permitted Disqualified Stock incurred pursuant to Section 3.12(B)(x));

(vi) Restricted Payments by the Issuer in the form of Equity Interests of the Issuer in connection with the redemption of any Convertible Notes or the exercise of any Renesas Warrants;

(vii) Restricted Payments by the Issuer to pay in cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, upon the exercise of warrants (including the Renesas Warrants) or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of the Issuer or upon the conversion of any Convertible Notes; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made in reliance on this clause (vii) shall not exceed the greater of (x) $300,000 and (y) 0.15% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

(viii) (a) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the entry into, or otherwise pursuant to the terms of, a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and (b) any cash payment made in connection with the exercise or early termination of any Permitted Warrant Transaction;

 

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(ix) any Restricted Payment so long as, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is less than (a) 4.00:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, (b) 3.75:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, (c) 3.50:1.00 for Restricted Payments made during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, and (d) 3.25:1.00 thereafter;

(x) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $20,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended;

(xi) Restricted Payments in respect of any Junior Financing at a price not to exceed the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and underwriting discounts, commissions and reasonable fees and expenses, with the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness expressly permitted under Section 3.12, solely to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has an interest rate and a cash component of any interest rate, in each case, equal to or less than the Junior Financing it Refinanced;

(xii) [Reserved];

(xiii) purchases of all or any portion of any Junior Financing at a price not to exceed the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and reasonable fees and expenses thereon, with the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer; and

(xiv) the conversion or exchange of any Junior Financing to common Equity Interests of the Issuer; provided that, such conversion or exchange is accompanied by permanent reductions of any commitments, if any, with respect to such Junior Financing to the extent of such conversion or exchange, to the extent applicable.

(C) The amount of any Restricted Payment made other than in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents shall be the fair market value thereof (as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith), valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any subsequent write-downs or write-offs thereof.

(D) Any Investment in any person other than a Note Party that is otherwise permitted by this Section 3.15 may be made through intermediate Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Note Parties and such intermediate Investments shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the outstanding amount of Investments pursuant to any clause set forth in this Section 3.15 or one or more clauses in the definition of “Permitted Investments”.

(E) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 3.15, (a) in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (i) through (viii) of Section 3.15(B) or is entitled to be made pursuant to one or more clauses in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” the Issuer will be entitled to divide or classify or later divide or reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) among such clauses (i) through (viii) and the definition of “Permitted Investments” in a manner that complies with this Section 3.15 and (b) an Investment need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of Permitted Investments (or portion thereof) described in the definition thereof but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

 

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Section 3.16. ASSET DISPOSITIONS.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Disposition unless:

(i) the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at least equal to the fair market value (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise Disposed of; and

(ii) at least 75% of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition consists of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that for purposes of this Section 3.16(A)(ii) “cash” shall include:

(1) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the Issuer’s or such Subsidiary’s consolidated balance sheet if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the Issuer or such Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Note Obligations) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation or assumption agreement that validly releases the Issuer or such Subsidiary from further liability to all applicable creditors; and

(2) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Issuer or such Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted, in each case, within 180 days after the closing of such Asset Disposition by the Issuer or such Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in that conversion).

(B) Unless and solely in the event there has been a Discharge of First-Priority Obligations (as defined in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement), within 365 days (or such shorter period as the Issuer in its sole election may determine) after the receipt of Net Proceeds from an Asset Disposition (each, an “Asset Sale Prepayment Date”) (other than Net Proceeds from the sale or other disposition of “Building 21” (as described in item 2 of Schedule 1.01(B))), the Issuer may elect to apply or cause to be applied an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from such Asset Disposition:

(i) upon a Disposition of assets that constitutes Collateral, to repay the Second-Priority Obligations (and if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit indebtedness, to correspondingly permanently reduce revolving commitments with respect thereto); provided that in the case of any repayment pursuant to this Section 3.16(B)(i), the Issuer shall make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer) to all holders of such Second-Priority Obligations to purchase (or repay) a pro rata (together with any Second-Priority Obligations repaid pursuant to this Section 3.16(B)(i)) principal amount of the Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of repayment;

 

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(ii) [reserved];

(iii) upon the Disposition of assets that do not constitute Collateral, to repurchase, prepay, redeem or repay Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Note Party, or Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is secured by a Lien on such assets; or

(iv) upon a Disposition of assets that does not constitute Collateral, to either (a) make an investment in, or acquire assets related to or otherwise useful in the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date; and/or (b) make Capital Expenditures in or that are used or useful in the business or to make Capital Expenditures for maintenance, repair or improvement of existing assets in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

(C) Any Net Proceeds from an Asset Disposition not applied or invested as provided in Section 3.16(B) within the applicable Asset Sale Prepayment Date will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds” on the day immediately after the applicable Asset Sale Prepayment Date; provided that in the case of Section 3.16(B)(iv), a binding commitment letter with a third party shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date such commitment letter is executed so long as the Issuer or a Subsidiary enters into such commitment letter with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of the execution of such commitment letter; provided, further, that if such commitment letter is later terminated or cancelled prior to the application of such Net Proceeds or such Net Proceeds are not so applied within such 180-day period, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

(D) In no event later than 20 Business Days after any date that the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10,000,000 (or such lesser amount as the Issuer shall determine) (an “Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date”), to the extent permitted by the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Issuer shall commence an offer to all Holders (an “Asset Disposition Offer”) to purchase at a price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase and to all holders of other Second-Priority Obligations containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to asset dispositions, in each case, equal to the Excess Proceeds. Upon completion of each Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after completion of an Asset Disposition Offer, the Issuer may use the remaining amount for general corporate purposes and such amount shall no longer constitute Excess Proceeds.

(E) In connection with an Asset Disposition Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Holders, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures (with a copy to the Trustee), a notice stating: (i) that an Asset Disposition Offer Trigger Date has occurred and that the Issuer is offering to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds (and identifying other Indebtedness, if any, that is entitled to participate pro rata in the Asset Disposition Offer), at an offer price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof,

 

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plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase (the “Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date”), which shall be a Business Day, specified in such notice, that is not earlier than 30 days or later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered, (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid interest as of the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, (iii) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest, (iv) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the purchase price for the Notes payable pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, (v) the procedures to be followed by a Holders in order to accept an Asset Disposition Offer or to withdraw such acceptance, and (vi) such other information as may be required by the Indenture and applicable laws and regulations.

(F) On the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, the Issuer will (i) accept for payment the maximum principal amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer that can be purchased out of Excess Proceeds from such Asset Disposition, (ii) deposit with the paying agent the aggregate purchase price of all Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment and any accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes as of the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee all Notes tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer. If less than all Notes tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer are accepted for payment by the Issuer for any reason consistent with the Indenture, selection of the Notes to be purchased by the Issuer shall be in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures and, if no such Depositary Procedures apply, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; provided that Notes accepted for payment in part shall only be purchased in Authorized Denominations. The paying agent shall promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment an amount equal to the purchase price for such Notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and deliver to such Holder of Notes accepted for payment in part a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes, and any Note not accepted for payment in whole or in part shall be promptly returned to the Holder of such Note. On and after an Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the purchase price therefor. The Issuer will announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer to Holders of the Notes on or as soon as practicable after the Asset Disposition Offer Purchase Date.

(G) To the extent applicable, the Issuer will comply, in all material respects, with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any Asset Disposition Offer (including complying with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable) so as to permit effecting such Asset Disposition Offer in the manner set forth in this Indenture; provided, however, that, to the extent that any securities laws or regulations enacted after the Issue Date conflict with this Section 3.16, the Issuer will comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3.16 (nor will such compliance be considered a Default or an Event of Default hereunder) by virtue of such conflict.

 

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Section 3.17. DISPOSITION OF MATERIAL IP.

(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 3.13, 3.15, 3.16 (or the definition of “Asset Disposition”) or 3.18, neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall be permitted to make any Investment of any Material IP into any person (including any Subsidiary) or Dispose of any Material IP (including to any Subsidiary) unless, (i) in the case of an Investment, at all times after giving effect to the consummation of such Investment, such Material IP is subject to first priority Lien securing the Note Obligations and (ii) in the case of a Disposition of any Material IP, such Disposition consists of a non-exclusive license of such Material IP and such Material IP remains subject to at least a first priority Lien securing the Note Obligations; provided that such non-exclusive license shall (x) if to a Subsidiary, be subject to recurring royalties, payment terms or other consideration negotiated consistent with an arm’s length transaction, and (y) otherwise (other than in subclause (x) immediately preceding), be entered into in the ordinary course of business.

(B) The restrictions set forth in Section 3.17(A) shall not apply to the Specified IP Disposition.

Section 3.18. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates on or after the Issue Date, unless such transaction is (i) upon terms that are no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, in any material respect than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate and (ii) if in connection with any transaction or series of transactions with a fair market value greater than $1,200,000, approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Issuer.

(B) The foregoing clause (A) shall not prohibit, to the extent otherwise permitted under this Indenture:

(i) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(ii) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary permitted by clause (E) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(iii) transactions among the Issuer or any Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction (including via merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which the Issuer or a Subsidiary is the surviving entity);

(iv) the payment of fees, reasonable out-of-pocket costs and indemnities to directors, officers, consultants and employees the Issuer and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(v) transactions, agreements and arrangements in existence on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.18 or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof or similar arrangement to the extent such amendment, replacement or arrangement is not adverse to the Holders in any material respect;

(vi) (a) any employment, independent contractor or consulting agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (b) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, consultants, officers or directors, and (c) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto;

(vii) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 3.15 and Permitted Investments;

(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) [Reserved];

(x) transactions for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(xi) any transaction in respect of which the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of the Issuer from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is in the good faith determination of the Issuer qualified to render such letter, which letter states that (a) such transaction is on terms that are substantially no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate or (b) such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as applicable, from a financial point of view;

(xii) [Reserved];

(xiii) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(xiv) [Reserved];

(xv) [Reserved];

(xvi) [Reserved];

(xvii) [Reserved];

(xviii) [Reserved];

 

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(xix) [Reserved];

(xx) [Reserved];

(xxi) transactions between the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries and any person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer; provided, however, that (a) such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer on any matter involving such other person and (b) such person is not an Affiliate of the Issuer for any reason other than such director’s acting in such capacity;

(xxii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Article 6; and

(xxiii) intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by an Officer of the Issuer) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries which do not circumvent any provisions of this Indenture.

Section 3.19. [RESERVED].

Section 3.20. DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES.

(A) The Issuer will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to:

(i) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Equity Interests to the Issuer or any Subsidiary, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(ii) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any Subsidiary;

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any Subsidiary or

(iv) grant any Liens by the Issuer or such Subsidiary that is a Note Party pursuant to the Security Documents,

provided that (x) the priority of any preferred stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock and (y) the subordination of (including the application of any standstill period to) loans or advances made to the Issuer or any Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Subsidiary, shall not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.

(B) The provisions of Section 3.20(A) shall not apply to the following:

(i) restrictions imposed by applicable law;

 

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(ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including under (a) the Note Documents, (b) the First Lien Notes Indenture, (c) the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture, (d) the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture and (e) any other Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.12(B);

(iii) any restriction on a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Equity Interests or assets of a Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(iv) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (iv) imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 3.20(B)(xii) or to any Designated Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(v) any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(vi) any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness or other obligations incurred pursuant to Section 3.12 to the extent such restrictions are not more restrictive in any material respect than the restrictions contained in this Indenture or are market terms at the time of issuance (as reasonably determined by the Issuer);

(vii) customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of Intellectual Property and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(viii) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

(ix) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(x) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any asset permitted under Section 3.16 pending the consummation of such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition;

(xi) customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien, so long as (a) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien, and (b) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 3.20;

(xii) customary net worth provisions contained in Real Property leases entered into by Subsidiaries, so long as the Issuer has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations;

 

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(xiii) any agreement in effect at the time such subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary;

(xiv) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;

(xv) customary restrictions contained in leases, subleases, licenses or Equity Interests or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby as long as such restrictions relate to the Equity Interests and assets subject thereto;

(xvi) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers or counterparties under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business (and including with respect to any cash collateral permitted to be provided to any counterparty under Section 3.13); and

(xvii) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (xvi) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of or similar arrangements or the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in Section 3.20(A)(i) through (xiii); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings or similar arrangements are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, not more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such dividend, other payment, sale and Lien restrictions than those contained in the dividend, other payment and Lien restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing or similar arrangements or are otherwise in accordance with the terms of the applicable intercreditor agreement.

Section 3.21. FURTHER ASSURANCES; ADDITIONAL SECURITY.

(A) The Issuer will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, subject to the Agreed Security Principles, the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement and to the extent consist with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement:

(i) execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings (provided that if a Mortgage is actually filed, only to the extent a filed Mortgage cannot act as a fixture filing in an applicable jurisdiction), Mortgages and other documents), as are reasonably necessary (or that Trustee and/or Collateral Agent and/or Parallel Debt Creditor may reasonably request) (including, without limitation, those required by applicable law), to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Note Parties and provide to the Collateral Agent and/or Parallel Debt Creditor, from time to time, evidence reasonably necessary to establish the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.

 

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(ii) if any asset (other than Real Property) that has an individual fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer at the time of acquisition) in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or is a semiconductor tool or equipment used in any Product Family of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries is acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date or owned by an entity at the time it becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case other than (x) assets constituting Collateral under a Security Document that become subject to the Lien of such Security Document upon acquisition thereof and (y) assets constituting Excluded Property), the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, will (i) notify the Collateral Agent of such acquisition or ownership and (ii) cause such asset to be subjected to a Lien (subject to any Permitted Liens) securing the Note Obligations by, and take, and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to take, such actions as shall be necessary (or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent) to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in Section 3.21(A)(i), all at the expense of the Note Parties, subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii).

(iii) (a) subject to clause (vii)(H) below, grant and cause each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to grant to the Collateral Agent security interests in, and mortgages on, any Material Real Property of the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, (x) within 90 days after the Issue Date with respect to Material Real Property owned as of the Issue Date and (y) to the extent acquired after the Issue Date, within 90 days after such acquisition pursuant to a Mortgage, which security interest and mortgage shall constitute valid and enforceable Liens subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens and (ii) to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction, record or file, and cause each such Subsidiary Guarantor to record or file, the Mortgage or instruments related thereto in such manner and in such places as is required by law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and/or the Collateral Agent under a Parallel Debt structure for the benefit of the Secured Parties required to be granted pursuant to the Mortgages and pay, and cause each such Subsidiary Guarantor to pay, in full, all Taxes, fees and other charges required to be paid in connection with such recording or filing, in each case subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii). Subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii), with respect to each such Mortgage, to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction, the Issuer shall cause the requirements set forth in clause (F) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” to be satisfied with respect to such Material Real Property.

(iv) if any additional direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer is formed or acquired after the Issue Date and if such Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor (with any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary being deemed to constitute the acquisition of a Subsidiary), within 10 Business Days after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired, notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, within (x) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary, 30 days or (y) in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, 60 days, in each case, after the date such Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or, with respect to clause (F) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”, within 90 days after such formation or acquisition or such longer period as set forth therein ), cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such Subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Note Party, subject to Section 3.21(A)(vii).

 

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(v) [reserved].

(vi) furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt written notice of any change (A) in any Note Party’s corporate or organization name, (B) in any Note Party’s identity or organizational structure, (C) in any Note Party’s organizational identification number, (D) in any Note Party’s jurisdiction of organization or (E) in the location of the chief executive office of any Note Party that is not a registered organization; provided that the Issuer shall not effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within 30 days following such change, under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by such filing, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

(vii) the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the other provisions of this Section 3.21(A) and the other Note Documents with respect to Collateral are (a) solely in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries (and the assets of and Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiaries), subject in all respects to the Agreed Security Principles and (b) solely in the case of Domestic Subsidiaries (and the assets of, and Equity Interests in, such Domestic Subsidiaries) need not be satisfied by any Excluded Subsidiary or by any Note Party with respect to any of the following (collectively, the “Excluded Property”): (I) any Real Property other than Material Real Property, (II) (x) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and letter of credit rights (in each case, other than to the extent a Lien on such assets or such rights can be perfected by filing a UCC-1) and (y) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $10,000,000, (III) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contractual obligation (with respect to any such contractual obligation, only to the extent such restriction is permitted under Section 3.20 and such restriction is binding on such assets on the Issue Date or on the date of acquisition thereof and not entered into in contemplation thereof (and renewals and replacements thereof)) (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (IV) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Issuer, (V) any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (VI) those assets as to which the Issuer in good faith reasonably determines that the cost or other consequence of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby, (VII) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (VIII) pending “intent to use” trademark applications for which an Amendment to Allege Use or a

 

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Statement of Use under Section 1(c) or 1(d) of the Lanham Act has not been filed with or accepted by the United States Trademark Office, (IX) any Excluded Account and any cash and Cash Equivalents maintained in an Excluded Account, (X) any Excluded Securities, (XI) any Third Party Funds and (XII) any equipment or other real or personal property or asset that is subject to a Lien permitted by clause (I) of the definition of Permitted Liens, if permitted by Section 3.12, if the agreement governing such Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) prohibits or requires the consent of any person (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such equipment or other real or personal property or asset and, in each case, such prohibition or requirement is permitted hereunder after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code; provided that the Issuer may in its sole discretion elect to exclude any property from the definition of Excluded Property; provided, further, that no property or assets that secure any obligations under the First Lien Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes Indenture, the Second Lien Takeback Notes Indenture (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Specified Indebtedness) shall be Excluded Property. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (A) [reserved], (B) no landlord, mortgagee or bailee waivers shall be required, (C) no notice shall be required to be sent to account debtors or other contractual third parties prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, (D) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to, or any other requirements of, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the Security Documents shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as otherwise reasonably determined by the Issuer, (E) to the extent any Mortgaged Property is located in a jurisdiction with mortgage recording or similar tax, the amount secured by the Security Document with respect to such Mortgaged Property shall be limited to the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property as determined in good faith by the Issuer (subject to any applicable laws in the relevant jurisdiction or such lesser amount agreed to by the Collateral Agent), (F) the Issuer may make such modifications to the Security Documents, and execute and/or consent to such easements, covenants, rights of way or similar instruments to subordinate the lien of any Mortgage to any such easement, covenant, right of way or similar instrument or record as permitted by the Indenture or may agree to recognize any tenant pursuant to an agreement, as are reasonable or necessary in connection with any project or transactions otherwise permitted hereunder, (G) other than to the extent required by the Collateral Agreement, no control agreement or control, lockbox or similar arrangement shall be required with respect to any deposit accounts, securities accounts or commodities accounts, and (H) no Mortgage (or the filing of recordation thereof) on any Material Real Property acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date shall be required if such Material Real Property is located in a jurisdiction that imposes a mortgage recording tax, documentary tax or similar tax in connection with the filing or recordation thereof (x) at any time prior to the Discharge of First-Priority Obligations (as defined in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement) or (y) at any time after the Discharge of First-Priority Obligations, if the Collateral Agent is not then the Controlling Collateral Agent (as defined in the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement) under the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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(viii) Neither the Collateral Agent (including as the Parallel Debt Creditor) nor the Trustee undertakes any responsibility whatsoever to determine whether any of the foregoing covenants have been satisfied, and neither shall have any liability whatsoever arising out of the failure of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors to satisfy such requirements.

Section 3.22. POST-CLOSING.

(A) The Issuer will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, take all necessary actions to satisfy the requirements set forth in Schedule 3.22.

Article 4. REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION

Section 4.01. NO SINKING FUND.

No sinking fund is required to be provided for the Notes.

Section 4.02. RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE THE ISSUER TO REPURCHASE NOTES UPON A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE ON OR PRIOR TO THE CONVERSION EXPIRATION DATE.

(A) Right of Holders to Require the Issuer to Repurchase Notes Upon a Fundamental Change on or prior to the Conversion Expiration Date. Subject to the other terms of this Section 4.02, if a Fundamental Change occurs on or prior to the Conversion Expiration Date, then each Holder will have the right (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Right”) to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change for a cash purchase price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

(B) Repurchase Prohibited in Certain Circumstances. If the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or before the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change (including as a result of the payment of the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, and any related interest pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D), on such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date), then (i) the Issuer may not repurchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.02; and (ii) the Issuer will cause any Notes theretofore surrendered for such Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change to be returned to the Holders thereof (or, if applicable with respect to Global Notes, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interest in such Notes in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(C) Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. The Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for any Fundamental Change will be a Business Day of the Issuer’s choosing that is no more than thirty-five (35) and not less than twenty (20) Business Days after the date the Issuer delivers the related Fundamental Change Notice pursuant to Section 4.02(E).

 

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(D) Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. The Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for any Note to be repurchased upon a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change following a Fundamental Change is an amount in cash equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount of such Note plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change; provided, however, that if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, then (i) the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date, if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is before such Interest Payment Date); and (ii) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price will not include accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day within the meaning of Section 2.05(C) and such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date occurs on the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date, then (x) accrued and unpaid interest on Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be paid, in accordance with Section 2.05(C), on the next Business Day to Holders as of the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date; and (y) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price will include interest on Notes to be repurchased from, and including, such Interest Payment Date.

(E) Fundamental Change Notice. On or before the twentieth (20th) calendar day after the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Issuer will deliver to each Holder, the Trustee, the Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent a notice of such Fundamental Change (a “Fundamental Change Notice”). Substantially contemporaneously, the Issuer will either (x) issue a press release through such national newswire service as the Issuer then uses; (y) publish the same through such other widely disseminated public medium as the Issuer then uses, including its website; or (z) file or furnish a Form 8-K (or any successor form) with the SEC, in each case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), containing the information set forth in the Fundamental Change Notice.

Such Fundamental Change Notice must state:

(i) briefly, the events causing such Fundamental Change;

(ii) the effective date of such Fundamental Change;

(iii) the procedures that a Holder must follow to require the Issuer to repurchase its Notes pursuant to this Section 4.02, including the deadline for exercising the Fundamental Change Repurchase Right and the procedures for submitting and withdrawing a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice;

(iv) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change;

(v) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Fundamental Change (and, if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, the amount, manner and timing of the interest payment payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D));

(vi) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

 

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(vii) if applicable, the Conversion Rate in effect on the date of such Fundamental Change Notice and a description and quantification of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate that may result from such Fundamental Change (including pursuant to Section 5.07);

(viii) if applicable, the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date of such Fundamental Change Notice and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(ix) that Notes for which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been duly tendered and not duly withdrawn must be delivered to the Paying Agent for the Holder thereof to be entitled to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

(x) if applicable, that Notes (or any portion thereof) that are subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice that has been duly tendered may be converted only if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with this Indenture; and

(xi) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if any, of the Notes.

Neither the failure to deliver a Fundamental Change Notice nor any defect in a Fundamental Change Notice will limit the Fundamental Change Repurchase Right of any Holder or otherwise affect the validity of any proceedings relating to any Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change.

(F) Procedures to Exercise the Fundamental Change Repurchase Right.

(i) Delivery of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice and Notes to Be Repurchased. To exercise its Fundamental Change Repurchase Right for a Note following a Fundamental Change, the Holder thereof must deliver to the Paying Agent:

(1) before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (or such later time as may be required by law), a duly completed, written Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note; and

(2) such Note, duly endorsed for transfer (if such Note is a Physical Note) or by book-entry transfer (if such Note is a Global Note).

The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to the Issuer a copy of each Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice that it receives.

(ii) Contents of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notices. Each Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note must state:

(1) if such Note is a Physical Note, the certificate number of such Note;

 

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(2) the principal amount of such Note to be repurchased, which must be an Authorized Denomination; and

(3) that such Holder is exercising its Fundamental Change Repurchase Right with respect to such principal amount of such Note;

provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note, then such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with the Depositary Procedures (and any such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice delivered in compliance with the Depositary Procedures will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.02(F)).

(iii) Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. A Holder that has delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note may withdraw such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent at any time before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. Such withdrawal notice must state:

(1) if such Note is a Physical Note, the certificate number of such Note;

(2) the principal amount of such Note to be withdrawn, which must be an Authorized Denomination; and

(3) the principal amount of such Note, if any, that remains subject to such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which must be an Authorized Denomination;

provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note, then such withdrawal notice must comply with the Depositary Procedures (and any such withdrawal notice delivered in compliance with the Depositary Procedures will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.02(F)).

Upon receipt of any such withdrawal notice with respect to a Note (or any portion thereof), the Paying Agent will (x) promptly deliver a copy of such withdrawal notice to the Issuer; and (y) if such Note is surrendered to the Paying Agent, cause such Note (or such portion thereof in accordance with Section 2.11, treating such Note as having been then surrendered for partial repurchase in the amount set forth in such withdrawal notice as remaining subject to repurchase) to be returned to the Holder thereof (or, if applicable with respect to any Global Note, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interest in such Note in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(G) Payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Without limiting the Issuer’s obligation to deposit the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price within the time proscribed by Section 3.02(B), the Issuer will cause the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for a Note (or portion thereof) to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change to be paid to the Holder thereof on or before the later of (i) the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and (ii) the date (x) such Note is delivered to the Paying Agent (in the

 

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case of a Physical Note) or (y) the Depositary Procedures relating to the repurchase, and the delivery to the Paying Agent, of such Holder’s beneficial interest in such Note to be repurchased are complied with (in the case of a Global Note). For the avoidance of doubt, interest payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.02(D) on any Note to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change must be paid pursuant to such proviso regardless of whether such Note is delivered or such Depositary Procedures are complied with pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 4.02(G).

(H) Repurchase by Third Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.02, the Issuer will be deemed to satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.02 if (i) one or more third parties conduct any Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change and related offer to repurchase Notes otherwise required by this Section 4.02 in a manner that would have satisfied the requirements of this Section 4.02 if conducted directly by the Issuer; and (ii) an owner of a beneficial interest in any Note repurchased by such third party or parties will not receive a lesser amount as a result of withholding or similar taxes than such owner would have received had the Issuer repurchased such Note.

(I) Compliance with Applicable Securities Laws. To the extent applicable, the Issuer will comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change (including complying with Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and filing any required Schedule TO, to the extent applicable) so as to permit effecting such Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change in the manner set forth in this Indenture; provided, however, that, to the extent that any securities laws or regulations enacted after the Issue Date conflict with the Section 4.02, the Issuer will comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.02 (nor will such compliance be considered a Default or an Event of Default hereunder) by virtue of such conflict.

(J) Repurchase in Part. Subject to the terms of this Section 4.02, Notes may be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change in part, but only in Authorized Denominations. Provisions of this Section 4.02 applying to the repurchase of a Note in whole will equally apply to the repurchase of a permitted portion of a Note.

(K) No Requirement to Conduct an Offer to Repurchase Notes if the Fundamental Change Results in the Notes Becoming Convertible into an Amount of Cash Exceeding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.02, the Issuer will not be required to send a Fundamental Change Notice pursuant to Section 4.02(E), or offer to repurchase or repurchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.02, in connection with a Common Stock Change Event that constitutes a Fundamental Change pursuant to clause (B)(ii) of the definition thereof (regardless of whether such Common Stock Change Event also constitutes a Fundamental Change pursuant to any other clause of such definition), if (i) the Reference Property of such Common Stock Change Event consists entirely of cash in U.S. dollars; (ii) immediately after such Fundamental Change, the Notes become convertible, pursuant to Section 5.09(A) and, if applicable, Section 5.07, into consideration that consists solely of U.S. dollars in an amount per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes that equals or exceeds the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (calculated (1) assuming that the same includes accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the latest possible Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change); and (2) without regard to the proviso to the first sentence of Section 4.02(D)); and (iii) the Issuer timely sends the notice relating to such Fundamental Change and includes, in such notice, a statement that the Issuer is relying on this Section 4.02(K).

 

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Section 4.03. RIGHT OF THE ISSUER TO REDEEM THE NOTES.

(A) No Right to Redeem Before September 29, 2027. The Issuer may not redeem the Notes at any time before September 29, 2027.

(B) Right to Redeem the Notes on or after September 29, 2027. Subject to the terms of this Section 4.03, the Issuer has the right, at its election, to redeem (a “Redemption”) all, or any portion in an Authorized Denomination, of the Notes, at any time, and from time to time, on a Redemption Date that falls on or after September 29, 2027 and on or before the sixtieth (60th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date, for a cash purchase price equal to the Redemption Price.

For the avoidance of doubt, the calling of any Notes for Redemption will constitute a Make-Whole Event with respect to such Notes pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof.

(C) [Reserved].

(D) Redemption Prohibited in Certain Circumstances. If the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or before the Redemption Date (including as a result of the payment of the related Redemption Price, and any related interest pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F), on such Redemption Date), then (i) the Issuer may not call for Redemption or otherwise redeem any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.03; and (ii) the Issuer will cause any Notes theretofore surrendered for such Redemption to be returned to the Holders thereof (or, if applicable with respect to Global Notes, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interests in such Notes in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(E) Redemption Date. The Redemption Date for a Redemption will be a Business Day of the Issuer’s choosing that is no more than sixty (60) Scheduled Trading Days and not less than thirty-five (35) Scheduled Trading Days after the related Redemption Notice Date for such Redemption.

(F) Redemption Price. The Redemption Price for any Note called for Redemption is an amount in cash equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount of such Note plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, the Redemption Date for such Redemption; provided, however, that if such Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, then (i) the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such Redemption, to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date, if such Redemption Date is before such Interest Payment Date); and (ii) the Redemption Price will not include accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such Redemption Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day within the meaning

 

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of Section 2.05(C) and such Redemption Date occurs on the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date, then (x) accrued and unpaid interest on Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be paid, in accordance with Section 2.05(C), on the next Business Day to Holders as of the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date; and (y) the Redemption Price will include interest on Notes to be redeemed from, and including, such Interest Payment Date.

(G) Redemption Notice. To call any Notes for Redemption, the Issuer must (i) deliver to each Holder of such Notes, the Trustee, the Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent a written notice of such Redemption (a “Redemption Notice”); and (ii) substantially contemporaneously therewith, either (x) issue a press release through such national newswire service as the Issuer then uses; (y) publish the same through such other widely disseminated public medium as the Issuer then uses, including its website; or (z) file or furnish a Form 8-K (or any successor form) with the SEC, in each case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), containing the information set forth in the Redemption Notice.

Such Redemption Notice must state:

(i) that such Notes have been called for Redemption, briefly describing the Issuer’s Redemption right under this Indenture;

(ii) the Redemption Date for such Redemption;

(iii) the Redemption Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Redemption (and, if the Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, the amount, manner and timing of the interest payment payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F));

(iv) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

(v) that Notes called for Redemption may be converted at any time before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the Redemption Date (or, if the Issuer fails to pay the Redemption Price due on such Redemption Date in full, at any time until such time as the Issuer pays such Redemption Price in full);

(vi) the Conversion Rate in effect on the Redemption Notice Date for such Redemption and a description and quantification of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate that may result from such Redemption (including pursuant to Section 5.07);

(vii) the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after such Redemption Notice Date and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before such Redemption Date; and

(viii) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if any, of the Notes.

On or before the Redemption Notice Date, the Issuer will deliver a copy of such Redemption Notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent. At the Issuer’s request, given in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least five (5) days prior to the requested date of delivery (or such shorter period of time as may be acceptable to the Trustee), the Trustee shall give such notice in the Issuer’s name; provided, however that in all cases, the text of such Redemption Notice shall be prepared by the Issuer.

 

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(H) [Reserved].

(I) Selection and Conversion of Notes to Be Redeemed in Part. If less than all Notes then outstanding are called for Redemption, then:

(i) the Notes to be redeemed will be selected by the Issuer as follows: (1) in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the Depositary Procedures and, if no such Depositary Procedures apply, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; and (2) in the case of Physical Notes, pro rata, by lot or by such other method the Issuer considers fair and appropriate; and

(ii) if only a portion of a Note is subject to Redemption and such Note is converted in part, then the converted portion of such Note will be deemed to be from the portion of such Note that was subject to Redemption.

(J) Payment of the Redemption Price. Without limiting the Issuer’s obligation to deposit the Redemption Price by the time proscribed by Section 3.02(B), the Issuer will cause the Redemption Price for a Note (or portion thereof) subject to Redemption to be paid to the Holder thereof on or before the applicable Redemption Date. For the avoidance of doubt, interest payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.03(F) on any Note (or portion thereof) subject to Redemption must be paid pursuant to such proviso.

(K) Right to Convert Not Affected. For the avoidance of doubt, a Redemption will not affect any Holder’s right to convert any Notes on or after the Issue Date and prior to the Close of Business on the second (2nd) Business Day immediately before the applicable Redemption Date, except to the extent the Issuer fails to pay the Redemption Price for such Note in accordance with this Indenture.

Section 4.04. RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE THE ISSUER TO REPURCHASE NOTES UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL AFTER THE CONVERSION EXPIRATION DATE.

(A) Right of Holders to Require the Issuer to Repurchase Notes Upon a Change of Control after the Conversion Expiration Date. Subject to the other terms of this Section 4.04, if a Change of Control occurs after the Conversion Expiration Date, then each Holder will have the right (the “Change of Control Repurchase Right”) to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) on the Change of Control Repurchase Date for such Change of Control for a cash purchase price equal to the Change of Control Repurchase Price.

(B) Repurchase Prohibited in Certain Circumstances. If the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or before the Change of Control Repurchase Date for a Repurchase Upon Change of Control (including as a result of the payment of the related Change of Control Repurchase Price, and any related interest pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.04(D), on such Change of Control Repurchase Date), then (i) the Issuer

 

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may not repurchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.04; and (ii) the Issuer will cause any Notes theretofore surrendered for such Repurchase Upon Change of Control to be returned to the Holders thereof (or, if applicable with respect to Global Notes, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interest in such Notes in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

(C) Change of Control Repurchase Date. The Change of Control Repurchase Date for any Change of Control will be a Business Day of the Issuer’s choosing that is no more than thirty-five (35) and not less than twenty (20) Business Days after the date the Issuer delivers the related Change of Control Notice pursuant to Section 4.04(E).

(D) Change of Control Repurchase Price. The Change of Control Repurchase Price for any Note to be repurchased upon a Repurchase Upon Change of Control following a Change of Control is an amount in cash equal to one hundred and one percent (101%) of the principal amount of such Note plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, the Change of Control Repurchase Date for such Change of Control; provided, however, that if such Change of Control Repurchase Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, then (i) the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such Repurchase Upon Change of Control, to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date, if such Change of Control Repurchase Date is before such Interest Payment Date); and (ii) the Change of Control Repurchase Price will not include accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to, but excluding, such Change of Control Repurchase Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day within the meaning of Section 2.05(C) and such Change of Control Repurchase Date occurs on the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date, then (x) accrued and unpaid interest on Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be paid, in accordance with Section 2.05(C), on the next Business Day to Holders as of the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Regular Record Date; and (y) the Change of Control Repurchase Price will include interest on Notes to be repurchased from, and including, such Interest Payment Date.

(E) Change of Control Notice. On or before the twentieth (20th) calendar day after the effective date of a Change of Control, the Issuer will deliver to each Holder, the Trustee and the Paying Agent a notice of such Change of Control (a “Change of Control Notice”). Substantially contemporaneously, the Issuer will either (x) issue a press release through such national newswire service as the Issuer then uses; (y) publish the same through such other widely disseminated public medium as the Issuer then uses, including its website; or (z) file or furnish a Form 8-K (or any successor form) with the SEC, in each case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), containing the information set forth in the Change of Control Notice.

Such Change of Control Notice must state:

(i) briefly, the events causing such Change of Control;

(ii) the effective date of such Change of Control;

 

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(iii) the procedures that a Holder must follow to require the Issuer to repurchase its Notes pursuant to this Section 4.04, including the deadline for exercising the Change of Control Repurchase Right and the procedures for submitting and withdrawing a Change of Control Repurchase Notice;

(iv) the Change of Control Repurchase Date for such Change of Control;

(v) the Change of Control Repurchase Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Change of Control (and, if such Change of Control Repurchase Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, the amount, manner and timing of the interest payment payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.04(D));

(vi) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(vii) [Reserved];

(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) that Notes for which a Change of Control Repurchase Notice has been duly tendered and not duly withdrawn must be delivered to the Paying Agent for the Holder thereof to be entitled to receive the Change of Control Repurchase Price;

(x) [Reserved]; and

(xi) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers, if any, of the Notes.

Neither the failure to deliver a Change of Control Notice nor any defect in a Change of Control Notice will limit the Change of Control Repurchase Right of any Holder or otherwise affect the validity of any proceedings relating to any Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

(F) Procedures to Exercise the Change of Control Repurchase Right.

(i) Delivery of Change of Control Repurchase Notice and Notes to Be Repurchased. To exercise its Change of Control Repurchase Right for a Note following a Change of Control, the Holder thereof must deliver to the Paying Agent:

(1) before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the related Change of Control Repurchase Date (or such later time as may be required by law), a duly completed, written Change of Control Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note; and

(2) such Note, duly endorsed for transfer (if such Note is a Physical Note) or by book-entry transfer (if such Note is a Global Note).

The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to the Issuer a copy of each Change of Control Repurchase Notice that it receives.

 

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(ii) Contents of Change of Control Repurchase Notices. Each Change of Control Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note must state:

(1) if such Note is a Physical Note, the certificate number of such Note;

(2) the principal amount of such Note to be repurchased, which must be an Authorized Denomination; and

(3) that such Holder is exercising its Change of Control Repurchase Right with respect to such principal amount of such Note;

provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note, then such Change of Control Repurchase Notice must comply with the Depositary Procedures (and any such Change of Control Repurchase Notice delivered in compliance with the Depositary Procedures will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.04(F)).

(iii) Withdrawal of Change of Control Repurchase Notice. A Holder that has delivered a Change of Control Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note may withdraw such Change of Control Repurchase Notice by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent at any time before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the related Change of Control Repurchase Date. Such withdrawal notice must state:

(1) if such Note is a Physical Note, the certificate number of such Note;

(2) the principal amount of such Note to be withdrawn, which must be an Authorized Denomination; and

(3) the principal amount of such Note, if any, that remains subject to such Change of Control Repurchase Notice, which must be an Authorized Denomination;

provided, however, that if such Note is a Global Note, then such withdrawal notice must comply with the Depositary Procedures (and any such withdrawal notice delivered in compliance with the Depositary Procedures will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.04(F)).

Upon receipt of any such withdrawal notice with respect to a Note (or any portion thereof), the Paying Agent will (x) promptly deliver a copy of such withdrawal notice to the Issuer; and (y) if such Note is surrendered to the Paying Agent, cause such Note (or such portion thereof in accordance with Section 2.11, treating such Note as having been then surrendered for partial repurchase in the amount set forth in such withdrawal notice as remaining subject to repurchase) to be returned to the Holder thereof (or, if applicable with respect to any Global Note, cancel any instructions for book-entry transfer to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable beneficial interest in such Note in accordance with the Depositary Procedures).

 

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(G) Payment of the Change of Control Repurchase Price. Without limiting the Issuer’s obligation to deposit the Change of Control Repurchase Price within the time proscribed by Section 3.02(B), the Issuer will cause the Change of Control Repurchase Price for a Note (or portion thereof) to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control to be paid to the Holder thereof on or before the later of (i) the applicable Change of Control Repurchase Date; and (ii) the date (x) such Note is delivered to the Paying Agent (in the case of a Physical Note) or (y) the Depositary Procedures relating to the repurchase, and the delivery to the Paying Agent, of such Holder’s beneficial interest in such Note to be repurchased are complied with (in the case of a Global Note). For the avoidance of doubt, interest payable pursuant to the proviso to Section 4.04(D) on any Note to be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control must be paid pursuant to such proviso regardless of whether such Note is delivered or such Depositary Procedures are complied with pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 4.04(G).

(H) Repurchase by Third Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.04, the Issuer will be deemed to satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.04 if (i) one or more third parties conduct any Repurchase Upon Change of Control and related offer to repurchase Notes otherwise required by this Section 4.04 in a manner that would have satisfied the requirements of this Section 4.04 if conducted directly by the Issuer; and (ii) an owner of a beneficial interest in any Note repurchased by such third party or parties will not receive a lesser amount as a result of withholding or similar taxes than such owner would have received had the Issuer repurchased such Note.

(I) Compliance with Applicable Securities Laws. To the extent applicable, the Issuer will comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with a Repurchase Upon Change of Control (including complying with Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and filing any required Schedule TO, to the extent applicable) so as to permit effecting such Repurchase Upon Change of Control in the manner set forth in this Indenture; provided, however, that, to the extent that any securities laws or regulations enacted after the Issue Date conflict with the Section 4.04, the Issuer will comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.04 (nor will such compliance be considered a Default or an Event of Default hereunder) by virtue of such conflict.

(J) Repurchase in Part. Subject to the terms of this Section 4.04, Notes may be repurchased pursuant to a Repurchase Upon Change of Control in part, but only in Authorized Denominations. Provisions of this Section 4.04 applying to the repurchase of a Note in whole will equally apply to the repurchase of a permitted portion of a Note.

Article 5. CONVERSION

Section 5.01. RIGHT TO CONVERT.

(A) Generally. On and after the Issue Date until the fifth (5th) scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Conversion Expiration Date, subject to the provisions of this Article 5, each Holder may, at its option, convert such Holder’s Notes into Conversion Consideration.

 

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(B) Conversions in Part. Subject to the terms of this Indenture, Notes may be converted in part, but only in Authorized Denominations. Provisions of this Article 5 applying to the conversion of a Note in whole will equally apply to conversions of a permitted portion of a Note.

(C) When Notes May Be Converted.

(i) [Reserved].

(ii) Limitations and Closed Periods. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes:

(1) Notes may be surrendered for conversion only after the Open of Business and before the Close of Business on a day that is a Business Day;

(2) in no event may any Note be converted after the Close of Business on the fifth (5th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Conversion Expiration Date;

(3) if the Issuer calls any Note for Redemption pursuant to Section 4.03, then the Holder of such Note may not convert such Note after the Close of Business on the second (2nd) Business Day immediately before the applicable Redemption Date, except to the extent the Issuer fails to pay the Redemption Price for such Note in accordance with this Indenture;

(4) if a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is validly delivered pursuant to Section 4.02(F) with respect to any Note, then such Note may not be converted, except to the extent (a) such Note is not subject to such notice; (b) such notice is withdrawn in accordance with Section 4.02(F); or (c) the Issuer fails to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for such Note in accordance with this Indenture; and

(5) Physical Notes may not be converted within ten (10) Business Days prior to a mandatory exchange of Physical Notes for Global Notes.

Section 5.02. CONVERSION PROCEDURES.

(A) Generally.

(i) Global Notes. To convert a beneficial interest in a Global Note that is convertible pursuant to Section 5.01, the owner of such beneficial interest must (1) comply with the Depositary Procedures for converting such beneficial interest (at which time such conversion will become irrevocable); and (2) pay any amounts due pursuant to Section 5.02(D) or Section 5.02(E).

(ii) Physical Notes. To convert all or a portion of a Physical Note that is convertible pursuant to Section 5.01, the Holder of such Note must (1) complete, manually sign and deliver to the Conversion Agent the conversion notice attached to such Physical Note or a facsimile/email of such conversion notice; (2) deliver such Physical Note to the Conversion Agent (at which time such conversion will become irrevocable); (3) furnish any endorsements and transfer documents that the Issuer or the Conversion Agent may require; and (4) pay any amounts due pursuant to Section 5.02(D) or Section 5.02(E).

 

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(B) Effect of Converting a Note. At the Close of Business on the Conversion Date for a Note (or any portion thereof) to be converted, such Note (or such portion) will (unless there occurs a Default in the delivery of the Conversion Consideration or interest due, pursuant to Sections 5.03(B) or 5.03(D), upon such conversion) be deemed to cease to be outstanding (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no Person will be deemed to be a Holder of such Note (or such portion thereof) as of the Close of Business on such Conversion Date), except to the extent provided in Section 5.02(D).

(C) Holder of Record of Conversion Shares. The Person in whose name any Common Stock is issuable upon conversion of any Note will be deemed to become the holder of record of such Common Stock as of the Close of Business on (i) the Conversion Date for such conversion, in the case of Physical Settlement; or (ii) the last VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for such conversion, in the case of Combination Settlement.

(D) Interest Payable upon Conversion in Certain Circumstances. If the Conversion Date of a Note is after a Regular Record Date and before the next Interest Payment Date, then the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will be entitled, notwithstanding such conversion (and, for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything set forth in the proviso to this sentence), to receive, on or, at the Issuer’s election, before such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date (assuming, solely for these purposes, that such Note remained outstanding through such Interest Payment Date); and the Holder surrendering such Note for conversion must deliver to the Conversion Agent, at the time of such surrender, an amount of cash equal to the amount of such interest referred to in clause (i) above; provided, however, that the Holder surrendering such Note for conversion need not deliver such cash (w) if the Issuer has specified a Redemption Date for a Redemption that is after such Regular Record Date and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date; (x) [reserved]; (y) if the Issuer has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date that is after such Regular Record Date and on or before the Business Day immediately after such Interest Payment Date; or (z) to the extent of any overdue interest or interest that has accrued on any overdue interest. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Conversion Date of a Note to be converted is on an Interest Payment Date, then the Holder of such Note at the Close of Business on the Regular Record Date immediately before such Interest Payment Date will be entitled to receive, on such Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that has accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date, and such Note, when surrendered for conversion, need not be accompanied by any cash amount pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 5.02(D).

(E) Taxes and Duties. If a Holder converts a Note, the Issuer will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or duty due on the issue or delivery (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to Section 5.08) of any Common Stock upon such conversion; provided, however, that if any tax or duty is due because such Holder requested such Common Stock to be registered in a name other than such Holder’s name, then such Holder will pay such tax or duty.

 

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(F) Conversion Agent to Notify Issuer of Conversions. If any Note is submitted for conversion to the Conversion Agent or the Conversion Agent receives any notice of conversion with respect to a Note, then the Conversion Agent will promptly notify the Issuer and the Trustee of such occurrence, together with any other information reasonably requested by the Issuer, and will cooperate with the Issuer to determine the Conversion Date for such Note.

Section 5.03. SETTLEMENT UPON CONVERSION.

(A) Settlement Method. Upon the conversion of any Note, the Issuer will settle such conversion by paying or delivering, as applicable and as provided in this Article 5, either (x) Common Stock, together, if applicable, with cash in lieu of fractional shares as provided in Section 5.03(B)(i)(1) (a “Physical Settlement”); (y) solely cash as provided in Section 5.03(B)(i)(2) (a “Cash Settlement”); or (z) a combination of cash and Common Stock, together, if applicable, with cash in lieu of fractional shares as provided in Section 5.03(B)(i)(3) (a “Combination Settlement”).

(i) The Issuers Right to Elect Settlement Method. The Issuer will have the right to elect the Settlement Method applicable to any conversion of a Note; provided, however, that:

(1) if any Notes are called for Redemption, then the Issuer will specify, in the related Redemption Notice (and, in the case of a Redemption of less than all outstanding Notes, in a notice simultaneously sent to all Holders of Notes not called for Redemption) sent pursuant to Section 4.03(G), the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after such Redemption Notice Date and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before such Redemption Date;

(2) if any Notes are called for Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, then the Issuer will specify, in the related Fundamental Change Notice sent pursuant to Section 4.02(E), the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date of such Fundamental Change Notice and on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(3) the Issuer will use the same Settlement Method for all conversions of Notes with the same Conversion Date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer will not be obligated to use the same Settlement Method with respect to conversions of Notes with different Conversion Dates, except as provided in clause (1) and clause (2) above);

(4) if, in respect of any Conversion Date (or one of the periods described in the third immediately succeeding set of parentheses, as the case may be), the Issuer elects to deliver a notice (the “Settlement Notice”) of the relevant Settlement Method in respect of such Conversion Date (or such period, as the case may be), the Issuer shall deliver such Settlement Notice to converting Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent no later than the close of business on the Trading Day

 

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immediately following the relevant Conversion Date (or, in the case of any conversions (x) of any Notes for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after the date of issuance of a Redemption Notice and prior to the related Redemption Date, in such Redemption Notice, (y) for which the Issuer has irrevocably elected Physical Settlement pursuant to Section 5.03(B)(i)(1), in the related notice described therein or (z) for which the Issuer has made an irrevocable election pursuant to Section 5.03(A)(ii), in the Issuer’s notice of such irrevocable election to the Holders) (in each case, the “Settlement Method Election Deadline”). If the Issuer does not timely elect a Settlement Method with respect to the conversion of a Note prior to the Settlement Method Election Deadline, then the Issuer shall no longer have the right to elect Cash Settlement or Physical Settlement for such conversion or during such period and will be deemed to have elected the Default Settlement Method (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the failure to timely make such election will not constitute a Default or Event of Default). Such Settlement Notice shall specify the relevant Settlement Method and in the case of an election of Combination Settlement, the relevant Settlement Notice shall indicate the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes;

(5) if the Issuer timely elects Combination Settlement with respect to the conversion of a Note but does not timely notify the Holder of such Note of the applicable Specified Dollar Amount, then the Specified Dollar Amount for such conversion will be deemed to be $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the failure to timely send such notification will not constitute a Default or Event of Default); and

(6) the Settlement Method will be subject to Section 5.09(A)(2).

(ii) The Issuers Right to Irrevocably Fix the Settlement Method. The Issuer will have the right, exercisable at its election by sending notice of such exercise to the Holders (with a copy to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent), to irrevocably fix the Settlement Method that will apply to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date such notice is sent to Holders, provided that (x) such Settlement Method must be a Settlement Method that the Issuer is then permitted to elect (for the avoidance of doubt, including pursuant to, and subject to, the other provisions of this Section 5.03(A)); (y) no such irrevocable election will affect any Settlement Method theretofore elected (or deemed to be elected) with respect to any Note pursuant to the other provisions of this Section 5.03(A); and (z) upon any such irrevocable election, the Default Settlement Method will automatically be deemed to be set to the Settlement Method so fixed. Such notice, if sent, must set forth the applicable Settlement Method and expressly state that the election is irrevocable and applicable to all conversions of Notes with a Conversion Date that occurs on or after the date such notice is sent to Holders. For the avoidance of doubt, such an irrevocable election, if made, will be effective without the need to amend this Indenture or the Notes, including pursuant to Section 8.01(G) (it being understood, however, that the Issuer may nonetheless choose to execute such an amendment at its option).

 

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(iii) Requirement to Publicly Disclose the Fixed or Default Settlement Method. If the Issuer changes the Default Settlement Method pursuant to clause (x) of the proviso to the definition of such term or irrevocably fixes the Settlement Method pursuant to Section 5.03(A)(i), then the Issuer will either post the Default Settlement Method or fixed Settlement Method, as applicable, on its website or disclose the same in a Current Report on Form 8-K (or any successor form) that is filed with the SEC.

(B) Conversion Consideration.

(i) Generally. Subject to Section 5.03(B)(ii) and Section 5.03(B)(iii), the type and amount of consideration (the “Conversion Consideration”) due in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of a Note to be converted will be as follows:

(1) if Physical Settlement applies to such conversion, consideration consisting of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Conversion Date for such conversion;

(2) if Cash Settlement applies to such conversion, consideration consisting of cash in an amount equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each VWAP Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion; or

(3) if Combination Settlement applies to such conversion, consideration consisting of (x) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the sum of the Daily Share Amounts for each VWAP Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion, and (y) an amount of cash equal to the sum of the Daily Cash Amounts for each VWAP Trading Day in such Observation Period.

(ii) Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares. If Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement applies to the conversion of any Note and the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable pursuant to Section 5.03(B)(i) upon such conversion is not a whole number, then such number will be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the Issuer will deliver, in addition to the other consideration due upon such conversion, cash in lieu of the related fractional share in an amount equal to the product of (1) such fraction and (2) (x) the Daily VWAP on the Conversion Date for such conversion (or, if such Conversion Date is not a VWAP Trading Day, the immediately preceding VWAP Trading Day), in the case of Physical Settlement; or (y) the Daily VWAP on the last VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for such conversion, in the case of Combination Settlement.

(iii) Conversion of Multiple Notes by a Single Holder. If a Holder converts more than one (1) Note on a single Conversion Date, then the Conversion Consideration due in respect of such conversion will (in the case of any Global Note, to the extent permitted by, and practicable under, the Depositary Procedures) be computed based on the total principal amount of Notes converted on such Conversion Date by such Holder.

(iv) Notice of Calculation of Conversion Consideration. If Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies to the conversion of any Note, then the Issuer will determine the Conversion Consideration due thereupon promptly following the last VWAP Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period and will promptly thereafter send notice to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of the same and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will have any duty to make any such determination.

 

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(C) Delivery of the Conversion Consideration. Except as set forth in Sections 5.05(D) and 5.09, the Issuer will pay or deliver, as applicable, the Conversion Consideration due upon the conversion of any Note to the Holder as follows: (i) if Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies to such conversion, on or before the second (2nd) Business Day immediately after the last VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for such conversion; and (ii) if Physical Settlement applies to such conversion, on or before the second (2nd) Business Day immediately after the Conversion Date for such conversion.

(D) Deemed Payment of Principal and Interest; Settlement of Accrued Interest Notwithstanding Conversion. If a Holder converts a Note, then the Issuer will not adjust the Conversion Rate to account for any accrued and unpaid interest on such Note, and, except as provided in Section 5.02(D), the Issuer’s delivery of the Conversion Consideration due in respect of such conversion will be deemed to fully satisfy and discharge the Issuer’s obligation to pay the principal of such Note. As a result, except as provided in Section 5.02(D), any accrued and unpaid interest on a converted Note will be cancelled, extinguished and forfeited.

Section 5.04. RESERVE AND STATUS OF COMMON STOCK ISSUED UPON CONVERSION.

(A) The Issuer shall at all times reserve for issuance and provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares or shares held in treasury, sufficient shares of Common Stock to permit the conversion of all then-outstanding Notes, assuming (x) Physical Settlement will apply to such conversion; and (y) the Conversion Rate is increased by the maximum amount pursuant to which the Conversion Rate may be increased pursuant to Section 5.07.

(B) Each Conversion Share, if any, delivered upon conversion of any Note will be a newly issued share (except that any Conversion Share delivered by a designated financial institution pursuant to Section 5.08 need not be a newly issued share), will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, free from preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim (except to the extent of any lien or adverse claim created by the action or inaction of the Holder of such Note or the Person to whom such Conversion Share will be delivered) and will rank pari passu with the existing Common Stock. If the Common Stock is then listed on any securities exchange, or quoted on any inter-dealer quotation system, then the Issuer will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Conversion Share, when delivered upon conversion of any Note, to be admitted for listing on such exchange or quotation on such system.

Section 5.05. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONVERSION RATE.

(A) Events Requiring an Adjustment to the Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate will be adjusted from time to time as follows:

(i) Stock Dividends, Splits and Combinations. If the Issuer issues solely the shares of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on all or substantially all of the shares of Common Stock, or if the Issuer effects a split or a combination of the shares of Common Stock (in each case excluding an issuance solely pursuant to a Common Stock Change Event, as to which Section 5.09 will apply), then the Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

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LOGO

where:

 

   CR0    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately before the Open of Business on the effective date of such split or combination, as applicable;
   CR1    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date or effective date, as applicable;
   OS0    =    the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date or effective date, as applicable, without giving effect to such dividend, distribution, split or combination; and
   OS1    =    the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, split or combination.

If any dividend, distribution, split or combination of the type described in this Section 5.05(A)(i) is declared or announced, but not so paid or made, then the Conversion Rate will be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution or to effect such split or combination, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had such dividend, distribution, split or combination not been declared or announced.

(ii) Rights, Options and Warrants. If the Issuer distributes, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, rights, options or warrants (other than rights issued or otherwise distributed pursuant to a stockholder rights plan, as to which Sections 5.05(A)(iii)(1) and 5.05(F) will apply) entitling such holders, for a period of not more than sixty (60) calendar days after the record date of such distribution, to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices per share of Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately before the date such distribution is announced, then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

 

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where:

 

   CR0    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;
   CR1    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
   OS    =    the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
   X    =    the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and
   Y    =    a number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing (x) the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants by (y) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately before the date the distribution of such rights, options or warrants is announced.

To the extent such rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 5.05(A)(ii) are not so distributed, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase to the Conversion Rate for such distribution been made on the basis of only the rights, options or warrants, if any, actually distributed. In addition, to the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants (including as a result of such rights, options or warrants not being exercised), the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase to the Conversion Rate for such distribution been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered upon exercise of such rights, option or warrants.

For purposes of this Section 5.05(A)(ii), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle holders of Common Stock to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately before the date the distribution of such rights, options or warrants is announced, and in determining the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, there will be taken into account any consideration the Issuer receives for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise thereof, with the value of such consideration, if not cash, to be determined by the Issuer in good faith.

(iii) Spin-Offs and Other Distributed Property.

(1) Distributions Other than Spin-Offs. If the Issuer distributes shares of its Equity Interests, evidence of its indebtedness or other assets or property of the Issuer, or rights, options or warrants to acquire Equity Interests of the Issuer or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, excluding:

 

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(a) dividends, distributions, rights, options or warrants (including Common Stock splits) for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate is required (or would be required without regard to Section 5.05(C)) pursuant to Sections 5.05(A)(i) or 5.05(A)(ii);

(b) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate is required (or would be required without regard to Section 5.05(C)) pursuant to Section 5.05(A)(iv);

(c) rights issued or otherwise distributed pursuant to a stockholder rights plan, except to the extent provided in Section 5.05(F);

(d) Spin-Offs for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate is required (or would be required without regard to Section 5.05(C)) pursuant to Section 5.05(A)(iii)(2);

(e) a distribution solely pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Stock, as to which Section 5.05(A)(v) will apply; and

(f) a distribution solely pursuant to a Common Stock Change Event, as to which Section 5.09 will apply,

then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

   CR0    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;
   CR1    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
   SP    =    the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately before such Ex-Dividend Date; and
   FMV    =    the fair market value (as determined by the Issuer in good faith), as of such Ex-Dividend Date, of the shares of Equity Interests, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants distributed per share of Common Stock pursuant to such distribution;

 

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provided, however, that if FMV is equal to or greater than SP, then, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment to the Conversion Rate, each Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held by such Holder on the record date for such distribution, at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock, the amount and kind of shares of Equity Interests, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned, on such record date, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on such record date.

To the extent such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the distribution, if any, actually made or paid.

(2) Spin-Offs. If the Issuer distributes or dividends shares of Equity Interests of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Issuer to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock (other than solely pursuant to (x) a Common Stock Change Event, as to which Section 5.09 will apply; or (y) a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Stock, as to which Section 5.05(A)(v) will apply), and such Equity Interests are listed or quoted (or will be listed or quoted upon the consummation of the transaction) on a U.S. national securities exchange (a “Spin-Off”), then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  CR0    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Spin-Off Valuation Period for such Spin-Off;
  CR1    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Spin-Off Valuation Period;
  FMV    =    the product of (x) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices per share or unit of the Equity Interests distributed in such Spin-Off over the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period (the “Spin-Off Valuation Period”) beginning on, and including, the Ex- Dividend Date for such Spin-Off (such average to be determined as if references to Common Stock in the definitions of Last Reported Sale Price, Trading Day and Market Disruption Event were instead references to such Equity Interests); and (y) the number of shares or units of such Equity Interests distributed per share of Common Stock in such Spin-Off; and
  SP    =    the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for each Trading Day in the Spin-Off Valuation Period.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.05(A)(iii)(2), (i) if any VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for a Note whose conversion will be settled pursuant to Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement occurs during the Spin-Off Valuation Period for such Spin-Off, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Rate for such VWAP Trading Day for such conversion, such Spin-Off Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin- Off to, and including, such VWAP Trading Day; and (ii) if the Conversion Date for a Note whose conversion will be settled pursuant to Physical Settlement occurs during the Spin-Off Valuation Period for such Spin-Off, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Consideration for such conversion, such Spin-Off Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin-Off to, and including, such Conversion Date.

To the extent any dividend or distribution of the type set forth in this Section 5.05(A)(iii)(2) is declared but not made or paid, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the dividend or distribution, if any, actually made or paid.

(iv) Cash Dividends or Distributions. If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock, then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  CR0    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
  CR1    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
  SP    =    the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately before such Ex-Dividend Date; and
  D    =    the cash amount distributed per share of Common Stock in such dividend or distribution;

provided, however, that if D is equal to or greater than SP, then, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment to the Conversion Rate, each Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held by such Holder on the record date for such dividend or distribution, at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned, on such record date, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on such record date.

 

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To the extent such dividend or distribution is declared but not made or paid, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the dividend or distribution, if any, actually made or paid.

(v) Tender Offers or Exchange Offers. If the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer that is subject to the then- applicable tender offer rules under the Exchange Act (other than solely pursuant to an odd- lot tender offer pursuant to Rule 13e-4(h)(5) under the Exchange Act or any successor rule thereto), for Common Stock, and the value (determined as of the Expiration Time by the Board of Directors) of the cash and other consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such tender or exchange offer exceeds the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately after the last date (the “Expiration Date”) on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it may be amended), then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

LOGO

where:

 

  CR0    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period (the “Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”) beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date;
  CR1    =    the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period;
  AC    =    the aggregate value (determined as of the time (the “Expiration Time”) such tender or exchange offer expires by the Board of Directors) of all cash and other consideration paid for Common Stock purchased or exchanged in such tender or exchange offer;
  OS0    =    the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before the Expiration Time (including all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);
  OS1    =    the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (excluding all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and
  SP    =    the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period beginning on, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date;

 

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provided, however, that the Conversion Rate will in no event be adjusted down pursuant to this Section 5.05(A)(v), except to the extent provided in the immediately following paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.05(A)(v), (i) if any VWAP Trading Day of the Observation Period for a Note whose conversion will be settled pursuant to Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Rate for such VWAP Trading Day for such conversion, such Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date for such tender or exchange offer to, and including, such VWAP Trading Day; and (ii) if the Conversion Date for a Note whose conversion will be settled pursuant to Physical Settlement occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period for such tender or exchange offer, then, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Consideration for such conversion, such Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period will be deemed to consist of the Trading Days occurring in the period from, and including, the Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date to, and including, such Conversion Date.

To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of the Issuer being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under applicable law), or any purchases or exchanges of Common Stock in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of Common Stock, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.

(B) No Adjustments in Certain Cases.

(i) Where Holders Participate in the Transaction or Event Without Conversion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.05(A), the Issuer will not be obligated to adjust the Conversion Rate on account of a transaction or other event otherwise requiring an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.05(A) (other than a split or combination of the type set forth in Section 5.05(A)(i) or a tender or exchange offer of the type set forth in Section 5.05(A)(v)) if each Holder participates, at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock, and solely by virtue of being a Holder of Notes, in such transaction or event without having to convert such Holder’s Notes and as if such Holder held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the Conversion Rate in effect on the related record date; and (ii) the aggregate principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holder on such date.

(ii) Certain Events. The Issuer will not be required to adjust the Conversion Rate except as provided in Section 5.05 or Section 5.07. Without limiting the foregoing, the Issuer will not be obligated to adjust the Conversion Rate on account of:

(1) except as otherwise provided in Section 5.05 or Section 5.07, the sale of shares of Common Stock for a purchase price that is less than the market price per share of Common Stock or less than the Conversion Price;

 

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(2) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Issuer’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any such plan;

(3) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit or incentive plan (including pursuant to an evergreen provision) or program of, or assumed by, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or in connection with any shares withheld for tax withholding purposes;

(4) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or convertible or exchangeable security of the Issuer outstanding or announced as of the Issue Date;

(5) for a tender offer or exchange offer by any party other than a tender offer or exchange offer by the Issuer or one or more of its Subsidiaries as described in Section 5.05(A)(v);

(6) an odd-lot tender offer pursuant to Rule 13e-4(h)(5) under the Exchange Act or any successor rule thereto;

(7) upon the repurchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an open-market repurchase program or other buyback transaction (including through any structured or derivative transactions, such as accelerated share repurchase transactions, prepaid forward transactions or similar forward derivatives) that is not a tender offer or exchange offer of the nature described in Section 5.05(A)(v);

(8) solely a change in the par value (or lack of par value) of the Common Stock; or

(9) accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes (but without limiting the operation of Section 5.05(H)), the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.05(A) on an account of any event described in any of clauses (i) through (v), inclusive, of Section 5.05(A) where the Ex- Dividend Date, effective date or Expiration Date, as applicable, of such event occurs before the Issue Date.

(C) If an adjustment to the Conversion Rate otherwise required by this Article 5 would result in a change of less than one percent (1%) to the Conversion Rate, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 5, the Issuer may, at its election, defer such adjustment, except that all such deferred adjustments must be given effect immediately upon the earliest of the following: (i) when all such deferred adjustments not already given effect would result in a change of at least one percent (1%) to the Conversion Rate; (ii) the Conversion Date of, or any VWAP Trading Day of an Observation Period for, any Note; (iii) the date a Fundamental Change or Make- Whole Event occurs; (iv) the date the Issuer calls any Notes for Redemption; and (v) the thirty fifth (35th) VWAP Trading Day before the Conversion Expiration Date.

 

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(D) Adjustments Not Yet Effective. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if:

(i) a Note is to be converted pursuant to Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement;

(ii) the record date, effective date or Expiration Time for any event that requires an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05(A) has occurred on or before the Conversion Date for such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or on or before any VWAP Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion (in the case of Combination Settlement), but an adjustment to the Conversion Rate for such event has not yet become effective as of such Conversion Date or VWAP Trading Day, as applicable;

(iii) the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion includes any whole shares of Common Stock (in the case of Physical Settlement) or due in respect of such VWAP Trading Day includes any whole or fractional shares of Common Stock (in the case of Combination Settlement); and

(iv) such shares of Common Stock are not entitled to participate in such event (because they were not held on the related record date or otherwise),

then, solely for purposes of such conversion, the Issuer will, without duplication, give effect to such adjustment on such Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or such VWAP Trading Day (in the case of Combination Settlement). In such case, if the date on which the Issuer is otherwise required to deliver the consideration due upon such conversion is before the first date on which the amount of such adjustment can be determined, then the Issuer will delay the settlement of such conversion until the second (2nd) Business Day after such first date.

(E) Conversion Rate Adjustments where Converting Holders Participate in the Relevant Transaction or Event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if:

(i) a Conversion Rate adjustment for any dividend or distribution becomes effective on any Ex-Dividend Date pursuant to Section 5.05(A);

(ii) a Note is to be converted pursuant to Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement;

(iii) the Conversion Date for such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or any VWAP Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion (in the case of Combination Settlement) occurs on or after such Ex-Dividend Date and on or before the related record date;

(iv) the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion includes any whole shares of Common Stock (in the case of Physical Settlement) or due in respect of such VWAP Trading Day includes any whole or fractional shares of Common Stock (in the case of Combination Settlement), in each case based on a Conversion Rate that is adjusted for such dividend or distribution; and

 

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(v) such shares would be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution (including pursuant to Section 5.02(C)),

then (x) in the case of Physical Settlement, such Conversion Rate adjustment will not be given effect for such conversion and the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion based on such unadjusted Conversion Rate will not be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution, but there will be added, to the Conversion Consideration otherwise due upon such conversion, the same kind and amount of consideration that would have been delivered in such dividend or distribution with respect to such shares of Common Stock had such shares been entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution; and (y) in the case of Combination Settlement, the Conversion Rate adjustment relating to such Ex-Dividend Date will be made for such conversion in respect of such VWAP Trading Day, but the shares of Common Stock issuable with respect to such VWAP Trading Day based on such adjusted Conversion Rate will not be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution.

(F) Stockholder Rights Plans. If any shares of Common Stock are to be issued or delivered upon conversion of any Note and, at the time of such conversion, the Issuer has in effect any stockholder rights plan, then the Holder of such Note will be entitled to receive, in addition to, and concurrently with the delivery of, the Conversion Consideration otherwise payable under this Indenture upon such conversion, the rights set forth in such stockholder rights plan, unless such rights have separated from the Common Stock at such time, in which case, and only in such case, the Conversion Rate will be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.05(A)(iii)(1) on account of such separation as if, at the time of such separation, the Issuer had made a distribution of the type referred to in such Section to all holders of the Common Stock, subject to readjustment in accordance with such Section if such rights expire, terminate or are redeemed.

(G) Limitation on Effecting Transactions Resulting in Certain Adjustments. The Issuer will not engage in or be a party to any transaction or event that would require the Conversion Rate to be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.05(A) or Section 5.07 to an amount that would result in the Conversion Price per share of Common Stock being less than the par value of the Common Stock.

(H) Equitable Adjustments to Prices. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Issuer to calculate the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices, or any function thereof, over a period of multiple days (including to calculate an adjustment to the Conversion Rate), or to calculate the Daily Conversion Values or Daily VWAPs over an Observation Period, the Issuer will make appropriate adjustments, if any, to such calculations to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05(A), would have resulted in an adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event that requires such an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex- Dividend Date, effective date or Expiration Date, as applicable, of such event occurs, at any time during such period, or Observation Period, as applicable.

(I) Calculation of Number of Outstanding Shares of Common Stock. For purposes of Section 5.05(A), the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time will (i) include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of Common Stock; and (ii) exclude Common Stock held in the Issuer’s treasury (unless the Issuer pays any dividend or makes any distribution on Common Stock held in its treasury).

 

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(J) Calculations. All calculations with respect to the Conversion Rate and adjustments thereto will be made, by the Issuer, to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share of Common Stock (with 5/100,000ths rounded upward).

(K) Notice of Conversion Rate Adjustments. Upon the effectiveness of any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05(A), the Issuer will promptly deliver notice to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent containing: (i) a brief description of the transaction or other event on account of which such adjustment was made; (ii) the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after such adjustment; and (iii) the effective time of such adjustment. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment.

Section 5.06. VOLUNTARY ADJUSTMENTS.

(A) Generally. To the extent permitted by law and applicable listing standards of The New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or other applicable security) is then listed), the Issuer, from time to time, may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate by any amount if (i) the Board of Directors determines that such increase is either (x) in the best interest of the Issuer; or (y) advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax imposed on holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock as a result of any dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) of Common Stock or any similar event; (ii) such increase is in effect for a period of at least twenty (20) Business Days; and (iii) subject to applicable law, such increase is irrevocable during such period.

(B) Notice of Voluntary Increases. If the Board of Directors determines to increase the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.06(A), then, no later than the first Business Day of the related twenty (20) Business Day period referred to in Section 5.06(A), the Issuer will deliver notice to each Holder, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of such increase, the amount thereof and the period during which such increase will be in effect.

Section 5.07. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONVERSION RATE IN CONNECTION WITH A MAKE-WHOLE EVENT.

(A) Generally. If a Make-Whole Event Effective Date occurs prior to the Conversion Expiration Date and a Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Event, the Issuer shall, under the circumstances described below, increase the Conversion Rate for the Notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”), as described below. A conversion of Notes shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such Make-Whole Event if the relevant conversion notice is received by the Conversion Agent during the Make-Whole Event Conversion Period. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer elects to redeem less than all of the outstanding Notes, then Holders of the Notes not called for redemption will not be entitled to an increased Conversion Rate for such Notes as provided in this Section 5.07 on account of such redemption.

 

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(B) Upon surrender of Notes for conversion in connection with a Make-Whole Event, the Issuer shall, at its option, satisfy the related conversion obligation by Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement in accordance with Section 5.03; provided, however, that if, at the effective time of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change that constitutes a Common Stock Change Event, the Reference Property following such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is composed entirely of cash, for any conversion of Notes following the effective date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Conversion Consideration shall be calculated based solely on the Stock Price for the transaction and shall be deemed to be an amount of cash per $1,000 principal amount of converted Notes equal to the Conversion Rate on such Conversion Date (including any adjustment for Additional Shares), multiplied by such Stock Price for such Make-Whole Fundamental Change. In such event, the Conversion Consideration shall be paid to Holders in cash on the second Business Day following the Conversion Date.

(C) The number of Additional Shares, if any, by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased for conversions during the Make-Whole Event Conversion Period shall be determined by reference to the table below, based on the Make-Whole Event Effective Date and the price paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of the Common Stock in the Make-Whole Fundamental Change or on the Redemption Notice Date in the manner set forth in this Section 5.07 (the “Stock Price”). If the holders of the Common Stock receive in exchange for their Common Stock only cash in a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Stock Price shall be the cash amount paid per share. In all other cases, the Stock Price shall be the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Make-Whole Event Effective Date. In the event that a conversion during a Redemption would also be deemed to be in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, a Holder of the Notes to be converted shall be entitled to a single increase to the Conversion Rate with respect to the first to occur of the applicable Make-Whole Event Effective Date, and the later event will be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of this Section 5.07. The Issuer shall make appropriate adjustments to the Stock Price, in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date, effective date (as such term is used in Section 5.05) or expiration date of the event occurs during such five consecutive Trading Day period.

(D) The Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table below shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted Stock Prices shall equal the Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment giving rise to the Stock Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional Shares set forth in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 5.05.

(E) The following table sets forth the number of Additional Shares of Common Stock by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased per $1,000 principal amount of Notes pursuant to this Section 5.07 for each Stock Price and Make-Whole Event Effective Date set forth below:

 

     Stock Price  

Make-Whole Event Effective Date

   $ 15.00      $ 18.35      $ 20.00      $ 25.00      $ 30.00      $ 35.00      $ 40.00      $ 45.00      $ 50.00      $ 55.00      $ 60.00      $ 65.00      $ 70.00      $ 80.00      $ 90.00      $ 100.00  

September 29, 2025

     12.1662        13.0861        10.6395        5.9728        3.5470        2.1880        1.3823        0.8829        0.5630        0.3531        0.2140        0.1217        0.0617        0.0041        0.0000        0.0000  

September 29, 2026

     12.1662        9.1984        6.9675        3.1428        1.5087        0.7591        0.3910        0.1991        0.0946        0.0367        0.0043        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000  

September 29, 2027

     12.1662        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000  

 

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The exact Stock Price and Make-Whole Event Effective Date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

(i) if the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices in the table above or the Make-Whole Event Effective Date is between two Make-Whole Event Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices and the earlier and later Make-Whole Event Effective Dates, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable;

(ii) if the Stock Price is greater than $100.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to Section 5.07(E)), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate; and

(iii) if the Stock Price is less than $15.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to Section 5.07(E)), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate.

(F) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate per $1,000 principal amount of Notes exceed 66.6667 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05.

(G) Nothing in this Section 5.07 shall prevent an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.05 in respect of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

(H) Notice of the Occurrence of a Make-Whole Event. The Issuer will notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of each Make-Whole Event (i) occurring pursuant to clause (A) of the definition thereof; and (ii) occurring pursuant to clause (B) of the definition thereof in accordance with Section 4.03(G).

Section 5.08. EXCHANGE IN LIEU OF CONVERSION.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 5, and subject to the terms of this Section 5.08, if a Note is submitted for conversion, the Issuer may elect, in lieu of conversion, to transfer such Note to a financial institution designated by the Issuer and arrange to have such financial institution deliver to the Holder of such Note the Conversion Consideration that would have been due upon conversion. To make such election, the Issuer must send notice of such election to the Holder of such Note, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date for such Note. If the Issuer has made such election, then:

(A) no later than the Business Day immediately following such Conversion Date, the Issuer must deliver (or cause the delivery of) such Note, together with delivery instructions for the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion (including wire instructions, if applicable), to a financial institution designated by the Issuer that has agreed to deliver such Conversion Consideration in the manner and at the time the Issuer would have had to deliver the same pursuant to this Article 5;

 

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(B) if such Note is a Global Note, then (i) such designated institution will send written confirmation to the Conversion Agent promptly after wiring the cash Conversion Consideration, if any, and delivering any other Conversion Consideration, due upon such conversion to the Holder of such Note; and (ii) the Conversion Agent will as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter contact such Holder’s custodian with the Depositary to confirm receipt of the same; and

(C) such Note will not cease to be outstanding by reason of such exchange in lieu of conversion, subject to the Depositary Procedures;

provided, however, that if such financial institution does not accept such Note or fails to timely deliver such Conversion Consideration, then the Issuer will be responsible for delivering such Conversion Consideration in the manner and at the time provided in this Article 5 as if the Issuer had not elected to make an exchange in lieu of conversion. The Issuer, the Holder surrendering Notes for conversion, the designated institution and the Conversion Agent shall cooperate to cause such Notes to be delivered to the designated institution and the Conversion Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the Issuer’s instruction in connection with effecting any such exchange and shall have no liability for such election to exchange outside of its control.

Section 5.09. EFFECT OF COMMON STOCK CHANGE EVENT.

(A) Generally. If there occurs any:

(i) recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than (x) changes solely resulting from a subdivision or combination of the Common Stock, (y) a change only in par value or from par value to no par value or no par value to par value and (z) splits and combinations that do not involve the issuance of any other series or class of securities);

(ii) consolidation, merger, combination or binding or statutory share exchange involving the Issuer;

(iii) sale, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person; or

(iv) other similar event,

and, as a result of which, the Common Stock is converted into, or exchanged for, or represents solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property, or any combination of the foregoing (such an event, a “Common Stock Change Event,” and such other securities, cash or property, the “Reference Property,” and the amount and kind of Reference Property that a holder of one (1) share of Common Stock would be entitled to receive on account of such Common Stock Change Event (without giving effect to any arrangement not to issue or deliver a fractional portion of any security or other property), a “Reference Property Unit”), then the Issuer and the resulting,

 

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surviving or transferee person (if not the Issuer) of such Common Stock Change Event (the “Successor Person”), and, if applicable as set forth below, the Underlying Issuer, will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders, providing, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, as follows:

(1) from and after the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event, (I) the Conversion Consideration due upon conversion of any Note, and the conditions to any such conversion, will be determined in the same manner as if each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in this Article 5 (or in any related definitions) were instead a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; (II) for purposes of Section 4.03, each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in such Section (or in any related definitions) will instead be deemed to be a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; and (III) for purposes of the definition of “Fundamental Change”, “Change of Control” and “Make-Whole Event,” references to Common Stock or to “Common Equity” will be deemed to refer to the common equity (including depositary receipts representing common equity), if any, forming part of such Reference Property;

(2) if such Reference Property Unit consists entirely of cash, then the Issuer will be deemed to elect Physical Settlement in respect of all conversions whose Conversion Date occurs on or after the effective date of such Common Stock Change Event and will pay the cash due upon such conversions no later than the second (2nd) Business Day after the relevant Conversion Date;

(3) for these purposes, (I) the Daily VWAP of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that consists of a class of common equity securities will be determined by reference to the definition of “Daily VWAP,” substituting, if applicable, the Bloomberg page for such class of securities in such definition; and (II) the Daily VWAP of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that does not consist of a class of common equity securities, and the Last Reported Sale Price of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that does not consist of a class of securities, will be the fair value of such Reference Property Unit or portion thereof, as applicable, determined in good faith by the Issuer (or, in the case of cash denominated in U.S. dollars, the face amount thereof); and

(4) if such Reference Property includes any shares of Equity Interests, then the Conversion Rate will be subject to subsequent adjustments in a manner consistent with Section 5.05(A).

If the Reference Property consists of more than a single type of consideration to be determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election, then the composition of the Reference Property Unit will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration actually received, per share of Common Stock, by the holders of the Common Stock. The Issuer will notify Holders of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.

 

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At or before the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event, the Issuer and the Successor Person will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(F) as set forth above (which shall provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that are as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Article 5). If the Reference Property includes shares of stock or other securities or assets (other than cash) of a Person other than the Issuer or a Successor Person (such person, the “Underlying Issuer”), then such Underlying Issuer will also execute such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders as the Issuer reasonably considers necessary by reason of the foregoing, including the provisions providing for the purchase rights set forth in Section 4.02 and Section 4.04.

(B) Notice of Common Stock Change Events. The Issuer will provide notice of each Common Stock Change Event to Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent no later than the effective date of such Common Stock Change Event.

(C) Compliance Covenant. The Issuer will not become a party to any Common Stock Change Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 5.09.

(D) The above provisions of this Section 5.09 shall similarly apply to successive Common Stock Change Events.

Section 5.10. [RESERVED].

Section 5.11. RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEE AND CONVERSION AGENT.

The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Conversion Rate (or any adjustment thereto) or whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment (including any increase) of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, monitoring the Issuer’s stock trading price or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and the Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Issuer to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Issuer contained in this Article 5. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to (a) determine whether a supplemental indenture needs to be entered into or (b) determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 5.09 relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any event referred to in such Section 5.09 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 13.02 of the Indenture, may accept (without any independent investigation) as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be

 

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protected in conclusively relying upon, the Officer’s Certificate (which the Issuer shall be obligated to deliver to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event contemplated by this Article 5 has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent the notices referred to in this Article 5 with respect to the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notices the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely.

Section 5.12. REGULATORY APPROVALS.

Until the Renesas Base Distribution Date (as defined in the Bankruptcy Plan), Renesas will not be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Notes and no conversion of Notes held by Renesas shall take place. Instead, for the avoidance of doubt and pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement, upon the Issue Date and until the Renesas Base Distribution Date, the Issuer shall grant Renesas the right to receive the cash proceeds from a primary registered offering or sales under the ELOC/ATM of shares of Common Stock in lieu of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes by Renesas under this Indenture and as a result thereof, the principal amount of Notes to be issued hereunder to Renesas shall be reduced by the applicable amounts that are deemed to have been converted.

Article 6. SUCCESSORS

Section 6.01. WHEN THE ISSUER AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS MAY MERGE, ETC.

(A) Generally. The Issuer will not consolidate with, merge with or into, dissolve or liquidate voluntarily into, or (directly, or indirectly through one or more of its Subsidiaries) sell, lease or otherwise Dispose, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to another Person (a “Issuer Business Combination Event”), unless:

(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person either (x) is the Issuer or (y) if not the Issuer, is a Qualified Successor Entity (such Qualified Successor Entity, the “Successor Entity”) duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that expressly assumes (by executing and delivering to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, at or before the effective time of such Issuer Business Combination Event, a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(E)) and any other amendments to the Security Documents all of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which the Issuer is a party, and the Notes;

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such Issuer Business Combination Event, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(iii) before the effective time of any Issuer Business Combination Event, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that (i) such Issuer Business Combination Event (and, if applicable, the related supplemental indenture) comply with Section 6.01(A); and (ii) all conditions precedent to such Issuer Business Combination Event provided in this Indenture have been satisfied.

 

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(B) Subsidiary Guarantors. Unless otherwise permitted pursuant to this Indenture (including Section 12.04), the Issuer shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into, dissolve or liquidate voluntarily into, or (directly, or indirectly through one or more of its Subsidiaries) sell, lease or otherwise Dispose, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of the consolidated assets (other than to the Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor) (a “Guarantor Business Combination Event” together with a Issuer Business Combination Event, a “Business Combination Event”) unless:

(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Guarantor”) either (x) is the Subsidiary Guarantor or (y) if not the Subsidiary Guarantor, is an entity that expressly assumes (by executing and delivering to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, at or before the effective time of such Guarantor Business Combination Event, a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 8.01(B)) and any other amendments to the Security Documents all of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which it is a party, the Notes and its Guarantee;

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such Guarantor Business Combination Event, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

(iii) before the effective time of any Guarantor Business Combination Event, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that (i) such Guarantor Business Combination Event (and, if applicable, the related supplemental indenture) comply with Section 6.01(B); and (ii) all conditions precedent to such Guarantor Business Combination Event provided in this Indenture have been satisfied.

(C) For purposes of this Section 6.01, the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer to another Person, which properties and assets, if held by the Issuer instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer to another Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article 6 shall not apply to any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of assets between or among the Issuer and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and, in such an event, the Issuer shall not be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents to which the Issuer is a party, and the Notes.

Section 6.02. SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED.

At the effective time of any Business Combination Event that complies with Section 6.01, the Successor Entity (if not the Issuer) or the Successor Guarantor (if not the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor), as the case may be, will succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Notes and/or Guarantee, as is applicable, with the same effect as if such Successor Entity or Successor Guarantor, as the case may be, had been named as the Issuer or Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, in this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Notes and such Guarantee; provided that in the case of a lease, the predecessor Issuer will be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

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Article 7. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 7.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

(A) Definition of Events of Default. “Event of Default” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) a default in the payment when due (whether at maturity, upon Redemption or Repurchase Upon Fundamental Change, Repurchase Upon Change of Control or otherwise) of the principal of, or the Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for, any Note;

(ii) a default in the payment when due of interest on any Note, which default continues for thirty (30) consecutive days;

(iii) the Issuer’s failure to deliver, when required by this Indenture, a Fundamental Change Notice or Change of Control Repurchase Notice, and such failure is not cured within five (5) Business Days after its occurrence;

(iv) [Reserved];

(v) a default in the Issuer’s obligation to convert a Note in accordance with Article 5 upon the exercise of the conversion right with respect thereto, if such default is not cured within five (5) Business Days after its occurrence;

(vi) a default in any Note Party’s obligations under Article 6;

(vii) [Reserved];

(viii) a default in any of the Note Parties’ obligations or agreements under the Note Documents (other than a default set forth in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of this Section 7.01(A)) where such default is not cured or waived within thirty (30) days after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee, or to the Issuer and the Trustee by Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, which notice must specify such default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default,” provided that any issuance of Common Stock as a result of which any Holder beneficially owns or would beneficially own a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the limitations set forth in the Investor Rights Agreement shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default;

 

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(ix) a default by a Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to indebtedness for money borrowed (whether pursuant to one or more agreements or other instruments) of greater than $87,500,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of an Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries, whether such indebtedness exists as of the Issue Date or is thereafter created, either: (x) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity, or (y) constituting a failure to pay the principal of any such indebtedness when due and payable (after the expiration of all applicable grace periods) at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, and, in the case of either subclause (x) or (y), such acceleration is not, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, rescinded or annulled or such indebtedness is not paid or discharged, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding in accordance with this Indenture;

(x) one or more final judgments being rendered against an Note Party or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of at least $87,500,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate (excluding any amounts covered by insurance), where such judgment is not discharged or stayed within sixty (60) days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal the same has expired, if no such appeal has commenced; or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;

(xi) a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, either:

(1) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

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

(3) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property (other than that arises from any solvent liquidation or restructuring of such Subsidiary(ies) in the ordinary course of business that shall result in the net assets of such Subsidiary(ies) being transferred to or otherwise vested in such Note Party or any of its other subsidiaries on a pro rata basis or on a basis more favorable to such Note Party);

(4) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(5) takes any comparable action under any foreign Bankruptcy Law; or

(6) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

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

(1) is for relief against a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary case or proceeding;

 

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(2) appoints a custodian of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, or for any substantial part of the property of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

(3) orders the winding up or liquidation of a Note Party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or

(4) grants any similar relief under any foreign Bankruptcy Law,

(5) and, in each case under this Section 7.01(A)(xii), such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for at least sixty (60) days;

(xiii) if the obligation of any Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or any other Note Document to which any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party is limited or terminated by operation of law or by such Subsidiary Guarantor (other than, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or such other Note Documents), or if any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform any obligation under its Guarantee or under any such Note Document, or repudiates or revokes or purports to repudiate or revoke in writing any obligation under its Guarantee, or under any such Note Document, or any Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to exist for any reason (other than as permitted or not prohibited by this Indenture); or

(xiv) any security interest and Liens purported to be created by any Security Document on any of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby having a fair market value in excess of $25,000,000 (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents) shall cease to be in full force and effect or shall cease to give the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created and granted under such Security Documents (including a valid and perfected security interest in and Lien on all of the Collateral thereunder in favor of the Collateral Agent with the priority required by the Security Documents) with respect to any of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby having a fair market value in excess of $25,000,000 (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents), or shall be asserted by or on behalf of any Note Party not to be a valid and perfected security interest in or Lien on the Collateral covered thereby (in each case, except (i) the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of possessory Collateral received by it, which failure is not a direct result of any act, omission, advice or direction of any Note Party, (ii) in connection with a transaction expressly permitted under the Note Documents, in each case solely to the extent such termination or release is permitted under the Note Documents or (iii) as a result of the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance Article 9).

(B) Cause Irrelevant. Each of the events set forth in Section 7.01(A) will constitute an Event of Default regardless of the cause thereof or whether voluntary or involuntary or 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.

 

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Section 7.02. ACCELERATION.

(A) Automatic Acceleration in Certain Circumstances. If an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) occurs with respect to the Issuer (and not solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer), then the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding will immediately become due and payable without any further action or notice by any Person.

(B) Optional Acceleration. Subject to Section 7.03, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default set forth in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) with respect to the Issuer and not solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary (or multiple Subsidiaries which, when taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, then either (i) the Trustee, by notice to the Issuer, or (ii) Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, by notice to each of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, may declare the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding (subject to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent being indemnified and/or secured and/or pre-funded to such Agent’s reasonable satisfaction) to become due and payable immediately. For the avoidance of doubt, if such Event of Default is not continuing at the time such notice is provided (that is, such Event of Default has been cured or waived as of such time), then such notice will not be effective to cause such amounts to become due and payable immediately.

(C) Rescission of Acceleration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the Majority Holders, by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may, on behalf of all Holders, rescind any acceleration of the Notes and its consequences if (i) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) all existing Events of Default (except the non-payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes that has become due solely because of such acceleration) have been cured or waived; and (iii) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under this Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their agents and counsel have been paid. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 7.03. SOLE REMEDY FOR A FAILURE TO REPORT.

(A) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary, to the extent the Issuer elects, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to the Issuer’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 3.03(A) shall, for the first 180 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default, consist exclusively of the right to receive Special Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for the first 90 days during which such Event of Default is continuing, beginning on, and including, the date on which such an Event of Default first occurs and 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the next 90 day period during which such Event of Default is continuing. In no event shall the rate of any such Special Interest payable under this Section 7.03 exceed a total rate of 0.50% per annum on any Note, regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to the requirement to pay such Special Interest. If the Issuer so

 

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elects, such Special Interest shall be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Notes. On the 181st day after such Event of Default (if the Event of Default relating to the Issuer’s failure to file is not cured or waived prior to such 181st day), the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02. The provisions of this Section 7.03 will not affect the rights of Holders of Notes in the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default other than the Issuer’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 3.03(A). In the event the Issuer does not elect to pay Special Interest following an Event of Default in accordance with this Section 7.03 or the Issuer elected to make such payment but does not pay the Special Interest when due, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02.

(B) In order to elect to pay Special Interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of any Event of Default described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Issuer must notify all Holders of the Notes and the Trustee of such election prior to the beginning of such 180-day period. Upon the failure to timely give such notice, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02.

(C) If Special Interest accrues on any Note, then, no later than five (5) Business Days before each date on which such Special Interest is to be paid, the Issuer will deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee and the Paying Agent stating (i) that the Issuer is obligated to pay Special Interest on such Note on such date of payment; and (ii) the amount of Special Interest that is payable on such date of payment. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have no duty to determine whether any Special Interest is payable or the amount thereof.

Section 7.04. OTHER REMEDIES.

(A) Trustee May Pursue All Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of any amounts due with respect to the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of this Indenture or the Notes.

(B) Procedural Matters. The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in such proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy following an Event of Default will not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of, or acquiescence in, such Event of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article 7 to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture.

Section 7.05. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

A Default that is (or, after notice, passage of time or both, would be) an Event of Default pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (v) or (viii) of Section 7.01(A) (that, in the case of clause (viii) only, results from a Default under any covenant that cannot be amended without the consent of each affected Holder), can be waived only with the consent of each affected Holder. Each other Default or Event of Default may be waived, on behalf of all Holders, by the Majority Holders. If an Event of Default is so waived, then it will cease to exist. If a Default is so waived, then it will be deemed to be cured and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed not to occur. However, no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right arising therefrom.

 

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Section 7.06. [RESERVED].

Section 7.07. CONTROL BY MAJORITY.

Majority Holders may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or exercising any trust or power conferred on it under this Indenture. However, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law, this Indenture or the Notes, or that, subject to Section 10.01, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (provided, however, that neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have any affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction would prejudice any Holder) or may involve the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in liability, unless the Trustee or the Collateral Agent is offered security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent that may result from the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s following such direction.

Section 7.08. LIMITATION ON SUITS.

No Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes (except to enforce (x) its rights to receive the principal of, or the Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for, or interest on, any Notes; or (y) the Issuer’s obligations to convert any Notes pursuant to Article 5), unless:

(A) such Holder has previously delivered to the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(B) Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding deliver a request to the Trustee to pursue such remedy;

(C) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee that may result from the Trustee’s following such request;

(D) the Trustee does not comply with such request within sixty (60) calendar days after its receipt of such request and such offer of security or indemnity; and

(E) during such sixty (60) calendar day period, the Majority Holders do not deliver to the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such request.

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder. The Trustee will have no duty to determine whether any Holder’s use of this Indenture complies with the preceding sentence.

 

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Section 7.09. ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO INSTITUTE SUIT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAYMENT AND CONVERSION.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes (but without limiting Section 8.01), the right of each Holder of a Note to bring suit for the enforcement of any payment or delivery, as applicable, of the principal of, or the Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for, or any interest on, or the Conversion Consideration due pursuant to Article 5 upon conversion of, such Note on or after the respective due dates therefor provided in this Indenture and the Notes, will not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 7.10. COLLECTION BY TRUSTEE.

The Trustee will have the right, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (v) of Section 7.01(A), to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the total unpaid or undelivered principal of, or Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for, or interest on, or Conversion Consideration due pursuant to Article 5 upon conversion of, the Notes, as applicable, and, to the extent lawful, any Default Interest on any Defaulted Amounts, and such further amounts sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including compensation provided for in Section 10.06.

Section 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST ISSUER.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), the Trustee shall be subject to §311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act (excluding any creditor relationship listed in §311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) regarding the collection of claims against the Issuer (or any such other obligor).

Section 7.12. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.

The Trustee has the right to (A) file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes) or its creditors or property and (B) collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims. Each Holder authorizes any custodian in such proceeding to make such payments to the Trustee, and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to the Trustee for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.06. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements, advances and other amounts out of the estate in such proceeding, is denied for any reason, payment of the same will be secured by a lien on, and will be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding (whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise). Nothing in this Indenture will be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize, consent to, accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 7.13. [RESERVED].

Section 7.14. SUMS RECEIVED BY DEBTORS AND THIRD-PARTY SECURITY PROVIDERS.

Without prejudice to Section 7.11, if the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor receives or recovers any sum which, under the terms of any of the Note Documents, should have been paid to the Collateral Agent, the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor will:

(a) hold an amount of that receipt or recovery equal to the relevant Note Obligations (or, if less, the amount received or recovered) on trust for (or otherwise on behalf and for the account of) the Collateral Agent and promptly pay that amount to the Collateral Agent (or as the Collateral Agent may direct) for application in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

(b) promptly pay an amount equal to the amount (if any) by which the receipt or recovery exceeds the relevant Note Obligations to the Collateral Agent (or as the Collateral Agent may direct) for application in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Section 7.15. PRIORITIES.

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Collateral Agent and Trustee (acting in any capacity) will pay or deliver in the following order any money or other property that it collects pursuant to this Article 7:

 

First:

   to the Collateral Agent and Trustee (acting in any capacity) and their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under this Indenture or any other Note Documents, including payment of all fees and expenses (including any reasonably incurred and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel; provided that there shall not be more than one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction, and, to the extent necessary, special counsel), compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

Second:

   in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on, and any cash due upon conversion of, the Notes in default in the order of the date due of the payments of such interest and cash due upon conversion, as the case may be, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon such overdue payments at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

Third:

   in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount (including, if applicable, the payment of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price and any cash due upon

 

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   conversion) then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on the overdue principal and, to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) and interest without preference or priority of principal over interest, or of interest over principal or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) and accrued and unpaid interest; and

Fourth:

   the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer (or to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Subsidiary Guarantor, to such Subsidiary Guarantor), or such other Person as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee (acting in any capacity) may fix a record date and payment date for any payment or delivery to the Holders pursuant to this Section 7.15, in which case the Trustee will instruct the Issuer to, and the Issuer will, deliver, at least fifteen (15) calendar days before such record date, to each Holder and the Trustee a notice stating such record date, such payment date and the amount of such payment or nature of such delivery, as applicable.

Section 7.16. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or the Notes or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court, in its discretion, may (A) require the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and (B) assess reasonable costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that this Section 7.16 does not apply to any suit by the Trustee, any suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 7.09, any suit by one or more Holders of more than ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, or any suit by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note.

Section 7.17. COLLATERAL AGENT EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

The Note Parties, jointly and severally, agree to reimburse or pay the Trustee or Collateral Agent for its fees, expenses and indemnities incurred under this Indenture or the Note Documents (including all reasonably incurred and documented fees and disbursements of legal counsel; provided that there shall not be more than one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and, to the extent necessary, special counsel) that may be paid or incurred by the Trustee or Collateral Agent in enforcing, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Note Obligations or Guaranteed Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, the Note Parties under this Indenture or the Security Documents.

 

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Article 8. AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 8.01. WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8.02, the Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement the Note Documents (other than the Investor Rights Agreement) without the consent of any Holder to:

(A) cure any ambiguity or correct any omission, defect or inconsistency in any Note Document;

(B) add guarantees or security with respect to the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents, including for greater certainty, to allow any additional Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture, a joinder to any Security Document and/or a Guarantee with respect to the Notes;

(C) add to the Issuer’s covenants or Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred on the Issuer;

(D) provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents, as applicable, pursuant to, and in compliance with, Article 6;

(E) enter into supplemental indentures pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 5.09 in connection with a Common Stock Change Event;

(F) irrevocably elect or eliminate any Settlement Method or Specified Dollar Amount; provided, however, that no such election or elimination will affect any Settlement Method theretofore elected (or deemed to be elected) with respect to any Note pursuant to Section 5.03(A);

(G) adjust the Conversion Rate or the Conversion Price (including the establishment of the Conversion Rate or the Conversion Price ) in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, this Indenture;

(H) evidence or provide for the acceptance of the appointment, under this Indenture, of a successor Trustee or Collateral Agent;

(I) effect such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, waiver or consent in respect of the First-Priority Debt Documents that shall apply automatically to the Note Documents without the consent of any Holder in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreements;

(J) provide for the entry into an Additional Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to, and in compliance with, Section 14.02;

 

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(K) comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary in a manner that does not adversely affect the rights of the Holders;

(L) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with any qualification of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect;

(M) make any other change to any Note Document that does not, individually or in the aggregate with all other such changes, adversely affect the rights of the Holders, as such, in any material respect as determined by the Issuer in good faith;

(N) effect, confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge or any guarantee of or Lien securing the Note Obligations when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by the Note Documents;

(O) provide for or confirm the issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to the terms of Section 2.03(B);

(P) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided, however, that compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law;

(Q) mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Note Obligations, in any property or assets (whether or not constituting Collateral), including any which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a Lien is required to be granted to or for the benefit of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any of the Security Documents or any other Note Document;

(R) to add additional junior priority Secured Parties to any Security Documents, to the extent permitted to be so secured by this Indenture;

(S) to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto in connection with the incurrence of any Note Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture;

(T) in the case of any Security Document, to include therein any legend required to be set forth therein pursuant to the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement or to modify any such legend as required by the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement; or

(U) to provide for the succession of any parties to the Security Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature) in connection with an amendment, renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing, restructuring, replacement, supplementing or other modification from time to time of, the First Lien Notes, the Second Lien Non-Renesas Notes, the Second Lien Takeback Notes or any other agreement that is permitted by this Indenture.

 

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Section 8.02. WITH THE CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

(A) Generally. Subject to Sections 8.01, 7.05 and 7.09, the immediately following sentence and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent may, with the consent of the Majority Holders, amend or supplement the Note Documents or waive compliance with any provision of the Note Documents (other than the Investor Rights Agreement). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing sentence, but subject to Section 8.01 and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, without the consent of each affected Holder, no amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, or waiver of any provision of the Note Documents, may:

(i) reduce the principal, or extend the stated maturity, of any Note;

(ii) reduce the Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Change of Control Repurchase Price for any Note or change the times at which, or the circumstances under which, the Notes may or will be redeemed or repurchased by the Issuer;

(iii) reduce the rate, or extend the time for the payment, of interest on any Note;

(iv) make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any Note other than as permitted or required by this Indenture or the Notes;

(v) impair the rights of any Holder set forth in Section 7.09 (as such Section is in effect on the Issue Date);

(vi) change the ranking of the Notes in any manner adverse to the Holders;

(vii) make any Note payable in money, or at a place of payment, other than that stated in this Indenture or the Note;

(viii) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to any amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification; or

(ix) make any change to any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification provision of this Indenture or the Notes that requires the consent of each affected Holder.

For the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section 8.02(A), no amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes, or waiver of any provision of this Indenture or the Notes, may change the amount or type of consideration due on any Note (whether on an Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Change of Control Repurchase Date or the Maturity Date or upon conversion, or otherwise), or the date(s) or time(s) such consideration is payable or deliverable, as applicable, without the consent of each affected Holder.

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without the consent of the Supermajority Holders, no amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, or waiver of any provision of the Note Documents, may (i) subordinate the priority with respect to the Guarantees guaranteeing, or the Liens securing, the Note Obligations and then only to the extent not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreements; (ii) release all or substantially all of the Guarantees, or all or substantially all of the Collateral, except as otherwise may be provided or permitted under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Note Documents; or (iii) discharge any Note Party from its Note Obligations, in each case, except as otherwise may be provided or permitted under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Note Documents.

(B) Holders Need Not Approve the Particular Form of any Amendment. A consent of any Holder pursuant to this Section 8.02 need approve only the substance, and not necessarily the particular form, of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.

(C) Subsidiary Guarantors Bound. The Subsidiary Guarantors shall be bound by any supplemental indenture or amendment to the Note Documents entered into by the Issuer and the Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and may but shall not be required to execute any such supplemental indenture or amendment, other than in the case of a joinder of a new Subsidiary Guarantor the execution by such Subsidiary Guarantor.

Section 8.03. [RESERVED].

Section 8.04. NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS.

As soon as reasonably practicable after any amendment, supplement or waiver pursuant to Sections 8.01 or 8.02 becomes effective, the Issuer will send to the Holders and the Trustee notice that (A) describes the substance of such amendment, supplement or waiver in reasonable detail and (B) states the effective date thereof; provided, however, that the Issuer will not be required to provide such notice to the Holders if such amendment, supplement or waiver is included in a periodic or current report filed by the Issuer with the SEC within four (4) Business Days of its effectiveness. The failure to send, or the existence of any defect in, such notice will not impair or affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 8.05. REVOCATION, EFFECT AND SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS; SPECIAL RECORD DATES; ETC.

(A) Revocation and Effect of Consents. The consent of a Holder of a Note to an amendment, supplement or waiver will bind (and constitute the consent of) each subsequent Holder of any Note to the extent the same evidences any portion of the same indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note, subject to the right of any Holder of a Note to revoke (if not prohibited pursuant to Section 8.05(B)) any such consent with respect to such Note by delivering notice of revocation to the Trustee before the time such amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.

(B) Special Record Dates. The Issuer may, but is not required to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent or take any other action in connection with any amendment, supplement or waiver pursuant to this Article 8. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8.05(A), only Persons who are Holders as of such record date (or their duly designated proxies) will be entitled to give such consent, to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, regardless of whether such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date; provided, however, that no such consent will be valid or effective for more than one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days after such record date.

 

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(C) Solicitation of Consents. For the avoidance of doubt, each reference in this Indenture or the Notes to the consent of a Holder will be deemed to include any such consent obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, any Notes.

(D) Effectiveness and Binding Effect. Each amendment or supplement to this Indenture, or waiver of any Default, Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, will become effective in accordance with its terms and, when it becomes effective with respect to any Note (or any portion thereof), will thereafter bind every Holder of such Note (or such portion).

Section 8.06. NOTATIONS AND EXCHANGES.

If any amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, then the Trustee or the Issuer may, in its discretion, require the Holder of such Note to deliver such Note to the Trustee so that the Trustee may place an appropriate notation prepared by the Issuer on such Note and return such Note to such Holder. Alternatively, at its discretion, the Issuer may, in exchange for such Note, issue, execute and deliver, and the Trustee will authenticate, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02, a new Note that reflects the changed terms. The failure to make any appropriate notation or issue a new Note pursuant to this Section 8.06 will not impair or affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 8.07. TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

The Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, will execute and deliver any amendment or supplement to the Note Documents authorized pursuant to this Article 8, provided, however, that the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, need not (but may, in their respective sole and absolute discretion) execute or deliver any such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents that adversely affects the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be. In executing any amendment or supplement to the Note Documents, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be will be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.02) will be fully protected in relying on, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, provided in accordance with Section 13.02 and in addition to the documents delivered pursuant to Section 13.03, each stating that (A) the execution and delivery of such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and the other applicable Note Documents; and (B) in the case of the Opinion of Counsel, such amendment or supplement to the Note Documents is valid, binding and enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture.

 

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Article 9. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

Section 9.01. TERMINATION OF ISSUERS OBLIGATIONS.

(A) Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged, and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued under this Indenture, when:

(i) all Notes then outstanding (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.13) have (i) been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (ii) become due and payable (whether on a Redemption Date, a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, a Change of Control Repurchase Date, the Maturity Date, upon conversion or otherwise) for an amount of cash or Conversion Consideration, as applicable, that has been fixed;

(ii) the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor has caused there to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, or with the Paying Agent (or, with respect to Conversion Consideration, the Conversion Agent), in each case for the benefit of the Holders, or has otherwise caused there to be delivered to the Holders, cash (or, with respect to Notes to be converted, Conversion Consideration) sufficient to satisfy all amounts or other property due on all Notes then outstanding (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.13);

(iii) the Issuer has performed all other Note Obligations by it under this Indenture; and

(iv) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the conditions precedent to the discharge of this Indenture have been satisfied;

provided, however, that Article 10 and Section 11.01 will survive such discharge and, until no Notes remain outstanding, Section 2.15 and the obligations of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent with respect to money or other property deposited with them will survive such discharge.

At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee will acknowledge the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(B) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

(i) The Issuer may at any time terminate:

(1) all of the Note Parties’ obligations under the Notes and this Indenture with respect to the Note Parties (“Legal Defeasance Option”), and

(2) the Note Parties’ obligations under Sections 3.03, 3.07, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18, 3.19 and 3.20, Article 6, and Sections 7.01(A)(vi), 7.01(A)(viii), 7.01(A)(ix), 7.01(A)(x) and 7.01(A)(xiii) (“Covenant Defeasance Option”).

(ii) The Issuer may exercise its Legal Defeasance Option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its Covenant Defeasance Option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) by exercising its Legal Defeasance Option or its Covenant Defeasance Option, the obligations of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligation.

 

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(iii) If the Issuer exercises its Legal Defeasance Option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its Covenant Defeasance Option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 7.01(A)(vi), 7.01(A)(viii), 7.01(A)(ix), 7.01(A)(x) or 7.01(A)(xiii).

(iv) The Issuer may exercise its Legal Defeasance Option or its Covenant Defeasance Option only if:

(1) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants, investment bank or financial advisory firm expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(3) no Default specified in Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) with respect to the Issuer shall have occurred or is continuing on the date of such deposit;

(4) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other material agreement or instrument binding on the Issuer;

(5) in the case of the Legal Defeasance Option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their maturity date within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer;

(6) such exercise does not impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

 

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(7) in the case of the Covenant Defeasance Option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

(8) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance of the Notes to be so defeased as contemplated by this Section 9.01(B) have been complied with; and

(9) before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article 4.

(v) Article 10 and Section 11.01 will survive any defeasance and, until no Notes remain outstanding, Section 2.15 and the obligations of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent with respect to money or other property deposited with them will survive such defeasance.

(vi) At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee will acknowledge the defeasance of those obligations that the Issuer terminates.

Section 9.02. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.

The Trustee shall hold in trust money (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article 9. The Trustee shall apply the deposited money through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

Section 9.03. REPAYMENT TO ISSUER.

Subject to applicable unclaimed property law, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent will promptly notify the Issuer if there exists (and, at the Issuer’s request, promptly deliver to the Issuer) any cash, Conversion Consideration or other property held by any of them for payment or delivery on the Notes that remain unclaimed two (2) years after the date on which such payment or delivery was due. After such delivery to the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent will have no further liability to any Holder with respect to such cash, Conversion Consideration or other property, and Holders entitled to the payment or delivery of such cash, Conversion Consideration or other property must look to the Issuer for payment as a general creditor of the Issuer.

 

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Section 9.04. REINSTATEMENT.

If the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Conversion Agent is unable to apply any cash or other property deposited with it pursuant to Section 9.01 because of any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or other governmental authority that enjoins, restrains or otherwise prohibits such application, then the discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Section 9.01 will be rescinded; provided, however, that if the Issuer thereafter pays or delivers any cash or other property due on the Notes to the Holders thereof, then the Issuer will be subrogated to the rights of such Holders to receive such cash or other property from the cash or other property, if any, held by the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Conversion Agent, as applicable.

Article 10. TRUSTEE

Section 10.01. DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(B) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel that are provided to the Trustee and conform to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(C) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its negligent action or negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph will not limit the effect of Section 10.01(B);

(ii) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 7.06.

(D) Each provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (A), (B) and (C) of this Section 10.01, regardless of whether such provision so expressly provides.

(E) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability.

 

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(F) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it, except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds, except to the extent required by law.

Section 10.02. RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document that it believes to be genuine and signed or presented by the proper Person, and the Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in such document.

(B) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel; and the advice of such counsel, or any Opinion of Counsel, will constitute full and complete authorization of the Trustee to take or omit to take any action in good faith in reliance thereon without liability.

(C) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any such agent appointed with due care.

(D) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith and that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture.

(E) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.

(F) The Trustee need not exercise any rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holder unless such Holder has offered the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense that it may incur in complying with such request or direction.

(G) The Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any punitive, special, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(H) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and will be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities under this Indenture (including in its capacity as Conversion Agent), the Collateral Agent and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act under this Indenture, including the Conversion Agent; provided, however, that (i) the Collateral Agent and each other agent, custodian, and other Person employed to act under this Indenture shall be liable only to the extent of its gross negligence or willful misconduct and (ii) in and during an Event of Default, only the Trustee (in its capacity as such) and not any other Agent (including for the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent) shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

 

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(I) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated in this Indenture will not be construed as duties.

(J) Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar will 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 Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants, members of the Depositary or owners of beneficial interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements of this Indenture.

(K) Except with respect to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes payable by the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.02 and any Default or Event of Default information contained in the Officer’s Certificate delivered to it pursuant to Section 3.06(B), the Trustee will have no duty to monitor the Issuer’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

(L) The Trustee shall at no time have any responsibility or liability for or in respect to the legality, validity or enforceability of any Collateral or any arrangement or agreement between the Issuer and any other Person with respect thereto, or the legality, validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of any security interest created in any of the Collateral or maintenance of any perfection and priority, or for or with respect to the sufficiency of the Collateral following an Event of Default. The Trustee shall have no obligation to give, execute, deliver, file, record, authorize or obtain any financing statements, notices, instruments, documents, agreements, consents or other papers as shall be necessary to (i) create, preserve, perfect or validate the security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents or enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights under the Security Documents with respect to such pledge and security interest. In addition, the Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability (i) in connection with the acts or omissions of the Issuer in respect of the foregoing.

(M) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice at the Corporate Trust Office of any event which is in fact such a default, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture and states on its face that a Default or Event of Default has occurred.

(N) Whether or not expressly incorporated therein, the Trustee shall have the benefit of all of the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee under this Indenture when acting under any other Note Document.

Section 10.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of any Note and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any of its Affiliates with the same rights that it would have if it were not Trustee; provided, however, that if the Trustee acquires a “conflicting interest” (within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), then it must eliminate such conflict within ninety (90) days or resign as Trustee. Each Note Agent will have the same rights and duties as the Trustee under this Section 10.03.

 

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Section 10.04. TRUSTEES DISCLAIMER.

The Trustee will not be (A) responsible for, and makes no representation as to, the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes or Note Documents; (B) accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture; (C) responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee; and (D) responsible for any statement or recital in this Indenture, the Notes or Note Documents or any other document relating to the sale of the Notes or this Indenture, other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

Section 10.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs, then the Trustee will send Holders a notice of such Default or Event of Default within ninety (90) days after it occurs or, if it is not actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at such time, promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) after it becomes known to a Responsible Officer; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any Note, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and for so long as it in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of the Holders. The Trustee will not to be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, or knowledge of any cure of any Default or Event of Default, unless written notice of such Default or Event of Default, or of such cure of any Default or Event of Default, has been given by the Issuer or any Holder to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and such notice states on its face that a Default or Event of Default has occurred.

Section 10.06. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY.

(A) The Issuer will, from time to time, pay the Trustee and the Collateral Agent reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and the other Note Documents and services under this Indenture and the other Note Documents. The Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. In addition to the compensation for the Trustee’s and Collateral Agent’s services, the Issuer will reimburse the Trustee and the Collateral Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it under this Indenture, including the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s agents and counsel.

(B) The Issuer will indemnify the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, suits, actions, proceedings at law or in equity, and any other costs, fees or expenses incurred by the Indemnified Parties arising out of or in connection with the acceptance and administration of its duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture and the Note Documents against the Issuer (including this Section 10.06) and defending itself against

 

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any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, except to the extent any such loss, liability, suit, action, proceeding at law or in equity or other cost, fee or expense may be attributable to such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, will promptly notify the Issuer of any third party claim for which it may seek indemnity, but the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s failure to so notify the Issuer will not relieve the Issuer of its obligations under this Section 10.06(B). The Issuer will defend such claim, and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent will cooperate in such defense. If the Trustee or the Collateral Agent is advised by counsel that it may have defenses available to it that are in conflict with the defenses available to the Issuer, or that there is an actual or potential conflict of interest, then the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may retain separate counsel, and the Issuer will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent incurred in evaluating whether such a conflict exists). The Issuer need not pay for any settlement of any such claim made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

(C) The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 10.06 will survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, the repayment of the Notes and the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture.

(D) To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section 10.06, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of, or interest on, particular Notes, which lien will survive the discharge of this Indenture.

(E) If the Trustee or the Collateral Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default pursuant to Section 7.01(A)(xi) or 7.01(A)(xii) occurs, then such expenses and the compensation for such services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration for purposes of priority under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 10.07. REPLACEMENT OF THE TRUSTEE.

(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.07, a resignation or removal of the Trustee, and the appointment of a successor Trustee, will become effective only upon such successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 10.07.

(B) The Trustee may resign at any time and be discharged from the trust created by this Indenture by so notifying the Issuer. The Majority Holders may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the requested date of removal. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any series of Notes after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes of such series for at least six (6) months;

 

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(ii) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 10.09;

(iii) the Trustee is adjudged to be bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(iv) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(v) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(C) If the Trustee resigns or is removed, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, then (i) the Issuer will promptly appoint a successor Trustee; and (ii) at any time within one (1) year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Majority Holders may appoint a successor Trustee to replace such successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

(D) If a successor Trustee does not take office within sixty (60) days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, then the retiring Trustee (at the expense of the Issuer), the Issuer or the Holders of at least ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(E) If the Trustee, after written request by a Holder of at least six (6) months, fails to comply with Section 10.09, then such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(F) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer, upon which notice the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will send notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will, upon payment of all amounts due to it under this Indenture, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, which property will, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to the lien provided for in Section 10.06(D).

(G) For as long as any First-Priority Obligations remain outstanding, the successor Trustee shall concurrently with its appointment as the successor Trustee accede as a party to the Intercreditor Agreements.

Section 10.08. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, sells or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, then such corporation will become the successor Trustee without any further act.

Section 10.09. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION.

There will at all times be a Trustee under this Indenture that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia, that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. Neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary Guarantor nor any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall serve as Trustee under this Indenture.

 

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Section 10.10. REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act (including, without limitation, Sections 313(a), (b) and (c)) at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty (60) days after each July 15 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such July 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve (12) months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted).

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with the SEC and with the Issuer.

Article 11. COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 11.01. COLLATERAL AGENT.

(A) The Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby appoint U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association to act as Collateral Agent, and each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof, irrevocably consents and agrees to such appointment on its behalf. The Collateral Agent shall have the privileges, powers and immunities as set forth in this Indenture and the Security Documents. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(B) The Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that the Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral on behalf of and for the benefit of all of the Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, in each case pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and that the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of all the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, and that the

 

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Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents in respect of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and actions that may be taken thereunder. The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in the Collateral which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.

(C) Each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof, irrevocably consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure, exercises of remedies and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, agrees to the appointment of the Collateral Agent and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent (i) to enter into the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, and perform its obligations and exercise its rights, powers and discretions under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance therewith, (ii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and (iii) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(D) The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder or under any Security Documents or Intercreditor Agreements to which it is a party, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Collateral Agent shall have no liability for any action taken, or errors in judgment made, in good faith by it or any of its officers, employees or agents, unless it shall have been grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

(E) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to seek and shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Majority Holders as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Except as otherwise provided in the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Majority Holders and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Majority Holders with respect to any action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from taking such action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Majority Holders, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(F) The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee or the Majority Holders (subject to this Section 11.01(F)), subject to the terms of the Security Documents.

 

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(G) Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Affiliates shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof.

(H) If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Note Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and to the extent such proceeds or payments are permitted to be paid to the Trustee or the Holders under the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article 7, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(I) Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall have any obligation whatsoever to any of the Holders or to the Trustee, in the case of the Collateral Agent, to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all of the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the value, genuineness, validity, ownership, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreements other than to exercise such rights, authorities and powers pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Majority Holders or as otherwise provided in the Security Documents. Further to the foregoing and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any Security Document or any Intercreditor Agreement, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any Uniform Commercial Code financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent be responsible for, or makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Security Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

(J) The Collateral Agent shall exercise reasonable care in the custody of any Collateral in its possession or control or any income thereon. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which they accord similar property held for its own benefit and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in value of any of the Collateral, including, without limitation, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith. The Collateral Agent shall be permitted to use overnight carriers to transmit possessory collateral and shall be not liable for any items lost or damages in transmit.

 

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(K) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written request of the Issuer signed by an Officer (a “Security Document Order”), the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Security Document to be executed after the Issue Date. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Security Document Order referred to in, this Section 11.01(K), (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Security Document and (iii) certify that all covenants and conditions precedent, if any to the execution and delivery of the Security Document have been compiled with; provided that in no event shall the Collateral Agent be required to enter into a Security Document that it reasonably determines adversely affects the Collateral Agent. The Holders, through their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Security Documents.

(L) Upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of a Security Document Order, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Intercreditor Agreement to be entered into after the Issue Date. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is an Intercreditor Agreement referred to in this Section 11.01(L), (ii) certify that such Intercreditor Agreement complies with the terms of this Indenture and the Note Documents and that all covenants and conditions precedent, if any, under this Indenture and the Note Documents to such execution and delivery have been complied with and (iii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Intercreditor Agreement; provided that in no event shall the Collateral Agent be required to enter into any intercreditor agreement if it reasonably determines that such document adversely affects the Collateral Agent. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such intercreditor agreements and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on such Security Document Order.

(M) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.15 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(N) In acting under this Indenture or any other Note Document, the Collateral Agent shall have all the rights and protections provided hereunder and in the Note Documents as well as the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee (including its rights to be compensated, reimbursed and indemnified under Section 10.06). For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Collateral Agent hereunder, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified prior to taking action, shall survive the satisfaction, discharge or termination of this Indenture or its earlier termination, resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent, in such capacity.

 

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(O) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the Mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has reasonably determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

(P) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Security Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent or the Trustee shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral. In the event that the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §9601, et seq., or otherwise cause the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to incur liability under CERCLA or any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign as the Collateral Agent or the Trustee or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other Person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to the discharge, release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment. If at any time it is necessary or advisable for property to be possessed, owned, operated or managed by any Person (including the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) other than the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors, subject to the terms of the Security Documents, the Majority Holders shall direct the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to appoint an appropriately qualified Person (excluding the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) who they shall designate to possess, own, operate or manage, as the case may be, the property.

 

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(Q) Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to effect or maintain insurance or to renew any policies of insurance or to make any determination or inquire as to the sufficiency of any policies of insurance carried by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or to report, or make or file claims or proof of loss for, any loss or damage insured against or that may occur, or to keep itself informed or advised as to the payment of any taxes or assessments, or to require any such payment to be made.

(R) Without limiting the foregoing, with respect to any Collateral located outside of the United States (“Foreign Collateral”), the Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to directly enforce, or exercise rights and remedies in respect of, or otherwise exercise any judicial action or appear before any court in any jurisdiction outside of the United States. To the extent the Majority Holders determine that it is necessary or advisable in connection with any enforcement or exercise of rights with respect to Foreign Collateral to exercise any judicial action or appear before any such court, the Majority Holders shall be entitled to direct the Collateral Agent to appoint a local agent for such purpose (subject to the receipt of such protections, security and indemnities as the Collateral Agent shall determine in its sole discretion to protect the Collateral Agent from liability).

(S) Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for the actions or omissions of the any other agent under the Intercreditor Agreements, nor shall the Trustee or Collateral Agent be obligated at any time to indemnify any person in connection with the exercise of any remedy under the Security Documents.

(T) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by notice to the Trustee and the Issuer, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent may be removed by the Issuer at any time, upon thirty days written notice to the Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns or is removed under this Indenture, the Issuer shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed and has accepted such appointment within 30 days after the Collateral Agent gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Agent may (at the expense of the Issuer), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Agent or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring or removed Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder, the provisions of this Section 11.01 (and Section 10.06) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring or removed Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation or removal be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(U) If the Collateral Agent consolidates, mergers, converts into or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to another corporation, such successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Collateral Agent.

(V) Permissive rights of the Collateral Agent to do things enumerated in this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements shall not be construed as a duty.

 

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(W) Nothing in this Indenture shall require the Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers hereunder.

(X) The Collateral Agent 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 the Holders, unless the Holders have offered to the Collateral Agent security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with such direction or request.

(Y) In no event shall the Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Collateral Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(Z) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 13.03. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely on and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the advice of counsel or other professionals retained or consulted by the Collateral Agent.

(AA) The Collateral Agent may act through attorneys or agents and shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of any such attorney or agent appointed with due care.

(BB) The Collateral Agent shall not be charged with knowledge of (i) any events or other information, or (ii) any default under this Indenture or any other agreement unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have actual knowledge thereof.

(CC) The Collateral Agent may conclusively rely and shall 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 them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties, not only as to due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein.

(DD) The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority; acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; terrorism; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions; or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility.

 

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(EE) The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 7.07. The Majority Holders may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Collateral Agent or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Collateral Agent. However, the Collateral Agent may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or the Notes, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or that the Collateral Agent determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (provided that the Collateral Agent shall not have an affirmative duty to determine whether any such action is unduly prejudicial) or would involve the Collateral Agent in personal liability; provided, however, that the Collateral Agent may take any other action deemed proper by the Collateral Agent that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses) that may be caused by taking or not taking such action.

(FF) The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law).

(GG) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary set forth herein, whenever reference is made herein or in any other Note Document to any discretionary action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Collateral Agent or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Collateral Agent, (i) such provision shall refer to the Collateral Agent exercising each of the foregoing at the instruction of the Majority Holders (or such other number or percentage of Holders as is required by the Note Documents) and (ii) it is understood that in all cases, the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any such action if it shall not have received written instruction, advice or concurrence from the Majority Holders (or such other number or percentage of Holders as shall be expressly provided for in any Note Document) in respect of such action.

Section 11.02. DELEGATION OF DUTIES.

(A) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent (each, an “Agent”) may execute any of their respective duties under this Indenture and the other Note Documents (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof)) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, attorneys-in-fact or Subagent selected by it with reasonable care. Each Agent may also from time to time, when it deems it to be necessary or desirable, appoint one or more trustees, co-trustees, collateral co-agents, collateral subagents or attorneys-in-fact (each, a “Subagent”) with respect to all or any part of the Collateral; provided, that no such Subagent shall be authorized to take any action with respect to any Collateral unless and except to the extent expressly authorized in writing by the applicable Agent. Should any instrument in writing from the Issuer or any other Note Party be required by any Subagent so appointed by an Agent to more fully or certainly vest in and confirm to such Subagent such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Issuer shall, or shall cause such Note Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by such Agent. If any Subagent, or successor thereto, shall become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Subagent, to the extent permitted by law, shall automatically vest in and be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent until the appointment of a new Subagent.

 

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Section 11.03. SECURITY DOCUMENTS.

(A) The Holders and the other Secured Parties authorize the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to release any Collateral or Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with Section 11.05 or Section 12.04 or if approved, authorized or ratified in accordance with Article 8.

(B) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby authorize and instruct the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to, without any further consent of any Holders or any other Secured Party (other than any consent of the Holders to the form of any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, to the extent required by Article 8 or Article 14), enter into (or acknowledge and consent to) or amend, renew, extend, supplement, restate, replace, waive or otherwise modify (i) the First-Lien/Second-Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement or (iii) any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, in each case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness or other obligations that is to be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is expressly permitted (including with respect to priority) under this Indenture and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Note Obligations to the provisions thereof. The Holders and the other Secured Parties agree that (x) the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer as to whether any such other Liens are expressly permitted and that all covenants and conditions precedent to the execution of such Intercreditor Agreement have been complied with and (y) any Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in compliance with the terms of this Indenture shall be binding on the Secured Parties, and each Holder and the other Secured Parties hereby agrees that it will take no actions contrary to the provisions of, if entered into in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and if applicable, any Intercreditor Agreement. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to any provider of any Indebtedness or other obligations expressly permitted by Section 3.12 to extend credit to the Note Parties and such persons are intended third-party beneficiaries of such provisions.

Section 11.04. AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN.

(A) Each Holder, by its acceptance of Notes, consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document and each Intercreditor Agreement as originally in effect and as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, authorizes and directs the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, the Security Documents and each Intercreditor Agreement permitted hereunder and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to bind the holders of Notes and other holders of Note Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and each Intercreditor Agreement permitted hereunder and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

 

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(B) Subject to the provisions of each Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the holders of Notes any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

(C) Subject to the provisions of Article 7, Section 10.01 and Section 10.02, each Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders, direct, on behalf of the Holders, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(i) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the Liens securing the Note Obligations;

(ii) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(iii) collect and receive payment of any and all Note Obligations.

(D) Subject to the terms of each Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the Liens securing the Note Obligations or the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

(E) Notwithstanding anything contrary under this Indenture, the Holders are deemed to have consented to, and shall be deemed to have directed the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent (as applicable), to execute and deliver any of the following amendments, waivers and other modifications to the Note Documents (other than the Investor Rights Agreement), in each case, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 8.07, Section 13.02 and Section 13.03:

(i) to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing any Indebtedness replacing the applicable series of First Lien Notes permitted to be incurred under the First-Priority Debt Documents that represent First-Priority Obligations shall be senior to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Note Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, which obligations shall continue to be secured on a second-priority basis on the Collateral;

 

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(ii) to give effect to any amendment, waiver or consent to any of the First-Priority Debt Documents, to the extent applicable to the Collateral (including the release of any Liens on Collateral), that applies automatically to the comparable Security Documents with respect to the security interest of the Holders in such Collateral pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements; and

(iii) upon any cancellation, repayment, redemption or termination of the First Lien Notes and all other First-Priority Obligations without a replacement thereof, and to the extent the Note Obligations have not been discharged in full in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements, to establish that the Liens on the Collateral securing any Note Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall become first priority perfected Lien, except as set forth below under Section 11.05.

Section 11.05. RELEASE OR SUBORDINATION OF LIENS.

(A) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Note Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released: (i) in full upon the occurrence of the Termination Date subject to Section 11.05(D); (ii) upon the Disposition of such Collateral by any Note Party to a person that is not (and is not required to become) a Note Party in a transaction not prohibited by this Indenture (and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) to the extent that such Collateral comprises property leased to a Note Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iv) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Holders (or such other percentage of the Holders whose consent may be required in accordance with Article 8), (v) to the extent that the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Subsidiary Guarantor, upon the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture (and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry), (vi) as required by the Trustee to effect any Disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents and (vii) as required by the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement. The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Note Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically subordinated to the Liens securing other Indebtedness or other obligations to the extent expressly contemplated by this Indenture and required by any Intercreditor Agreement permitted by this Indenture. Any such release or subordination shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Note Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Note Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Note Parties, including the proceeds of any Disposition, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Note Documents.

(B) [Reserved].

 

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(C) The Holders and the other Secured Parties hereby authorize the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to execute and deliver any instruments, documents, and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence and confirm the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor or the release or subordination of any Collateral pursuant to Section 11.03 and the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.05 and to return to the Issuer all title documents (including share certificates (if any)) held by it in respect of any Collateral, all without the further consent or joinder of any Holder or any other Secured Party. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Note Document relating to any such Collateral or Subsidiary Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be made. In connection with any release or subordination hereunder, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall promptly (and the Secured Parties hereby authorize the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Issuer and at the Issuer’s expense in connection with the release or subordination of any Liens or release of Guarantees created by any Note Document in respect of such Subsidiary, property or asset; provided that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate containing such certifications as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall reasonably request (and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Note Document, on the Termination Date, upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral (including returning to the Issuer all share certificates (if any) held by it in respect of any Collateral), and to release all obligations under any Note Document (other than the Investor Rights Agreement), whether or not on the date of such release there may be any contingent indemnification obligations or expense reimbursement claims not then due; provided that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer containing such certifications as the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request (and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on an Officer’s Certificate to that effect provided to it by any Note Party upon its reasonable request without inquiry).

(D) Any such release of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such Guaranteed Obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. The Issuer agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (and their respective representatives) in connection with taking such actions to release security interest in all Collateral and all obligations under the Note Documents as contemplated by this Section 11.05(D).

 

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Section 11.06. POWERS EXERCISABLE BY RECEIVER OR TRUSTEE.

(A) In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 11 upon the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the release, subordination, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 11; and if the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a nominee of the Trustee or Collateral Agent.

Section 11.07. RELEASE UPON TERMINATION OF THE ISSUER’s OBLIGATIONS.

(A) In the event (i) that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that all the Note Obligations (other than any contingent indemnification obligations or expense reimburse claims not then due) have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Note Obligations, and all such Note Obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a discharge of this Indenture occurs under Article 9, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the Holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary at the request and expense of the Issuer to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Section 11.08. RIGHT TO REALIZE ON COLLATERAL AND ENFORCE GUARANTEES.

(A) Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, in case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Note Party, (i) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of any Note Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuer) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise (A) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of any or all of the Note Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Holders and the Trustee and any Subagents allowed in such judicial proceeding, and (B) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and (ii) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under the Note Documents. Nothing contained herein 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 Note Obligations or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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(B) Anything contained in any of the Note Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party hereby agree that (a) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Subsidiary Guarantee, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Trustee, on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Security Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent, and (b) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Collateral Agent or any Holder may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Note Party or Note Parties in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Supermajority Holders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Note Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other Disposition.

Section 11.09. PARALLEL DEBT (COVENANT TO PAY THE COLLATERAL AGENT).

(A) The Issuer and, subject to Section 12.06, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Collateral Agent amounts equal to any amounts owing from time to time by the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor to any Secured Party under any Note Document as and when those amounts are due and payable.

(B) The Issuer, each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral Agent acknowledges that the obligations of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 11.09(A) above are several and are separate and independent from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the corresponding obligations of the Issuer or that Subsidiary Guarantor to any Secured Party under any Note Document (its “Corresponding Debt”), nor shall it constitute the Collateral Agent and any Note Party as joint creditors of any Corresponding Debt, nor shall the amounts for which the Issuer or each Subsidiary Guarantor is liable under Section 11.09(A) above (its “Parallel Debt”) be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt; provided that:

(i) The Parallel Debt of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be decreased and the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment to the extent that its Corresponding Debt has been paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged; and

(ii) The Corresponding Debt of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be decreased and the Collateral Agent shall not demand payment to the extent that its Parallel Debt has been paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged.

(C) For the purposes of this Section 11.09, the Collateral Agent acts in its own name and not as a trustee, and its claims in respect of the Parallel Debt shall not be held on trust and instead shall be owed to it in its individual capacity. The Collateral granted under the Security Documents to the Collateral Agent to secure the Parallel Debt is granted to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as Parallel Debt Creditor and shall not be held on trust.

(D) All moneys received or recovered by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 11.09, and all amounts received or recovered by the Collateral Agent from or by the enforcement of any Collateral granted to secure the Parallel Debt, shall be applied in accordance with this Indenture.

 

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Article 12. GUARANTEES

Section 12.01. SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.

(A) Subject to this Article 12, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees, on a senior basis, as primary obligors and not as a surety, to each the Collateral Agent for the benefit of each Holder (and its successors and assigns) of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and each of the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Documents and/or the Note Obligations of the Issuer:

(i) that the principal of, interest on, or any other amount payable to the Holders, under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest (including but not limited to any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of applicable Bankruptcy Law after any insolvency proceeding), on the Notes, if any, if lawful; and

(ii) that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or the payment of any other amount payable to the Holders, the same shall be promptly paid in full when due (such obligations in clauses (i) and (ii) being herein collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”).

(B) Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Subsidiary Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the Guaranteed Obligations in the same manner and to the same extent as the Note Obligations.

(C) The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree that their Guaranteed Obligations shall be absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety of Subsidiary Guarantor, all to the fullest extent permitted by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder which remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above, to the fullest extent permitted by law:

(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Subsidiary Guarantors, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

 

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(ii) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

(iii) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Indenture, Notes, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(iv) any Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of any Holder, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected; or

(v) the release of any other Subsidiary Guarantor.

(D) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Note Obligations.

(E) Until terminated in accordance with Section 12.05, each Subsidiary Guarantee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee or other similar officer be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’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 of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

(F) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations may be accelerated as provided in Section 7.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances in Section 7.02) for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Section 7.02, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee. The Subsidiary Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Subsidiary Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

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(G) Each Subsidiary Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in enforcing any rights under the Note Documents.

(H) Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Section 12.01; provided that no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuer under this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Documents shall have been paid in full in cash.

(I) Each payment to be made by a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

(J) Each Subsidiary Guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held in connection with the Note Documents or any of them.

Section 12.02. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY.

(A) To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 12.01, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture) shall be executed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor by one of its authorized officers.

(B) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 12.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee on the Notes. If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates a Note, the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be valid nevertheless.

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

Section 12.03. [RESERVED].

 

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Section 12.04. RELEASES OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.

(A) The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released:

(i) in connection with (x) any disposition (including by way of merger or consolidation) of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor (or the Equity Interests of the direct parent of such Subsidiary Guarantor) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Note Party, to the extent such sale is permitted under any First-Priority Debt Documents and is not in violation of Section 3.16 or (y) any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of that Subsidiary Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise solely to the extent that such sale or other disposition is permitted pursuant to Section 6.01, in each case, only provided that the applicable guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor under First-Priority Debt Documents is also released under any First-Priority Debt Documents substantially at the same time;

(ii) the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that no Event of Default occurs as a result thereof or has occurred or is continuing;

(iii) upon exercise of the Legal Defeasance Option or Covenant Defeasance Option, or the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the other Note Documents (other than the Investor Rights Agreement), in each case in accordance with Article 9;

(iv) if such Subsidiary Guarantor is an Immaterial Subsidiary (or would be deemed an Immaterial Subsidiary (as defined in the First Lien Notes Indenture)) under the First Lien Notes Indenture; provided that no Event of Default occurs as a result thereof or has occurred or is continuing;

(v) upon the occurrence of the Termination Date subject to Section 11.05(D);

(vi) if such Subsidiary Guarantor is an Excluded Subsidiary or upon consummation of any transaction not prohibited hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary Guarantor ceasing to constitute a Subsidiary or otherwise becoming an Excluded Subsidiary; or

(vii) in accordance with the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement.

(B) Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any of the conditions described in Section 12.04(A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) has occurred and the conditions precedent to such transactions provided for in this Indenture have been complied with, the Trustee shall promptly execute any documents reasonably requested by the Issuer in order to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest, premium, if any, on, the Notes and for the other obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 12.

(C) Further, the Subsidiary Guarantees are not convertible and will automatically terminate when the Notes are all converted in full in accordance with Article 5.

 

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Section 12.05. INSTRUMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONEY.

(A) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article 12 constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Holder (to the extent that the Holder is otherwise entitled to exercise rights and remedies hereunder) or the Trustee, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213 to the extent permitted thereunder.

Section 12.06. LIMITATION ON SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR LIABILITY.

(A) Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any bankruptcy law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law or any comparable laws in any other jurisdiction to the extent applicable to any Subsidiary Guarantee. The Guaranteed Obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the Guaranteed Obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law or any comparable laws in any other jurisdiction and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Section 12.07. “TRUSTEETO INCLUDE PAYING AGENT.

(A) In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article 12 shall in each case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully and for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article 12 in place of the Trustee.

Article 13. MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01. NOTICES.

Any notice or communication by any Note Party or the Trustee, Collateral Agent and Note Agent to the other must be provided in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given in writing if delivered in person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission, electronic transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic communication or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or to the other’s address, which initially is as follows:

If to any Note Party:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, North Carolina 27703

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legaldept@wolfspeed.com

 

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If to the Trustee or Collateral Agent:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

333 Commerce Street, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Wolfspeed, Inc.

Facsimile No.: 615-251-0737

Any Note Party, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, by notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses (including facsimile numbers and electronic addresses) for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: (A) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (B) five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (C) when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile, electronic transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic communication; and (D) the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

All notices or communications required to be made to a Holder pursuant to this Indenture must be made in writing and will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing if mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to its address shown on the Register; provided, however, that a notice or communication to a Holder of a Global Note may, but need not, instead be sent pursuant to the Depositary Procedures (in which case, such notice will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing). The failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder, or any defect in such notice or communication, will not affect its sufficiency with respect to any other Holder.

If the Trustee is then acting as the Depositary’s custodian for the Notes, then, at the reasonable request of the Issuer to the Trustee, the Trustee will cause any notice prepared by the Issuer to be sent to any Holder(s) pursuant to the Depositary Procedures, provided such request is evidenced in a Issuer Order delivered, together with the text of such notice, to the Trustee at least two (2) Business Days before the date such notice is to be so sent. For the avoidance of doubt, such Issuer Order need not be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee will not have any liability relating to the contents of any notice that it sends to any Holder pursuant to any such Issuer Order.

If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it will be deemed to have been duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, (A) whenever any provision of this Indenture requires a party to send notice to another party, no such notice need be sent if the sending party and the recipient are the same Person acting in different capacities; and (B) whenever any provision of this Indenture requires a party to send notice to more than one receiving party, and each receiving party is the same Person acting in different capacities, then only one such notice need be sent to such Person.

 

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Facsimile, documents executed, scanned and transmitted electronically and electronic signatures, including those created or transmitted through a software platform or application, will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Indenture and all matters and agreements related thereto, with such facsimile, scanned and electronic signatures having the same legal effect as original signatures. The parties agree that this Indenture or any instrument, agreement or document necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or related hereto or thereto (including addendums, amendments, notices, instructions, communications with respect to the delivery of securities or the wire transfer of funds or other communications) (“Executed Documentation”) may be accepted, executed or agreed to through the use of an electronic signature in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations in effect from time to time applicable to the effectiveness and enforceability of electronic signatures. Any Executed Documentation accepted, executed or agreed to in conformity with such laws, rules and regulations will be binding on all parties to this Indenture to the same extent as if it were physically executed and each party hereby consents to the use of any third- party electronic signature capture service providers as may be reasonably chosen by a signatory hereto or thereto. When the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a Note Agent acts on any Executed Documentation sent by electronic transmission, the Trustee, Collateral Agent or Note Agent will not be responsible or liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from its reliance upon and compliance with such Executed Documentation, notwithstanding that such Executed Documentation (A) may not be an authorized or authentic communication of the party involved or in the form such party sent or intended to send (whether due to fraud, distortion or otherwise); or (B) may conflict with, or be inconsistent with, a subsequent written instruction or communication; it is understood and agreed that the Trustee, Collateral Agent and each Note Agent will conclusively presume that Executed Documentation that purports to have been sent by an authorized officer of a Person has been sent by an authorized officer of such Person. The party providing Executed Documentation through electronic transmission or otherwise with electronic signatures agrees to assume all risks arising out of such electronic methods, including the risk of the Trustee, Collateral Agent or a Note Agent acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 13.02. DELIVERY OF OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee or to the Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture or the other Note Documents (other than with respect to clause (B) below, the initial authentication of Notes under this Indenture), the Issuer will furnish to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent:

(A) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent that complies with Section 13.03 and states that, in the opinion of the signatory thereto, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture and, as applicable, the other Note Documents, relating to such action have been satisfied; and

 

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(B) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that complies with Section 13.03 and states that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants, if any, have been satisfied.

Section 13.03. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN OFFICERS CERTIFICATE AND OPINION OF COUNSEL.

Upon any application or request by the Issuer to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to take or refrain from taking any action under any provision of this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent such certificates and opinions as may be required under the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act made a part of this Indenture and hereunder. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an Officer of the Issuer, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Each Officer’s Certificate (other than an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 3.06) or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture or the other Note Documents will include:

(A) a statement that the signatory making such certificate or opinion thereto has read such covenant or condition;

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

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

(D) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such signatory, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Officer of the Issuer or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous.

Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

Section 13.04. RULES BY THE TRUSTEE, THE REGISTRAR AND THE PAYING AGENT.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

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Section 13.05. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS.

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of any Note Party, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of such Note Party under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting any Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

Section 13.06. GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER of JURY TRIAL.

THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE NOTE PARTIES, THE TRUSTEE AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE HOLDERS BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES.

Section 13.07. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.

Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture or the transactions contemplated by this Indenture may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America or the courts of the State of New York, in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in Section 13.01 will be effective service of process for any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court. Each of the Note Parties, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and Holders (by its acceptance of any Note) irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 13.08. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.

Neither this Indenture nor the Notes may be used to interpret any other indenture, note, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person, and no such indenture, note, loan or debt agreement may be used to interpret this Indenture or the Notes.

 

- 167 -


Section 13.09. SUCCESSORS.

All agreements of each Note Parties in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture will bind their respective successors.

Section 13.10. FORCE MAJEURE.

The Trustee, Collateral Agent and each Note Agent will not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility under this Indenture, the Notes or any other Note Document by reason of any occurrence beyond its control (including any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, act of terrorism or unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).

Section 13.11. U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT.

In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Terrorism Law”), the Trustee, Collateral Agent and the Note Agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee, Collateral Agent and/or the Note Agents. Accordingly, each of the Note Parties (including any Person that executes an agreement to become a Subsidiary Guarantor) agrees to provide to the Trustee, Collateral Agent or any of the Note Agents (or any additional party that executes an agreement to become party to this Indenture as a trustee, a collateral trustee or a note agent) upon its request from time to time such documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any of the Note Agents (or any such additional party) to comply with Applicable Terrorism Law.

Section 13.12. CALCULATIONS.

The Issuer will be responsible for making all calculations called for under this Indenture or the Notes, including, but not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Price, the Daily Conversion Value, the Daily Cash Amount, the Daily Share Amount, accrued interest on the Notes, the Conversion Rate and the Conversion Price.

The Issuer will make all calculations in good faith, and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on all Holders. The Issuer will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Issuer’s calculations without independent verification. The Issuer will promptly forward a copy of each such schedule to a Holder upon its written request therefor.

 

- 168 -


Section 13.13. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Indenture or the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Indenture or the Notes will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.14. COUNTERPARTS.

This Indenture and the Notes may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture or the Notes and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF transmission or similar imaged document transmitted by electronic transmission (including .jpeg file or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, including Orbit, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, or any other similar platform identified by the Issuer and reasonably available at no undue burden or expense to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent) shall be deemed original signatures for all purposes hereunder and shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture or the Notes as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture or Notes for all purposes. Any electronically signed document delivered via email from a person purporting to be an authorized officer shall be considered signed or executed by such authorized officer on behalf of the applicable Person. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such electronic signature without any liability with respect thereto.

Section 13.15. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.

The table of contents and the headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture.

Section 13.16. WITHHOLDING Taxes.

Each Holder of a Note agrees, and each beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note by its acquisition of such interest is deemed to agree, that if the Issuer or other applicable withholding agent (including the Trustee) is required by applicable law to pay withholding taxes or backup withholding on behalf of a Holder or beneficial owner as a result of an adjustment or the non-occurrence of an adjustment to the Conversion Rate, and the Issuer or such other withholding agent pays such taxes to the applicable taxing authority, then the Issuer or such other withholding agent, as applicable, may, at its option, withhold such amounts paid on behalf of the Holder or beneficial owner from or set off such payments against, payments of cash or the delivery of other Conversion Consideration on such Note, or any payments on the Issuer’s Common Stock or sales proceeds received by, or other funds or assets of, the Holder or beneficial owner of such Note.

 

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Article 14. INTERCREDITOR ARRANGEMENTS

Section 14.01. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTs.

(A) The Indenture is entered into with the benefit of, and subject to the terms of, the Intercreditor Agreements and each Holder, by accepting a Note, shall be deemed to have agreed to, and accepted the terms and conditions of, the Intercreditor Agreements, to have authorized the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the Intercreditor Agreements on its behalf, and to have agreed that the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be bound by the Intercreditor Agreements, as well as this Indenture. The rights, duties and benefits of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are governed by this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent any provision of any of the Intercreditor Agreements conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and be controlling.

Section 14.02. ADDITIONAL INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTs.

(A) At the request of the Issuer, at the time of, or prior to, the incurrence of any Indebtedness that is expressly permitted under this Indenture to share the Collateral or that is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, the Issuer, the relevant Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent will (without the consent of Holders), to the extent authorized and permitted under the then-existing applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s), enter into such amendments, supplements or agreements as necessary to add the obligees of such Indebtedness and/or any representative(s) thereof as party to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s), or an additional intercreditor agreement (each such agreement, an “Additional Intercreditor Agreement”); provided that such amendments, supplements, agreements or such Additional Intercreditor Agreement will not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under the Indenture or any Intercreditor Agreement.

(B) At the written direction of the Issuer and without the consent of the Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, to the extent authorized and permitted under the applicable Intercreditor Agreement, shall upon the written direction of the Issuer from time to time enter into one or more Additional Intercreditor Agreements or amendments or supplements of the Intercreditor Agreement(s) to: (1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency therein; (2) increase the amount of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred or issued under this Indenture of the types covered thereby that may be incurred by the Issuer or any other Note Party that is subject thereto (including the addition of provisions relating to new Indebtedness); (3) add Subsidiary Guarantors thereto; (4) further secure the Notes (including any Additional Notes); (5) allow any successor Trustee and/or Collateral Agent to accede as a party thereto; or (6) make any other such change thereto that does not adversely affect the rights of holders of the Notes in any material respect; provided that such Additional Intercreditor Agreement will not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or the Collateral Agent or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under the Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

- 170 -


(C) In executing any execution of the Additional Intercreditor Agreement or the amendments or supplements of an Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with this Section 14.02, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, will be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.02) will be fully protected in relying on, an Officer’s Certificate provided in accordance with Section 13.02, stating that the execution and delivery of such Additional Intercreditor Agreement or such amendments or supplements of the Intercreditor Agreement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and the other Note Documents;

(D) Each Holder, by accepting a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to and accepted the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreements and each Additional Intercreditor Agreement (in each case as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or other Note Documents), to have authorized the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to become a party to any such Intercreditor Agreements, and Additional Intercreditor Agreement(s), and any amendment referred to in Article 8 and the Trustee or the Collateral Agent will not be required to seek the consent of any Holders to perform their respective obligations under and in accordance with this Article 14.

[The Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]

 

- 171 -


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

 

Issuer:
WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:   /s/ Melissa Garrett
    Name: Melissa Garrett
    Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Subsidiary Guarantor:
WOLFSPEED TEXAS LLC
By:   /s/ Melissa Garrett
    Name: Melissa Garrett
    Title: Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Renesas Convertible Indenture]


Trustee:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent
By:   /s/ Wally Jones
    Name: Wally Jones
    Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Renesas Convertible Indenture]


Collateral Agent:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Collateral Agent
By:   /s/ Wally Jones
    Name: Wally Jones
    Title: Vice President

 

 

[Signature Page to Second Lien Renesas Convertible Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF NOTE

[Insert Global Note Legend, if applicable]

[THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE NOTES WERE ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT” (“OID”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. NOTEHOLDERS MAY OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF ANY OID, THE ISSUE PRICE, THE ISSUE DATE, AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY RELATING TO THE NOTES BY CONTACTING THE ISSUER.]

Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031-R

CUSIP No.: [_][[Insert for a “unrestricted” CUSIP number:]]

Certificate No. [_]

ISIN No.: [_][[Insert for a “unrestricted” ISIN number:]]

Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation, for value received, promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] dollars ($[_]) [(as revised by the attached Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note)] on June 15, 2031 and to pay interest thereon, as provided in the Indenture referred to below, until the principal and all accrued and unpaid interest are paid or duly provided for.

Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on [December 15, 2025], unless otherwise provided in the definition of “Interest Payment Date.”

Regular Record Dates: June 1 and December 1, unless otherwise provided in the definition of “Regular Record Date.”

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 
 

Insert bracketed language for Global Notes Only.

 

A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Wolfspeed, Inc. has caused this instrument to be duly executed as of the date set forth below.

 

        WOLFSPEED, INC.
Date:                            By:  

 

            Name:
      Title:

 

A-3


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Date:                            By:  

 

            Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031-R

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), designated as its 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031-R (the “Notes”), all issued or to be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Indenture”), between the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used in this Note without definition have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

The Indenture sets forth the rights and obligations of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders and the terms of the Notes. The Notes are secured pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements (as defined in the Indenture) and the Security Documents referred to in the Indenture and subject to the Liens securing First-Priority Obligations as defined in the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, to the extent that any provision of this Note conflicts with the provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture will control.

1. Interest. This Note will accrue interest at a rate and in the manner set forth in Section 2.05 of the Indenture. Stated Interest on this Note will begin to accrue from, and including, [date].

2. Maturity. This Note will mature on June 15, 2031, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted.

3. Guarantees. The Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors as provided in Article 12 of the Indenture.

4. Method of Payment. Cash amounts due on this Note will be paid in the manner set forth in Section 2.04 of the Indenture.

5. Persons Deemed Owners. The Holder of this Note will be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

6. Denominations; Transfers and Exchanges. All Notes will be in registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Subject to the terms of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note may transfer or exchange this Note by presenting it to the Registrar and delivering any required documentation or other materials.

 

A-5


7. Right of Holders to Require the Issuer to Repurchase Notes upon a Fundamental Change or a Change of Control. If a Fundamental Change occurs on or prior to the Conversion Expiration Date, then each Holder will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) for cash in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 4.02 of the Indenture. If a Change of Control occurs after the Conversion Expiration Date, then each Holder will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes (or any portion thereof in an Authorized Denomination) for cash in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 4.04 of the Indenture.

8. Redemption of the Notes. The Notes will be subject to Redemption for cash in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 4.03 of the Indenture.

9. Limitation on Conversion. Any conversion of any Note is subject to the Investor Rights Agreement.

10. Conversion. The Holder of this Note may convert this Note into Conversion Consideration in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Article 5 of the Indenture.

11. When the Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors May Merge, Etc. Article 6 of the Indenture places certain restrictions on the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ ability to be a party to a Business Combination Event.

12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs, then the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding may (and, in certain circumstances, will automatically) become due and payable in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Article 7 of the Indenture.

13. Amendments, Supplements and Waivers. The Issuer, the Trustee and, if required, the Collateral Agent, may amend or supplement the Note Documents or waive compliance with any provision of the Note Documents (other than the Investor Rights Agreement) in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 7.05 and Article 8 of the Indenture.

14. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture or the Notes or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting any Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

15. Authentication. No Note will be valid until it is authenticated by the Trustee. A Note will be deemed to be duly authenticated only when an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or a duly appointed authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication of such Note.

16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or its assignee, such as TEN COM (tenants in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (custodian), and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

* * *

 

A-6


To request a copy of the Indenture, which the Issuer will provide to any Holder at no charge, please send a written request to the following address:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, North Carolina 27703

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legaldept@wolfspeed.com

 

A-7


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

INITIAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE: $[ ]

The following exchanges, transfers or cancellations of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date   

Amount of Increase

(Decrease) in

Principal Amount of

this Global Note

  

Principal Amount of

this Global Note

After Such Increase

(Decrease)

  

Signature of

Authorized Signatory

of Trustee

 

 
* 

Insert for Global Notes only.

 

A-8


CONVERSION NOTICE

Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031-R

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, by executing and delivering this Conversion Notice, the undersigned Holder of the Note identified below directs the Issuer to convert (check one):

 

the entire principal amount of

 

$ ____________* aggregate principal amount of

the Note identified by CUSIP No. ____________ and Certificate No. ______________.

The undersigned acknowledges that if the Conversion Date of a Note to be converted is after a Regular Record Date and before the next Interest Payment Date, then such Note, when surrendered for conversion, must, in certain circumstances, be accompanied with an amount of cash equal to the interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date.

 

Date:                     

 

          (Legal Name of Holder)

 

By:    
    Name:
  Title:

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program
By:    
  Authorized Signatory
 
* 

Must be an Authorized Denomination.

 

A-9


[FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE][CHANGE OF CONTROL] REPURCHASE NOTICE

Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031-R

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, by executing and delivering this [Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice][Change of Control Repurchase Notice], the undersigned Holder of the Note identified below is exercising its [Fundamental Change Repurchase Right][Change of Control Repurchase Right] with respect to (check one):

 

the entire principal amount of

 

$ ___________* aggregate principal amount of

the Note identified by CUSIP No. and Certificate No.

The undersigned acknowledges that this Note, duly endorsed for transfer, must be delivered to the Paying Agent before the [Fundamental Change Repurchase Price][Change of Control Repurchase Price] will be paid.

 

Date:                    

 

         (Legal Name of Holder)

 

By:    
    Name:
  Title:

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program
By:    
    Authorized Signatory
 
* 

Must be an Authorized Denomination.

 

A-10


ASSIGNMENT FORM

Wolfspeed, Inc.

2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031-R

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, the undersigned Holder of the within Note assigns to:

 

Name:   

 

Address:   

 

Social security or

tax identificatio

n number:

  

 

the within Note and all rights thereunder irrevocably appoints:

as agent to transfer the within Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him/her.

 

Date:                      

 

          (Legal Name of Holder)

 

By:    
    Name:
  Title:

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program
By:    
    Authorized Signatory

 

A-11


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND

THIS IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS THE OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER 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 HEREON 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 SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE WILL 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 NOTE WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 2 OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO.

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [], 2025 among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (or its successor) (the “Issuer”),         (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”), under the indenture referred to below.

WHEREAS the Issuer (or its successor) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of September 29, 2025, providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s 2.5% Convertible Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”); and

WHEREAS, Section 8.01(B) of the Indenture provides that the parties may amend or supplement the Note Documents in order to add Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture, without the consent of the Holders; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the parties in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) as follows:

1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the provisions, including the limitations and conditions, set forth herein and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 12 thereof, and hereby further agrees to accede to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and be bound by the covenants therein applicable to Subsidiary Guarantors.

3. [Limitation on Guarantee. The Issuer, as it deems necessary and appropriate, to insert limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor language applicable to the relevant jurisdiction of such Subsidiary Guarantor.]

 

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4. Releases. The Subsidiary Guarantee of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged in accordance with Section 12.04 of the Indenture.

5. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder shall be bound hereby.

6. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

7. Trustee and Collateral Agent Make No Representation. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent make no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.

8. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

9. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.

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

 

WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:    
    Name:
    Title:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent
By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

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U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Collateral Agent
By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

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EXHIBIT D

AGREED SECURITY PRINCIPLES

 

1.

Agreed Security Principles

 

  (a)

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Indenture to which this Schedule 1.01(D) is attached.

 

  (b)

An Applicable Acceleration Event (as defined below) is “continuing” unless the relevant demand or notice has been revoked in accordance with the Note Documents.

 

  (c)

The guarantees and security required to be provided under the Note Documents will be given in accordance with the principles set out in this Schedule 1.01(D) (the Agreed Security Principles). This Schedule 1.01(D) identifies the Agreed Security Principles and addresses the manner in which the Agreed Security Principles will impact and determine the extent and terms of the guarantees and security proposed to be provided under any Note Documents.

 

  (d)

These Agreed Security Principles shall apply to any security or guarantee to be provided by, or over the Equity Interests in, any Foreign Subsidiary irrespective of where such person is organized or incorporated (and irrespective of what law governs the relevant security agreement).

 

2.

Guarantees

Subject to the guarantee limitations set out in the Note Documents and customary limitations in the relevant jurisdiction, each guarantee will be an upstream, cross-stream and downstream guarantee for the Note Obligations in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Agreed Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction (references to “security” to be read for this purpose as including guarantees).

 

3.

Secured Liabilities

Security documents will secure the Note Obligations in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Agreed Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction.

 

4.

Overriding Principle

 

  (a)

Subject to paragraph (b) below, the parties agree that the overriding intention is for security in respect of the Note Documents only to be granted over (subject, in each case, to any timeframes set out in the Note Documents for granting such security), (i) substantially all assets of each Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor (subject to customary exclusions and the terms of these Agreed Security Principles) in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is available; provided that a floating charge (or similar security) shall not be required to be granted or continue to subsist where to do so would be expected to have an adverse effect on the ability of the grantor to conduct its operations and business (as determined in good faith by such grantor and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties)) and, subject to the Collateral Agent’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with local counsel and at the expense of the Issuer as set forth in the Indenture) the Collateral Agent shall be required (and shall be pre-authorized)

 

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  to issue a non-crystallization certificate (or similar certificate) solely at the request of the applicable grantor in an Officer’s Certificate (a) that such non-crystallization certificate (or similar certificate) is authorized or permitted by the Indenture (including, for purposes of clarity, this schedule), and (b) certifying that no event of default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) in any jurisdiction where all-asset/floating security is not available, (A) Material Real Property, (B) Material IP, (C) material bank accounts, (D) Equity Interests in Subsidiaries, (E) trade receivables, (F) inventory (unless such grant would be expected to have an adverse effect on the ability of the grantor to conduct its operations and business (as determined in good faith by such grantor and the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties)) and (F) material intra-group receivables (Material Intercompany Receivables).

 

  (b)

Without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, no guarantees shall be required to be granted by and no security shall be required to be granted by (or over shares, ownership interests or investments in) any Person other than the Issuer and Subsidiaries thereof.

 

5.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction of Security

 

  (a)

All security (other than share security) will be governed by the law of, and secure only assets located in, (i) the jurisdiction of incorporation of the applicable grantor of the security (or, in respect of Equity Interests in a Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of incorporation of that person) and (ii) any other Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction.

 

  (b)

No action in relation to security (including any perfection step, further assurance step, filing or registration) will be required in jurisdictions other than (i) the jurisdiction where the grantor of security is incorporated and (ii) any other Foreign Collateral Jurisdiction, except as provided in Section 5(a) above insofar as it contemplates that security over Equity Interests in Subsidiaries may not be subject to the governing law of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the applicable grantor of security (the Relevant Share Security) in which case (and subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the other provisions of these Agreed Security Principles) security may be perfected in, and only to the extent required by, the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Subsidiary whose Equity Interests are subject to the Relevant Share Security.

 

6.

Excluded Jurisdictions

 

  (a)

The guarantees and security to be provided under the Note Documents in accordance with the Agreed Security Principles are only to be given by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries which are not incorporated in or organized in Japan, Turkey, Taiwan, Hungary, India, Italy, Switzerland, Dubai, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Malaysia and any other jurisdiction agreed between the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties (acting reasonably) (together, theExcluded Jurisdictions).

 

  (b)

No guarantees shall be required to be given by and no security shall be required to be given by (or over shares, ownership interests or investments in) any person incorporated in an Excluded Jurisdiction.

 

  (c)

No guarantees or security shall be required to be governed by the law of, nor shall any security or perfection steps be required to be taken in, any Excluded Jurisdiction.

 

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7.

Terms of Security Documents

The following principles will be reflected in the terms of any security taken in connection with the Note Documents:

 

  (a)

security will not be enforceable or crystallise until the Trustee has exercised its rights under the relevant acceleration provisions of the Indenture to declare all or part of the applicable Note to be immediately due and payable (an Applicable Acceleration Event) which is continuing;

 

  (b)

the beneficiaries of the security or any agent will only be able to exercise a power of attorney (or set-off granted to them under the terms of the Note Documents) following the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing;

 

  (c)

notification of receivables security to debtors will only be given (i) with respect to material receivables security and (ii) only if notice is required to perfect the Collateral Agent’s security interest in an applicable Foreign Jurisdiction;

 

  (d)

the security documents should only operate to create security rather than to impose new commercial obligations or repeat clauses in the Indenture (accordingly they should not contain additional representations, undertakings or indemnities (including in respect of insurance, information, inspections, limitations on dispositions, distributions or transfers, maintenance or protection of assets or the payment of fees, costs and expenses)) except to the extent that these are: (1) the same as or consistent with those contained in the Indenture; and (2) required for the creation or perfection of security;

 

  (e)

notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Security Document, the terms of a Security Document shall not operate or be construed so as to prohibit or restrict any transaction, matter or other step (or a grantor of security taking or entering into the same) or dealing in any manner whatsoever in relation to any asset (including all rights, claims, benefits, proceeds and documentation, and contractual counterparties in relation thereto) the subject of (or expressed to be the subject of) the Security Document if not prohibited by the Indenture or where the consent of the Required Noteholder Parties has been obtained and, subject to the Collateral Agent’s and the Trustee’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with counsel) the Collateral Agent and the Trustee shall promptly enter into such documentation and/or take such other action as is required by a relevant Note Party (acting reasonably) in order to facilitate any such transaction, matter or other step, including by way of executing any confirmation, consent to dealing, release or other similar or equivalent document, provided that any costs and expenses incurred by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent entering into such documentation and/or taking such other action at the request of such Note Party pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Note Party;

 

  (f)

other than to the extent required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, no control agreement (or perfection by control or similar arrangements) or control, lockbox or similar arrangement shall be required with respect to any assets; provided that the foregoing shall not limit the requirement for notices to account banks;

 

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  (g)

Security Documents will, where possible and practical, automatically create security over future assets of the applicable security provider of the same type as those already secured; where local law requires supplemental pledges or notices to be delivered in respect of future acquired assets in order for effective security to be created over that class of asset, such supplemental pledges or notices will be provided only upon request of the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) and at intervals no more frequent than quarterly;

 

  (h)

each Security Document must contain a clause which records that if there is a conflict between the security document and the Indenture or (if applicable) any Intercreditor Agreement specifically entered into in connection with the Indenture then (to the fullest extent permitted by law) the provisions of the Indenture or (as applicable) the Intercreditor Agreement will take priority over the provisions of the security document;

 

  (i)

there will be no “fixed” security over fixed assets, insurance policies, Intellectual Property, bank accounts, cash or receivables (other than Material Intercompany Receivables) or any obligation to hold or pay cash or receivables in a particular account until the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing; provided that “fixed” security over bank accounts shall be required to the extent required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture;

 

  (j)

all security shall only be given in favor of the Collateral Agent and not any other of the secured parties; “parallel debt” provisions will be used where necessary; and

 

  (k)

whether expressly so stated or not, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Collateral Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, under the Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to seek direction and be indemnified prior to taking action shall be deemed to be incorporated, mutatis mutandis in each security document.

 

8.

Intercompany and Trade Receivables

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, any person will be free to deal with, amend, waive, repay, prepay or terminate its Material Intercompany Receivables and trade receivables.

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, no lists of or other information in respect of Material Intercompany Receivables or trade receivables will be required to be provided.

 

  (c)

No security will be granted over any trade receivables which cannot be secured under the terms of the relevant contract.

 

  (d)

If required under local law, security over Material Intercompany Receivables will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

  (e)

Any security over trade receivables (including any list of trade receivables required) shall be structured so as not to cause the relevant Obligor to breach any data protection obligations owed by it in the underlying applicable contracts or under applicable law, and if such structuring is not possible (based on advice of external legal counsel), then such security shall not be required.

 

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9.

Equity Interests

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing and Collateral Agent has given the applicable shareholder written notice, the legal title of the Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) subject to any Security Document will remain with the relevant grantor of the security (unless transfer of title on granting such security is customary in the applicable jurisdiction).

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing and Collateral Agent has given the applicable shareholder written notice, any grantor of share security will be permitted to retain and to exercise all voting rights and powers in relation to any Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) and other related rights charged by it and receive, own and retain all assets and proceeds in relation thereto without restriction or condition. With respect to security over shares in a German company only, to the extent required under German law, the voting rights will remain with the Obligor even after an Enforcement Event has occurred.

 

  (c)

Where customary and applicable as a matter of law and following a request by the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties), as soon as reasonably practicable (taking into account any stamping or other transfer requirements) following the granting of any share security over certificated Equity Interests, the applicable Equity Interest certificate (or other documents evidencing title to the relevant Equity Interests) and a stock transfer form executed in blank (or applicable law equivalent) will be provided to the Collateral Agent.

 

  (d)

No “fixed” security shall be required to be granted over any Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interest) in any person which are not directly owned by its immediate holding company.

 

  (e)

If required under local law, security over Equity Interests (or equivalent ownership interests) will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

10.

Bank Accounts

 

  (a)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event or a Control Triggering Event (with respect to Controlled Accounts only) has occurred and is continuing, any person will be free to deal, operate and transact business in relation to any bank accounts over which it grants security (including opening and closing accounts).

 

  (b)

Until an Applicable Acceleration Event has occurred and is continuing, unless the Indenture expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use, there will be:

 

  (i)

no “fixed” security over bank accounts, cash or receivables (other than Material Intercompany Receivables), except as required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture; and

 

  (ii)

no obligation to hold, pay or sweep cash or receivables into a particular account.

 

  (c)

Where “fixed” security is required, if required by local law to perfect that security and if possible without disrupting operation of the account, notice of that security will be served on the account bank by the applicable grantor in relation to applicable accounts within ten (10) Business Days of the creation of that security and the applicable grantor of that security will use its reasonable endeavors to obtain an acknowledgement of that notice

 

D-5


  within twenty (20) Business Days of service. If the grantor of that security has used its reasonable endeavors but has not been able to obtain acknowledgement or acceptance, its obligation to obtain acknowledgement will cease on the expiry of that twenty (20) Business Day period. Irrespective of whether notice of that security is required for perfection, if the service of notice would prevent any Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor from using a bank account in the course of its business, except as required by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, no notice of security will be served until the occurrence of an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing.

 

  (d)

Any security over bank accounts will be subject to any security interests in favour of the account bank which are created either by law or in the standard terms and conditions of the account bank, whether created or arising before or after the security in favour of the Secured Parties has been given. No grantor of security will be required to change its banking arrangements or standard terms and conditions in connection with the granting of bank account security.

 

  (e)

No control agreements (or perfection by control or similar arrangements) shall be required with respect to any Excluded Account.

 

  (f)

If any bank account is required to be opened as a matter of local law in order to perfect any share security required to be granted in accordance with these Agreed Security Principles (i) such bank account shall not be required to be opened prior to the date falling 90 days after such share security is granted and (ii) the Secured Parties authorise, instruct and direct the Collateral Agent to, and the Collateral Agent shall, promptly subject to the Collateral Agent’s determination that such matters will not adversely affect it (in consultation with local counsel and at the expense of the Issuer as set forth in the Indenture) enter into any documentation requested by the applicable account bank in connection with such security.

 

  (g)

If required under applicable local law, security over bank accounts will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles.

 

  (h)

If the consent of an account bank is required to grant security over a bank account, and such bank account is not required to be subject to an Account Control Agreement by Section 7.14 of the Indenture, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor shall use its commercially reasonable endeavours to attempt once to obtain the consent of the relevant account bank. If the account bank is not willing to give such consent in the first instance, the Loan Party shall not be required to change its banking arrangements or to replace its account bank.

 

11.

Additional Principles

The Agreed Security Principles embody the recognition by all parties that there may be certain legal and practical difficulties in obtaining effective or commercially reasonable guarantees and/or security from all relevant Foreign Subsidiaries in each jurisdiction in which it has been agreed that guarantees and security will be granted by those members. In particular:

 

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  (a)

general legal and statutory limitations, regulatory restrictions, financial assistance, anti-trust and other competition authority restrictions, corporate benefit, fraudulent preference, equitable subordination, “transfer pricing”, “thin capitalisation” (and in particular, guarantees and security shall not result in all or part of the Note Obligations being considered related debt for thin capitalisation purposes), “earnings stripping”, “exchange control restrictions”, “capital maintenance” rules and “liquidity impairment” rules, tax restrictions, retention of title claims, employee consultation or approval requirements and similar principles may limit the ability of a Foreign Subsidiary to provide a guarantee or security or may require that the guarantee or security be limited as to amount or otherwise and, if so, the guarantee or security will be limited accordingly, provided that, to the extent requested by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (in each case, acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) before signing any applicable security or accession document, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary shall use reasonable endeavors (for a period of not more than ten (10) Business Days but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such guarantee or Security Document shall be subject to such limit;

 

  (b)

a key factor in determining whether or not a guarantee or security will be taken (and in respect of the security, the extent of its perfection and/or registration) is the applicable time and cost (including adverse effects on taxes, interest deductibility, stamp duty, registration taxes, notarial costs guarantee fees payable to any person that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof and all applicable legal fees) which will not be disproportionate to the benefit accruing to the Secured Parties of obtaining such guarantee or security, as determined in good faith by Issuer;

 

  (c)

subject always to sections 4 and 6 above, Foreign Subsidiaries will not be required to give guarantees or enter into Security Documents if it is not within the legal capacity of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary or if it would conflict with the fiduciary or statutory duties of their directors or contravene any applicable legal, regulatory or contractual prohibition or restriction, require the consent of any legal or regulatory authority or contractual counterparty or have the potential to result in a material risk of personal or criminal liability for any director or officer of or for the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that, to the extent requested by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (in each case, acting at the direction of the Required Noteholder Parties) before signing any applicable Security Document or guaranty document, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary shall, in relation to a contractual restriction only, use reasonable endeavors (for a period of not more than ten (10) Business Days but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such guarantee or Security Document shall be subject to such limit;

 

  (d)

it is expressly acknowledged that it may be either impossible or impractical to create security over certain categories of assets, as determined in good faith by Issuer, in which event security will not be taken over such assets;

 

  (e)

the giving of a guarantee, the granting of security and the registration and/or the perfection of the security granted will not be required if it would have an adverse effect on the ability of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course as otherwise permitted by the Indenture (including dealing with the secured assets and all contractual counterparties or amending, waiving or terminating (or allowing to lapse) any rights, benefits or obligations, in each case prior to an Applicable Acceleration Event which is continuing), and any requirement under the Agreed Security Principles to seek consent of any person or take or not take any other action shall be subject to this paragraph (e);

 

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  (f)

any security document will only be required to be notarized if required by law in order for the relevant security to become effective or admissible in evidence;

 

  (g)

if not required by the laws of the applicable Foreign Jurisdiction, no title investigations or other diligence on assets will be required and no title insurance will be required;

 

  (h)

to the extent legally effective, all security will be given in favour of the Collateral Agent and not the Secured Parties individually; “parallel debt” provisions will be used where necessary (and included in the Indenture and not the individual security documents);

 

  (i)

neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary will be required to take any action in relation to any guarantees or security as a result of any assignment, sub-participation or transfer by a Secured Party (and neither the Issuer nor any Subsidiary shall bear or otherwise be liable for any taxes, any notarial registration or perfection fees or any other costs, fees or expenses that result from any assignment, sub-participation or transfer by a Secured Party);

 

  (j)

other than a general security agreement and related filing, no perfection, filing or other action will be required with respect to assets of a type not owned by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

  (k)

no translation of any document relating to any security or any asset subject to any security will be required to be prepared or provided to the Secured Parties (or any agent or similar representative appointed by them at the relevant time) unless (i) required for such documents to become effective or admissible in evidence, and (ii) an Applicable Acceleration Event is continuing; provided, however, if the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is asked to sign a document in a language other than English, a courtesy translation shall be provided at the expense of the Issuer (upon which translation the Collateral Agent shall conclusively rely); and

 

  (l)

no security shall be required to be provided over any of the following property:

 

  (i)

any Real Property other than Material Real Property;

 

  (ii)

(x) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and letter of credit rights (in each case, other than to the extent a Lien on such assets or such rights can be perfected by filing of a general notice filing or similar) and (y) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $10,000,000;

 

  (iii)

pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or contractual obligation (with respect to any such contractual obligation, only to the extent such restriction is permitted under Section 8.09(c) of the Indenture and such restriction is binding on such assets on the Closing Date or on the date of acquisition thereof and not entered into in contemplation thereof (and renewals and replacements thereof) (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law) or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

 

  (iv)

assets to the extent a security interest in such assets could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences as determined in good faith by the Issuer in consultation with the Required Noteholder Parties;

 

D - 8


  (v)

any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law;

 

  (vi)

those assets as to which the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties reasonably agree that the cost or other consequence of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby;

 

  (vii)

any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the anti-assignment provisions of applicable law;

 

  (viii)

pending “intent to use” trademark applications for which an Amendment to Allege Use or a Statement of Use under Section 1(c) or 1(d) of the Lanham Act has not been filed with or accepted by the United States Trademark Office;

 

  (ix)

any Excluded Account and any cash and Permitted Investments maintained in an Excluded Account;

 

  (x)

any Excluded Securities;

 

  (xi)

any Third Party Funds;

 

  (xii)

any equipment or other real or personal property or asset that is subject to a Lien permitted by clause (i) of Section 8.02 of the Indenture if permitted by Section 8.01 of the Indenture, if the agreement governing such Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) prohibits or requires the consent of any person (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof) as a condition to the creation of any other security interest on such equipment or other real or personal property or asset and, in each case, such prohibition or requirement is permitted hereunder after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

  (xiii)

any other property mutually agreed upon between the Issuer and the Required Noteholder Parties.

 

12.

Amendment

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between any term of these Agreed Security Principles and any term of a Security Document, the Secured Parties authorise, instruct and direct the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to, and the Collateral Agent and Trustee shall promptly (at the option and upon request of Issuer) and in accordance with Article XIII of the Indenture, enter into such amendments to such Security Document as shall be necessary or desirable to cure such conflict or inconsistency.

 

D - 9

Exhibit 10.1

THIS WARRANT WILL BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 1145 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. THE WARRANT MAY BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), PROVIDED THAT THE HOLDER IS NOT DEEMED TO BE AN UNDERWRITER AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 1145(b) OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER. IF THE HOLDER IS DEEMED TO BE AN UNDERWRITER AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 1145(b) OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER, THEN THE WARRANT MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS (1) THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW OR (2) SUCH DISPOSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND OF ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND THE ISSUER, IF IT SO REASONABLY DETERMINES IS NECESSARY, IS IN RECEIPT OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND OF ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

IN ADDITION, THE WARRANT MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS SUCH TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE TRANSFER PROVISIONS OF THE WARRANT.

THESE LEGENDS MAY NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER (NOT TO BE UNREASONABLY WITHHELD, CONDITIONED OR DELAYED).

WARRANT

Warrant Certificate No.: W-1

Original Issue Date: September 29, 2025.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that Renesas Electronics America Inc., a California corporation, or its registered assigns (the “Holder”), is entitled to purchase from the Company a number of shares of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable Common Stock equal to the Issuance Amount less the aggregate number of Common Stock previously issued from time to time as a result of any partial exercise of this Warrant in accordance with Section 3, at a purchase price per share of $23.95 (the “Exercise Price”), all subject to the terms, conditions, and adjustments set forth below in this Warrant. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 1 hereof.

 

1


1. Definitions. As used in this Warrant, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

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

Aggregate Exercise Price” means, with respect to any exercise of this Warrant for Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 3 hereof, an amount equal to the product of (a) the number of Warrant Shares in respect of which this Warrant is then being exercised pursuant to Section 3 hereof, multiplied by (b) the Exercise Price.

Black-Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OVME” function on Bloomberg Financial Markets determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the termination of the Exercise Period, (B) an implied volatility equal to thirty-five percent (35%), (C) an underlying price per share of Common Stock calculation equal to the VWAP of the Common Stock measured as of the date of the Holder’s election pursuant to Section 4(a), (D) a remaining option time equal to the remaining Exercise Period measured as of the date of the Holder’s election pursuant to Section 4(a), (E) a zero cost of borrow, and (F) assuming zero discrete dividend payments.

Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks in New York City or the State of California in the United States are authorized or required by law to be closed.

Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.00125 per share, of the Company, and any capital stock into which such Common Stock shall have been converted, exchanged, or reclassified following the date hereof.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

ELOC/ATM” means the equity line of credit or “at the market” program entered into to facilitate the sale of Common Stock as set forth in the Plan.

Exercise Date” means, for any given exercise of this Warrant, the date on which the conditions to such exercise as set forth in Section 3 shall have been satisfied at or prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on a Business Day, including, without limitation, the receipt by the Company of the Exercise Notice, this Warrant, and the Aggregate Exercise Price.

Exercise Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(i).

Exercise Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

 

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Exercise Price” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Extraordinary Dividend” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(e).

Fair Market Value” means, (i) with respect to the Common Stock, as of any particular date: (a) the closing price of the Common Stock for such day on the primary U.S. securities exchange on which the Common Stock may at the time be listed; (b) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on any such exchange on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on such exchange at the end of such day; or (c) if at any time the Common Stock is not listed on any Trading Market, the fair market value per share as determined in good faith by the Board and (ii) with respect to any other property, the fair market value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board; provided that if the Holder objects in writing to the Board’s calculation of Fair Market Value within four (4) Business Days of receipt of written notice thereof, the valuation dispute resolution procedure set forth in Section 12 hereof shall be invoked to determine Fair Market Value.

Fundamental Transaction” means (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person (other than for the purpose of changing the Company’s name and/or the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company or a holding company for the Company), (ii) the Company (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires more than 50% of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company.

Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Investor Rights Agreement” means the Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof by and between the Company and the Holder.

Issuance Amount” means 4,943,555 (as subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4 hereof) of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the Company.

 

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Original Issue Date” means September 29, 2025.

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, other legal entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or authority.

Plan” means the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliate [Docket No. 8] (as modified, amended, or supplemented from time to time, consistent with the terms thereof) on June 30, 2025, which was confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on September 8, 2025.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof by and between the Company, the Holder and the other parties thereto.

Regulatory Trigger Deadline” means the earlier of (i) the date on which the Company, Wolfspeed Texas LLC and the Holder agree in good faith that it is more likely than not that the Regulatory Approvals (as defined in the Plan) will not be obtained, and (ii) two (2) years from the Original Issue Date; provided, if upon two (2) years from the Original Issue Date the Company, Wolfspeed Texas LLC and the Holder agree, in good faith, that Regulatory Approvals are more likely than not to be obtained prior to three (3) years from the Original Issue Date, then upon three (3) years from the Original Issue Date. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the Holder obtains all Regulatory Approvals prior to the date of the Regulatory Trigger Deadline, the Regulatory Trigger Deadline shall be deemed not to have occurred.

Sale of the Company” means an event or transaction or series of related events or transactions pursuant to which, directly or indirectly, either (x) any Person or group of Persons acting jointly or otherwise in concert acquires ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, of equity interests of the Company having more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate ordinary voting power, determined on a fully-diluted, as-if-converted or exercised basis, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time, or (y) all or substantially all of the assets or businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are transferred or sold, including by way of lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (including, without limitation, by way of irrevocable, exclusive license arrangements).

Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person: (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, but after giving effect to any voting agreement or shareholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees, as applicable, of such corporation, association or other business entity is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person; and (b) any partnership or limited liability

 

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company where (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, equity and voting interests, or of the general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, of such partnership or limited liability corporation are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or limited liability company interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person is a controlling general partner of, or otherwise controls, such partnership or limited liability company.

Trading Market” means any market or exchange of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC.

VWAP” means the 20-day volume-weighted average price (using the “VWAP” function on Bloomberg Financial Markets and the “Bloomberg Definition” methodology).

Warrant” means this Warrant and all warrants issued upon division or combination of, or in substitution for, this Warrant.

Warrant Documents” means this Warrant, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement.

Warrant Shares” means the Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company then purchasable upon exercise of any portion of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant.

2. Term of Warrant. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at any time or from time to time after the date hereof and prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 29, 2028 or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the immediately following Business Day (the “Exercise Period”), the Holder of this Warrant may exercise this Warrant for all or any part of the Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder (subject to adjustment as provided herein); provided, however, that if the Regulatory Trigger Deadline occurs, then such Exercise Period shall be extended to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 29, 2029.

3. Exercise of Warrant.

(a) Exercise Procedure. This Warrant may be exercised from time to time on any Business Day during the Exercise Period, for all or any part of the unexercised Warrant Shares, upon:

(i) surrender of this Warrant to the Company at its then principal executive office (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Warrant in the case of its loss, theft, or destruction in accordance with Section 7(a) hereof), together with an Exercise Notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each, an “Exercise Notice”), duly completed (including specifying the number of Warrant Shares to be purchased) and executed; and

 

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(ii) payment to the Company of the Aggregate Exercise Price in accordance with Section 3(b).

(b) Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price. Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price shall be made at the option of the Holder by the following methods:

(i) by delivery to the Company of a certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Company or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Company, in the amount of such Aggregate Exercise Price (a “Cash Exercise”);

(ii) by having the Company withhold Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of all or any part of this Warrant on a net basis such that, without payment of any cash consideration or other immediately available funds, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant in exchange for the number of Warrant Shares as is computed using the following formula (a “Cashless Exercise”):

X = Y*(A - B) ÷ A

Where:

X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder.

Y = the total number of Warrant Shares for which the Holder has elected to exercise this Warrant pursuant to Section 3(a), if such exercise were by means of a Cash Exercise.

A = the Fair Market Value of one Warrant Share as of the applicable Exercise Date.

B = the Exercise Price in effect under this Warrant as of the applicable Exercise Date.

or

(iii) any combination of the foregoing.

If the foregoing calculation results in a negative number, then no Warrant Shares shall be issuable via a Cashless Exercise. In the event of any withholding of Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 3(b)(ii) or Section 3(b)(iii) above where the number of shares whose value is equal to the Aggregate Exercise Price is not a whole number, the number of shares withheld by the Company shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share and the Company shall make a cash payment to the Holder (by delivery of a certified or official bank check or by wire transfer of immediately available funds) based on the incremental fraction of a share being so withheld by the Company in an amount equal to the product of (x) such incremental fraction of a share being so withheld multiplied by (y) the Fair Market Value per Warrant Share as of the Exercise Date.

 

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(c) Delivery of Shares. Upon receipt by the Company of the Exercise Notice, surrender of this Warrant, and payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price (in accordance with Section 3(a) and Section 3(b) hereof), the Company shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within three (3) Business Days after the completion of the last of those conditions to be completed, deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Holder (x) (1) a book-entry statement representing the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise or (2) if the Warrant Shares are issued in certificated form, a certificate or certificates for the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, together with (y) cash in lieu of any fraction of a Warrant Share, as provided in Section 3(d) hereof. The book-entry position shall be registered in the name of the Holder or, subject to compliance with Section 5 below, such other Person’s name as shall be designated in the Exercise Notice. This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other Person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Warrant Shares for all purposes, as of the Exercise Date.

(d) Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue a fractional Warrant Share upon exercise of any Warrant. As to any fraction of a Warrant Share that the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay to such Holder an amount in cash (by delivery of a certified or official bank check or by wire transfer of immediately available funds) equal to the product of (i) such fraction multiplied by (ii) the Fair Market Value of one Warrant Share on the Exercise Date.

(e) Delivery of New Warrant. Unless the purchase rights represented by this Warrant shall have expired or shall have been fully exercised, the Company shall, at the time of delivery of the book-entry statement or certificate representing the Warrant Shares being issued in accordance with Section 3(c) hereof, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unexpired and unexercised Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant. Such new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical to this Warrant.

(f) Representations of the Company. The Company hereby represents, covenants, and agrees:

(i) The Company (A) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (B) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties, to carry on its business as now conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted, to issue and enter into this Warrant and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby, and (C) except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not be reasonably expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or operations of the Company, is qualified to do business and, where applicable is in good standing, in every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

 

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(ii) This Warrant is, and any Warrant issued in substitution for or replacement of this Warrant shall be, upon issuance, duly authorized and validly issued.

(iii) All Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to the terms hereof shall be, upon issuance, and the Company shall take all such actions as may be reasonably necessary in order that such Warrant Shares are, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, issued without violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any stockholder of the Company and free and clear of all taxes, liens, and charges.

(iv) The Company shall pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant; provided, that the Company shall not be required to pay (x) any tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of net income (howsoever denominated) of any Holder, (y) any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed with respect to any applicable withholding or the issuance or delivery of the Warrant Shares to any Person other than the Holder, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issuance has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid and (z) any legal fees or expenses of the Holder in connection with such exercise. The Holder agrees to promptly provide any forms or other documentation reasonably requested by the Company to reduce or eliminate any such taxes or other governmental charges, in each case to the extent the Holder is legally eligible to do so.

(v) Other than the Registration Rights Agreement, as of the Original Issue Date there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any Person granting such Person demand, piggyback or shelf registration rights.

(g) Conditional Exercise. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, if an exercise of any portion of this Warrant is to be made in connection with an offering by the Company, a Sale of the Company or other transaction, such exercise may at the election of the Holder be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case such exercise shall not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction.

(h) Reservation of Shares. During the Exercise Period, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon the exercise of this Warrant, the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant, and the par value per Warrant Share shall at all times be less than or equal to the applicable Exercise Price. The Company shall not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, and shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant.

 

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(i) No Material Changes. Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but shall at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of the Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall (A) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (B) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be required to be obtained by the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant, and (C) use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Warrant Shares may be issued without violation of any applicable law or regulation or of any requirement of any securities exchange on which the Warrant Shares are listed or traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the Company from repurchasing or otherwise buying back shares of its Common Stock.

(j) Listing. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Warrant Shares to be approved for listing on the primary U.S. securities exchange on which the Common Stock may at the time be listed on or about the Original Issue Date, subject to notice of issuance of the Warrant Shares.

(k) Regulatory Approvals. Until all the Regulatory Approvals have been received, the Warrant shall not be issued (other than for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes). Instead, for the avoidance of doubt and pursuant to the Warrant Documents, upon the Original Issue Date and until all the Regulatory Approvals have been received, (i) the Company shall grant the Holder the right to receive the cash proceeds from a primary registered offering or sales under the ELOC/ATM of shares of Common Stock in lieu of Warrant Shares receivable under this Warrant and (ii) the transfer of the Warrant, including the transfer of the right to receive the cash proceeds from a primary registered offering or sales under the ELOC/ATM of shares of Common Stock in lieu of Warrant Shares receivable under this Warrant, shall be subject to the restrictions in Section 3.7 of the Investor Rights Agreement.

4. Effect of Certain Events.

(a) Fundamental Transaction. The Holder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of this Section 4(a) regardless of whether the Company has sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock for the issuance of Warrant Shares. If, at any time after the Original Issue Date but prior to the exercise hereof and prior to the expiration of the Exercise Period, there occurs a Fundamental Transaction, then:

 

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(i) If such Fundamental Transaction is consummated within two (2) years of the Original Issue Date, except with respect to a Fundamental Transaction initiated by the Holder or any of its Affiliates, the Company or any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount in cash equal to the Black-Scholes Value of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company’s control, including not approved by the Board, the Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Successor Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. The payment of the Black-Scholes Value will be made to the Holder by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) three (3) Business Days of the Holder’s election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

(ii) If such Fundamental Transaction is consummated following the two (2) year anniversary of the Original Issue Date and the consideration to be received in such Fundamental Transaction for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction exceeds the Exercise Price then in effect at the time of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction such that the Warrant has positive intrinsic value (i.e., the Warrant is “in the money” at the time of such Fundamental Transaction), this Warrant shall be automatically exercised in full immediately prior to the completion of such Fundamental Transaction via cashless exercise (or, at the Holder’s option, via cash exercise to the extent the Holder pays the applicable Exercise Price in cash prior to the completion of such Fundamental Transaction) and the Holder shall receive consideration in the amount owed to the Holder as a shareholder of the Company and in proportion to the Holder’s entitlement to consideration in connection with the closing of such Fundamental Transaction.

 

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(iii) If such Fundamental Transaction is consummated following the two (2) year anniversary of the Original Issue Date and the consideration to be received in such Fundamental Transaction for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction is less than the Exercise Price then in effect at the time of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction such that the Warrant has zero or negative intrinsic value (i.e., the Warrant is “at the money” or “out of the money” at the time of such Fundamental Transaction), the Company shall cause any Successor Entity (or its parent entity) to issue to the Holder a new warrant to purchase the number of shares of common stock or other proprietary interest in the Successor Entity (or its parent entity) (and to receive any other consideration) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock and such other consideration (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock and such other consideration, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved in writing by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall deliver to the Holder such new warrant in exchange for this Warrant. Such new warrant shall provide for rights and obligations which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the rights and obligations provided for in this Warrant, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the remaining Exercise Period and any other terms hereof. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the consideration it receives upon any exercise of the new warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. The provisions of this Section 4(a) (and any equivalent thereof in any such new warrant) shall apply to successive transactions.

(b) Adjustment of Warrant Upon Spin-off. If, at any time after the Original Issue Date but prior to the exercise hereof, the Company shall distribute equity of one or more of its divisions or Subsidiaries to its stockholders (or consummate any other transactions commonly known as a “spin off”) (such transaction, a “Spin-Off” and such newly created entity, the “Spin-off Entity”), then the Company (i) shall issue to the Holder a new warrant to purchase the number of shares of common stock or other proprietary interest in the Spin-off Entity (and any other consideration) that the Holder would have owned had the Holder exercised this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such spin-off and (ii) shall make provision therefor in the agreement, if any, relating to such Spin-Off. This Warrant and such new warrant shall provide for rights and obligations which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the rights and obligations provided for in this Warrant, including, for the avoidance of doubt, through adjusting the Exercise Price and any other terms hereof. The provisions of this Section 4(b) (and any equivalent thereof in any such new warrant) shall apply to successive transactions.

 

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(c) Stock Dividends and Distributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(a), as applicable, if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, (A) make or declare, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or any other distribution payable in Common Stock of the Company or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, whether by way of stock dividend, stock split or otherwise, or (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, whether by way of stock combination, reverse stock split or otherwise, then, and in each such event, provision shall be made so that the Holder shall receive upon exercise of the Warrant, the kind and amount of securities of the Company which the Holder would have been entitled to receive had the Warrant been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event (or, in the case of a dividend, immediately prior to the record date therefore) and had the Holder thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the Exercise Date, retained such securities receivable by them as aforesaid during such period, giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this Section 4(c) with respect to the rights of the Holder; provided, that no such provision shall be made if the Holder receives, simultaneously with the distribution to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend or other distribution of such securities in an amount equal to the amount of such securities as the Holder would have received if the Warrant had been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event.

(d) Adjustment in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Warrant Shares acquirable upon exercise of the Warrants is adjusted as provided in Section 4(c), the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to equal the Exercise Price immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction (A) the numerator of which shall be the number of Warrant Shares for which a Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment and (B) the denominator of which shall be the number of Warrant Shares for which a Warrant is exercisable immediately after such adjustment.

(e) Extraordinary Dividends and Distributions. If the Company, at any time after the Original Issue Date but prior to the exercise hereof, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to all of the holders of Common Stock on account of such Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant), other than as described in Section 4(b) or Section 4(c) (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Exercise Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend; provided, that no such provision shall be made if the Holder receives, simultaneously with the distribution to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend or other distribution of such cash, securities or other assets in an amount equal to the amount of such cash, securities or other assets as the Holder would have received if the Warrant had been exercised in full into Warrant Shares immediately prior to the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend.

 

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(f) Primary Registered Offering; ELOC/ATM Sales. To the extent that the Company, prior to the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals, conducts a primary registered offering of shares of Common Stock (including any Warrant Shares) pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or sales of shares of Common Stock (including any Warrant Shares) under the ELOC/ATM, and the Holder receives the cash proceeds from such offering or sales in lieu of Warrant Shares receivable under this Warrant, then the number of Warrant Shares receivable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be decreased proportionally for the sale of such Warrant Shares, and the Holder shall pay to the Company from such cash proceeds the Exercise Price due for that number of shares of Common Stock sold in lieu of Warrant Shares receivable under this Warrant.

(g) Certificate as to Adjustment.

(i) As promptly as reasonably practicable following any adjustment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4, but in any event not later than three (3) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to the Holder a certificate of an executive officer setting forth in reasonable detail such adjustment and the facts upon which it is based and certifying the calculation thereof.

(ii) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the receipt by the Company of a written request by the Holder, but in any event not later than three (3) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to the Holder a certificate of an executive officer certifying the amount of other shares of stock, securities, or assets then issuable upon exercise of the Warrant and the applicable Exercise Price.

(h) Notices. In the event:

(i) that the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution described in Section 4(c) or Section 4(e), to vote at a meeting (other than an annual meeting for which a definitive proxy statement has been filed) (or act by written consent), to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other security;

(ii) of any Spin-Off;

(iii) of any Fundamental Transaction; or

(iv) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation, or winding-up of the Company;

then, and in each such case, the Company shall send or cause to be sent to the Holder at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the applicable record date or the applicable expected effective date, as the case may be, for the event, a written notice specifying, as the case may be, (A) the record date for such dividend, distribution, meeting, or consent or other right or action, and a description of such dividend, distribution, or other right or action to be taken at such meeting or by written consent, or (B) the effective date on which such Fundamental Transaction, Spin-Off, dissolution, liquidation, or winding-up is proposed to take place, and the date, if any is to be fixed, as of which the books of the Company shall

 

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close or a record shall be taken with respect to which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such Fundamental Transaction, Spin-Off, dissolution, liquidation, or winding-up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to this Warrant and the Warrant Shares.

5. Transfer of Warrant. Subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, this Warrant, and all rights hereunder are transferable to any Affiliate of the Holder (or, with the Company’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), to a non-Affiliate of the Holder), in whole or in part, by the Holder without charge to the Holder, provided, however, that this Warrant and all rights hereunder shall not be transferred unless and until the Holder has given the Company a written notice of the portion of this Warrant being transferred, such notice to set forth the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the transferee, the anticipated date of such transfer, and surrendering this Warrant to the Company for reissuance to the transferee(s). Upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company at its then principal executive office with a properly completed and duly executed assignment in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, together with funds sufficient to pay any taxes or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with the making of such transfer, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees and in the denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant, if any, not so assigned and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Such new warrant shall be identical in all other respects to this Warrant.

6. Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder; Limitations on Liability. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein (including Section 4(c) and Section 4(e)), prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of shares of capital stock of the Company for any purpose with respect to the Warrant Shares, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give, or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance, or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

7. Replacement on Loss; Division and Combination.

(a) Replacement of Warrant on Loss. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation of this Warrant and upon delivery of an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (it being understood that a written indemnification agreement or affidavit of loss of the Holder shall be a sufficient indemnity) and, in case of mutilation, upon surrender of such Warrant for cancellation to the Company, the Company, at its own expense, shall execute and deliver to the Holder, in lieu hereof, a new Warrant of like tenor and exercisable for an equivalent number of Warrant Shares as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed; provided, that, in the case of mutilation, no indemnity shall be required if this Warrant in identifiable form is surrendered to the Company for cancellation.

 

14


(b) Division and Combination of Warrant. Subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of this Warrant as to any transfer or other assignment which may be involved in such division or combination, this Warrant may be divided or, following any such division of this Warrant, subsequently combined with other Warrants, upon the surrender of this Warrant or Warrants to the Company at its then principal executive office, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the respective Holders or their agents or attorneys. Subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of this Warrant as to any transfer or assignment which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall at its own expense execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for this Warrant or Warrants so surrendered in accordance with such notice. Such new Warrant or Warrants shall be of like tenor to the surrendered Warrant or Warrants and shall be exercisable in the aggregate for an equivalent number of Warrant Shares as this Warrant or Warrants so surrendered in accordance with such notice.

8. Compliance with the Securities Act.

(a) Agreement to Comply with the Securities Act; Legend. The Holder, by acceptance of this Warrant, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 8(a) and the restrictive legend requirements set forth on the face of this Warrant and further agrees that such Holder shall not offer, sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of this Warrant except under circumstances that will not result in a violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This Warrant (unless registered under the Securities Act) shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS WARRANT WILL BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 1145 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. THE WARRANT MAY BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), PROVIDED THAT THE HOLDER IS NOT DEEMED TO BE AN UNDERWRITER AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 1145(b) OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER. IF THE HOLDER IS DEEMED TO BE AN UNDERWRITER AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 1145(b) OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER, THEN THE WARRANT MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS (1) THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW OR

 

15


(2) SUCH DISPOSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND OF ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND THE ISSUER, IF IT SO REASONABLY DETERMINES IS NECESSARY, IS IN RECEIPT OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND OF ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

IN ADDITION, THE WARRANT MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS SUCH TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE TRANSFER PROVISIONS OF THE WARRANT.

THESE LEGENDS MAY NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER (NOT TO BE UNREASONABLY WITHHELD, CONDITIONED OR DELAYED).”

(b) Representations of the Holder. In connection with the issuance of this Warrant, the Holder specifically represents, as of the date hereof, to the Company by acceptance of this Warrant as follows (and any transferee or assignee of the Holder is deemed to represent as of the date of such transfer or assignment as if it were the Holder):

(i) The Holder is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. The Holder is acquiring this Warrant and the Warrant Shares to be issued upon exercise hereof for investment for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution of this Warrant or the Warrant Shares, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act.

(ii) The Holder acknowledges that it can bear the economic and financial risk of its investment for an indefinite period, and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in this Warrant and the Warrant Shares. The Holder has received such information about the Company and has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of this Warrant and the business, properties, prospects, and financial condition of the Company.

9. Warrant Register. The Company shall keep and properly maintain at its principal executive office books for the registration of this Warrant and any transfers thereof. The Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Warrant is registered on such register as the Holder thereof for all purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, except any assignment, division, combination, or other transfer of this Warrant effected in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant.

 

16


10. Tax Matters.

(a) To the extent not already provided to the Company, Holder shall deliver to the Company an IRS Form W-9 (or if a transferee Holder is a foreign entity, an appropriate IRS Form W-8) and any other forms or documents reasonably requested by the Company to reduce or eliminate any withholding required by applicable tax law. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with the Holder to minimize or eliminate any such withholding to the extent permitted by applicable tax law.

(b) Subject to Section 10(a), if the Company is required by law to withhold and pay taxes on behalf of the Holder as a result of any payments, transfers, distributions (including deemed distributions) or other deliveries pursuant to the Warrant (including the exercise of the Warrant), then the Company shall be entitled to set off such withholding taxes against payments or other deliveries on the Warrant (including by liquidating a portion of any non-cash deliveries on the Warrant to generate sufficient funds to pay applicable withholding taxes). Any amounts or property withheld pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be deemed to have been paid, transferred, distributed or otherwise delivered to, and received by, the Holder for all purposes of this Warrant to the extent the Company has paid such amounts to the applicable tax authority.

(c) The Company and Holder intend that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Warrant shall be treated as part of the consideration issued in exchange for the Allowed Renesas Claim (as such terms are defined in the Plan) in a transaction treated as a “recapitalization” under Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and shall report such transaction in a manner consistent with the foregoing, unless otherwise required pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of Code.

11. Cumulative Remedies. The rights and remedies provided in this Warrant are cumulative and are not exclusive of, and are in addition to and not in substitution for, any other rights or remedies available at law, in equity, or otherwise.

12. Valuation Dispute Resolution. In the case of any dispute as to the determination of the Black-Scholes Value, the Fair Market Value of any Common Stock, Warrant Shares or Extraordinary Dividends to be issued, withheld or otherwise determined, the calculation of the Aggregate Exercise Price or any other computation or valuation of Fair Market Value or any computation pursuant to Section 4 required to be made hereunder or in connection herewith, in the event the Holder, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, are unable to settle such dispute within ten (10) Business Days, then either party may elect to submit the disputed matter(s) for resolution by an accounting firm of nationally recognized standing as may be mutually agreed upon by the Holder and the Company. Such firm’s determination of such disputed matter(s) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error. The fees and expenses of the accounting firm pursuant to this Section 12 shall be borne by the Company, on the one hand, and the Holder,

 

17


on the other hand, based upon the percentage which the aggregate portion of the contested amount not awarded to each party bears to the aggregate amount actually contested by such party. For example, if the Company claims the Fair Market Value is $1,000 for a given property and the Holder contests that the Fair Market Value of such property is only $500 (i.e., $500 is being contested) and if the accounting firm ultimately resolves the dispute by determining a Fair Market Value of $800 for such property, then the costs and expenses of the accounting firm will be allocated 60% (i.e., 300 ÷ 500) to the Holder and 40% (i.e., 200 ÷ 500) to the Company.

13. Severability. If any provision of this Warrant is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Warrant or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Warrant or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

14. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York irrespective of the choice of laws principles thereof. The parties agree that any legal action or proceeding regarding this Warrant shall be brought and determined exclusively in a state or federal court located within the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York. EACH PARTY TO THIS WARRANT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS WARRANT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

15. Successors and Assigns. This Warrant shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties hereto. Subject to the terms of this Warrant, the Company may not assign any of its rights or delegate any of its duties hereunder without the prior written consent of the Holder. Any Holder may, at its election and at any time or from time to time, assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder, in whole or in part, to any Affiliate of the Holder (or, with the Company’s prior written consent, to a non-Affiliate of the Holder) (each, an “Assignee”); provided, that no such assignment shall be binding upon or obligate the Company to any such Assignee unless and until the Holder delivers the Company the executed assignment and funds described in Section 5. If a Holder assigns its rights under this Warrant in connection with the transfer of all of its Warrants or Warrant Shares, the Holder shall have no further rights or obligations under this Warrant. Any purported assignment in violation of this provision shall be null and void ab initio.

16. Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if delivered in writing in person, by electronic mail or facsimile or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth below or at such other address as may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other parties. All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be delivered as follows:

 

18


if to the Company, to:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, NC 27703

Attention: Melissa Garrett

E-mail:

with a copy, in each case, (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

505 Montgomery Street, Suite 2000

San Francisco, CA 94111

Attention: Tad J. Freese

 Richard Kim

Email: Tad.Freese@lw.com

   Richard.Kim2@lw.com

if to a Holder, to:

Renesas Electronics America Inc.

c/o Renesas Electronics Corporation

Toyosu Foresia, 3 2 24 Toyosu, Koto ku

Tokyo 135-0061 Japan

Attention: Shuhei Shinkai

   Sho Ozaki

   Takahiro Homma

E-mail:

with a copy, in each case, (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

Attention: Rachel W. Sheridan, P.C.

   Shagufa R. Hossain, P.C.

   Anthony L. Sanderson

Email: rachel.sheridan@kirkland.com

   shagufa.hossain@kirkland.com

   anthony.sanderson@kirkland.com

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been received (i) in the case of personal delivery or delivery by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date of such delivery, (ii) in the case of dispatch by nationally recognized overnight courier, on the next Business Day following such dispatch and (iii) in the case of mailing, on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the posting thereof.

 

19


17. Headings. The headings contained in this Warrant are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Warrant.

18. Entire Agreement. The Warrant Documents and the other writings referred to herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such subject matter.

19. Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Warrant by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that the other parties hereto, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any party hereto from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity which such party may have.

20. Counterparts; Facsimile or .pdf Signature. This Warrant may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same document. This Warrant may be executed by facsimile or .pdf signature, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include DocuSign, and a facsimile or .pdf signature, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include DocuSign, shall constitute an original for all purposes.

21. Amendment. This Warrant may not be amended, modified or supplemented unless set forth in writing and duly executed by the party against whom enforcement of the amendment, modification, discharge or waiver is sought.

22. Extensions; Waivers. Any party may, for itself only, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of any other party under this Warrant, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of any other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any extension or waiver pursuant to this Section 22 will be valid only if set forth in a writing signed by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver by any party of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Warrant shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.

23. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Warrant shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and other Persons expressly named herein.

 

20


24. Interpretation; Construction. This Warrant has been freely and fairly negotiated among the parties. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Warrant will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Warrant. Any reference to any law will be deemed to refer to such law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Warrant,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Warrant as a whole, including the schedules, exhibits and annexes, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified or supplemented, and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. References to “will” or “shall” mean that the party must perform the matter so described and a reference to “may” means that the party has the option, but not the obligation, to perform the matter so described. All references to sections, schedules, annexes and exhibits mean the sections of this Warrant and the schedules, annexes and exhibits attached to this Warrant, except where otherwise stated. The parties intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party has breached any covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) that the party has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the party’s breach of the first covenant.

[Signature pages follow]

 

21


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this Warrant on the Original Issue Date.

 

WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:   /s/ Melissa Garrett
Name:   Melissa Garrett
Title:   Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Warrant]


Accepted and agreed:
RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.
By:   /s/ Shuhei Shinkai
Name:   Shuhei Shinkkai
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Warrant]


Exhibit A

Form of Exercise Notice

(To be executed upon exercise of the Warrant(s))

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by the Warrant Certificate(s), to purchase Common Stock of Wolfspeed, Inc. and (check one or both):

 

  ___

herewith tenders in payment for            shares of Common Stock an amount of $         by certified or official bank check made payable to the order of Wolfspeed, Inc. or by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account arranged with Wolfspeed, Inc.; and/or

 

  ___

herewith tenders the Warrant(s) for           Common Stock pursuant to the cashless exercise provision of Section 3(b)(ii) of the Warrant.

The undersigned requests that a statement representing the Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Warrant(s) be delivered in accordance with the instructions set forth below.

Dated: __________________, 20____

THIS EXERCISE NOTICE MUST BE DELIVERED TO WOLFSPEED, INC. PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON THE EXERCISE DATE. ALL CAPITALIZED TERMS USED HEREIN BUT NOT DEFINED HEREIN SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS ASSIGNED TO THEM IN THE WARRANT.

 

A-1


THE UNDERSIGNED REQUESTS THAT A STATEMENT REPRESENTING THE COMMON STOCK BE DELIVERED AS FOLLOWS:

 

Name: ____________________________________________

(Please Print)

Address: __________________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________________

Fax: ______________________________________________

Social Security Number or Other Taxpayer Identification Number (if applicable): ___________

IF SAID NUMBER OF COMMON STOCK SHALL NOT BE ALL THE COMMON STOCK ACQUIRABLE UNDER THE WARRANT(S), THE UNDERSIGNED REQUESTS THAT A NEW WARRANT CERTIFICATE(S) REPRESENTING THE BALANCE OF SUCH WARRANT(S) SHALL BE REGISTERED AND DELIVERED AS FOLLOWS:

 

Name: ____________________________________________

(Please Print)

Address: __________________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________________

Fax: ______________________________________________

Social Security Number or Other Taxpayer Identification Number (if applicable): ___________

 

Signature: _________________________________________

Name: ____________________________________________

Capacity in which Signing: ____________________________

The signature must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Warrant Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

A-2


Exhibit B

Form of Assignment

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ___________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers to each assignee set forth below all of the rights of the undersigned in and to the number of Warrants (as defined in and evidenced by the Warrant Certificate) set forth opposite the name of such assignee below, and in and to the Warrant Certificate with respect to the Warrants and the Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of said Warrants:

 

Name of Assignee

 

Address

 

Number of

Warrants

  

Warrant

Certificate No.

      
      

If the total number of Warrants shall not be all of the Warrants evidenced by the foregoing Warrant Certificate, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants not so assigned be issued in the name of and delivered to the undersigned.

 

Name of holder of Warrant:

       
 

By:

       
 

Name:

       
 

Title:

       
 

Dated:

       

 

B-1

Exhibit 10.2

INVESTOR RIGHTS AND DISPOSITION AGREEMENT

This INVESTOR RIGHTS AND DISPOSITION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of September 29, 2025, by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (including its successors and permitted assigns, the “Company”), and Renesas Electronics America Inc., a California corporation (the “Investor”).

The Company and Wolfspeed Texas LLC filed the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliate [Docket No. 8] (as modified, amended, or supplemented from time to time, consistent with the terms thereof, the “Plan”) on June 30, 2025, which was confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on September 8, 2025 [Docket No. 285].

As a condition to each of the parties’ obligations under the Plan, the Company and the Investor are entering into this Agreement for the purpose of granting certain rights to the Investor.

In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions.

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

ATM Program” means the “at-the-market” offering program to facilitate the sale of shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable for Common Stock) as set forth in the Plan.

Board of Directors” means the Company’s board of directors.

business day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks in New York City or the State of California in the United States, or Japan, are authorized or required by law to be closed.

Bylaws” means the Bylaws of the Company, as the same may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.

Certificate of Incorporation” means the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as the same has been and may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

1


Change of Control” means (i) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and the employee benefit plans of the Company and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, who files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the common equity interests of the Company representing more than 50% of the voting power of the common equity interests of the Company; (ii) the Company shall have sold all or substantially all of the assets of its entire business or all or substantially all of the assets of its business producing silicon carbide bare wafers and epitaxial wafers; or (iii) the stockholders of the Company have adopted a plan or proposal of dissolution.

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.00125 per share, of the Company, and any capital stock into which all of the Common Stock shall have been converted, exchanged, or reclassified following the date hereof.

DCSA” means the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency of the United States Department of Defense.

ELOC Program” means the equity line of credit to facilitate the sale of shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable for Common Stock) as set forth in the Plan.

Exchange” means the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading.

Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

Holder” means any Renesas entity holding Securities.

Initial Issue Date” means the Renesas Base Distribution Date (as defined in the Plan).

Necessary Action” means, with respect to a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are permitted by applicable law, rule or regulation and, in the case of any action by the Company that requires a vote or other action on the part of the Board of Directors (or a committee of such board duly authorized to act with the authority of such board), to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties that the Company’s directors may have in such capacity) necessary to cause such result, including, to the extent applicable, (i) including the Renesas Director and the Outside Director in the Board of Directors’ slate of nominees to the stockholders at every meeting of the stockholders called with respect to the election of directors to the Board of Directors, (ii) including the Renesas Director and the Outside Director in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with soliciting proxies for every meeting of the stockholders of the Company called with respect to the election of directors to the Board of Directors, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the Board of Directors (or a committee of such board duly authorized to act with the authority of such board) with respect to the election of directors to the Board of Directors (and

 

2


unanimously recommending the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the election of the Renesas Director and the Outside Director at all times), (iii) not nominating any candidate for the slate of nominees for each election of directors to the Board of Directors in opposition to the election of the Renesas Director and the Outside Director, (iv) seeking the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the Organizational Documents of the Company if necessary, (v) executing necessary agreements and instruments, and (vi) making or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

Organizational Documents” means, collectively, the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, other legal entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or authority.

Second Lien Convertible Notes” means the convertible notes to be issued pursuant to the Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture.

Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2025, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee.

Securities” means (a) any shares of Common Stock held by a Holder and any shares of Common Stock hereafter acquired by any Holder (including, without limitation, pursuant to the conversion of the Second Lien Convertible Notes in accordance with the Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture), (b) Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Warrant and (c) any other securities issued or issuable with respect to any such shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock underlying any warrants or the Second Lien Convertible Notes by way of share split, share dividend (including dividends paid in kind), distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, replacement or similar event or otherwise.

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person: (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, but after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively Transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees, as applicable, of such corporation, association or other business entity is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person; and (b) any partnership or limited liability company where (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, equity and voting interests, or of the general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, of such partnership or limited liability corporation are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or limited liability company interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person is a controlling general partner of, or otherwise controls, such partnership or limited liability company.

 

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Transfer” means, when used as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary transfer, sale, pledge or hypothecation or other disposition by the Transferor (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and, when used as a verb, the Transferor voluntarily or involuntarily, transfers, sells, pledges or hypothecates or otherwise disposes of (whether by operation of law or otherwise), including, in each case, (a) the establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to, or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security or (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another Person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise. The terms “Transferee,” “Transferor,” “Transferred,” and other forms of the word “Transfer” shall have the correlative meanings.

Warrant” means that certain warrant, dated as of September 29, 2025, issued by the Company to the Investor.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, all of the equity interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such Person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person. Unless the context otherwise requires, “Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company.

The following terms are defined in the Sections of the Agreement indicated:

INDEX OF TERMS

 

Term

  

Section

Aggregate Company Voting Power

   Section 2.2(a)

Agreement

   Preamble

Beneficial Ownership Limitation

   Section 2.2(a)

Code

   Section 3.7(a)

Company

   Preamble

Committees

   Section 2.1(h)

Direction Letter

   Section 3.2

ELOC/ATM Program

   Section 3.2

ELOC/ATM Program Termination Date

   Section 3.6

FOCI Mitigation Plan

   Section 3.1

Initial Limitation Period

   Section 2.2(a)

Investor

   Preamble

Limitation Periods

   Section 2.2(a)

Limitations

   Section 2.2(a)

 

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Minimum Threshold

   Section 2.1(a)

Outside Director

   Section 2.1(a)

Plan

   Preamble

Register

   Section 3.2

Renesas

   Section 2.1(a)

Renesas Director

   Section 2.1(a)

Renesas Observer

   Section 2.1(g)

Repurchase Event

   Section 2.2(b)

Sale Proceeds

   Section 3.2

Subsequent Limitation Period

   Section 2.2(a)

U.S. W-9 Provider

   Section 3.7(a)

Valuation

   Section 3.7(f)

Valuation Firm

   Section 3.7(f)

Voting Rights Limitation

   Section 2.2(a)

Section 1.2 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) References in the singular or to “him,” “her,” “it,” “itself” or other like references, and references in the plural or the feminine or masculine reference, as the case may be, shall also, when the context so requires, be deemed to include the plural or singular, or the masculine or feminine reference, as the case may be;

(b) References to Articles and Sections shall refer to articles and sections of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified;

(c) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience and identification only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision thereof;

(d) This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party that drafted and caused this Agreement to be drafted; and

(e) References to “including” in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” whether or not so specified.

 

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ARTICLE II

GOVERNANCE RIGHTS

Section 2.1 Election of Directors. From and after the Initial Issue Date:

(a) Generally. At any annual or special meeting (or action by written consent) for the election of directors to the Board of Directors, the Company shall, upon written request by the Investor or its designated Affiliate (which shall initially be Renesas Electronics Corporation as of the date hereof) (the Investor, Renesas Electronics Corporation and their Affiliates, collectively, “Renesas”), take all Necessary Action, subject to the following provisos, to cause the election or reelection to the Board of Directors, (A) for so long as Renesas beneficially owns (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) in the aggregate in excess of 10.0% of the shares of Common Stock (the “Minimum Threshold”), one (1) director selected by Renesas to the Board of Directors (the “Renesas Director”) and (B) for so long as the Renesas Director maintains his or her position on the Board of Directors and the Company maintains a facility security clearance with DCSA, one (1) director selected by the Company to the Board of Directors meeting the qualifications set forth in 32 C.F.R. § 117.11(f) and subject to the approval of DCSA who is mutually acceptable to the Company and Renesas (the “Outside Director”); provided, that all of Renesas’ rights under Article II are non-transferable and such rights and the Company’s obligations hereunder related thereto shall (except for Renesas’ rights under Section 2.1(d), and the parties’ rights and obligations under Section 2.2) automatically be terminated without any further action required in the event that Renesas beneficially owns (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) shares of Common Stock in the aggregate less than the Minimum Threshold. The Renesas Director and the Outside Director may not be removed as a director on the Board of Directors by the Company under any circumstances, except as provided under Section 2.1(c). In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board of Directors at any time due to the death, disability, retirement, resignation, or removal of the Renesas Director, then Renesas shall have the right to designate an individual, who meets the requirements of this Section 2.1(a) and subject to Section 2.1(c), to fill such vacancy to be appointed by the Board of Directors as promptly as practicable. In the event that Renesas shall fail to designate in writing a representative to fill the vacant Renesas Director seat on the Board of Directors, such Board of Directors seat shall remain vacant until such time as Renesas selects an individual to fill such seat in accordance with this Section 2.1(a), and during any period where such seat remains vacant, the Board of Directors nonetheless shall be deemed duly constituted. The Company’s obligations with respect to Section 2.1(a) shall be subject to the Renesas Director’s satisfaction of all requirements regarding service as a director of the Company under applicable law and applicable rules of any Exchange. Renesas will direct the Renesas Director (A) to consent to such reference and background checks or other investigations as the Board of Directors may reasonably request in order to determine the Renesas Director’s eligibility and qualification to serve as contemplated hereunder and (B) to provide to the Company a completed copy of the directors and officers questionnaire submitted by the Company to its other directors in the ordinary course of business.

(b) Renesas Director Initial Appointment. The Renesas Director and the Outside Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors as promptly as practicable following the Initial Issue Date to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company after the Initial Issue Date, and the Company and the Board of Directors shall include the Renesas Director and the Outside Director in the slate of nominees recommended to the stockholders of the Company for election as a director at any annual or special meeting (or action by written consent) of the stockholders of the Company at or by which directors of the Company are to be elected, in each case, so long as the Minimum Threshold is met.

 

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(c) Removal; Nomination Withdrawal. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 2.1(c), the Board of Directors shall not remove the Renesas Director or decline or withdraw any nomination or, subject to the Board of Directors’ duties under Delaware law, recommendation regarding the Renesas Director required under Section 2.1(b), unless Renesas delivers to the Board of Directors a written request for such withdrawal or, as applicable, (A) the Governance and Nominations Committee of the Board of Directors determines reasonably and in good faith, applying criteria consistent with those applied to other members of or nominees to the Board of Directors, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that such Renesas Director is prohibited or disqualified from serving as a director of the Company under any rule or regulation of the Commission or any Exchange or is a “bad actor” as such term is defined in Rule 506(d) under the Securities Act, or (B) such Renesas Director has admitted or been judicially determined, pursuant to a final, non-appealable decision, to have engaged in (x) acts or omissions constituting a breach of such Renesas Director’s duties to the Company, (y) acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or an intentional violation of law and that are felonies, violations of law involving moral turpitude or are materially adverse to the Company or (z) any transaction involving the Company from which such Renesas Director derived an improper personal benefit that was not disclosed to the Board of Directors prior to the authorization of such transaction where such disclosure is required pursuant to the Organizational Documents; provided, however, that, in each case, Renesas shall have the right to designate, in lieu of such Renesas Director, a new Renesas Director. The Board of Directors shall not remove the Outside Director or decline or withdraw any nomination or recommendation required under Section 2.1(b) regarding the Outside Director, unless in accordance with the FOCI Mitigation Plan. The Renesas Director shall promptly resign from the Board of Directors if Renesas loses its right to nominate the Renesas Director pursuant to Section 2.1(a); and the Board of Directors shall have the ability to remove the Renesas Director if the Renesas Director fails to so promptly resign.

(d) Indemnification; Compensation. The Renesas Director shall be entitled to (i) advancement of expenses and indemnification in the same manner and to the same extent as the other non-executive members of the Board of Directors under the Organizational Documents, the Delaware General Corporation Law and any related indemnification agreements to the extent that the Company is a party thereto and such agreements are in full force and effect, and (ii) unless waived by the Renesas Director, cash and equity compensation in the same manner and to the same extent as other non-executive members of the Board of Directors. Any director minimum ownership requirements shall be deemed satisfied in respect of the Renesas Director, by any Securities held by Renesas. The Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort in connection with the aforementioned indemnity obligations (i.e., its obligations to the Renesas Director are primary and any obligation of Renesas to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by the Renesas Director are secondary).

(e) D&O Insurance. The Renesas Director shall be covered as an insured by the Company’s directors and officers indemnity insurance coverage on customary terms consistent with the coverage for other non-executive directors, and the Company shall maintain in full force and effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in reasonable amounts from established and reputable insurers to the same extent it indemnifies and provides insurance for the non-executive members of the Board of Directors.

 

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(f) Board Policies. The Renesas Director shall be subject to all policies of the Board of Directors and the Company applicable to other non-executive members of Board of Directors.

(g) Board Observer. If, for whatever reason, (i) the Renesas Director (or any replacement for the Renesas Director) is not elected by the Company’s stockholders as a director to the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section 2.1 or (ii) Renesas determines not to appoint or nominate a director to the Board of Directors, in each case at any time it is entitled to nominate the Renesas Director pursuant to Section 2.1(a), Renesas shall be entitled to appoint one (1) non-voting observer (the “Renesas Observer”) to the Board of Directors in lieu of the Renesas Director that is not elected or otherwise nominated or appointed by Renesas to the Board of Directors, as applicable, subject to a customary confidentiality commitment of the Renesas Observer. The Renesas Observer shall be entitled to attend and participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors that the Renesas Observer would have been entitled to attend had he or she been elected as a director, but shall, for the avoidance of doubt, not have any voting rights at such meetings, subject to a customary confidentiality commitment of the Renesas Observer. The Company shall give the Renesas Observer copies of all notices, minutes, consents and other materials that it provides to directors at the same time and in the same manner as provided to such directors. The Renesas Observer shall agree to hold in confidence and trust and to act in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information so provided. The Company reserves the right to withhold any information or to exclude the Renesas Observer from any meeting, or portion thereof, as is reasonably determined by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors in good faith, upon written advice of counsel, to be necessary to protect competitively sensitive information of the Company, or preserve attorney client privilege. For the avoidance of doubt, the Renesas Observer’s appointment shall terminate immediately upon the appointment or election of a Renesas Director.

(h) Board Committees. Each committee or subcommittee of the Board of Directors (collectively, the “Committees”) will regularly report to the Board of Directors (for the avoidance of doubt, including the Renesas Observer, if applicable) concerning the Committee’s activities at Committee meetings with respect to such matters as are relevant to the discharge of the responsibilities of the Committee and the Board of Directors.

(i) Board Reporting. The Company will regularly report to the Board of Directors (for the avoidance of doubt, including the Renesas Observer, if applicable) concerning the status of the Company’s business and affairs, including the Company’s annual, quarterly and monthly financial statements, operating results and operational updates as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each year, quarter and month, respectively; provided, that the Company is permitted to provide the Company’s monthly financial statements, operating results and operational updates in the same form and substance as those generated for management of the Company in the ordinary course of the Company’s business operation.

(j) Board Size. For so long as Renesas is entitled to designate a director for nomination to the Board of Directors under this Agreement, the Company shall maintain the total number of directors on its Board of Directors at eight (8) or more (including the Renesas Director and the Outside Director). For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s failure to comply with this Section 2.1(j) shall not affect in any way Renesas’ rights under this Agreement, including Renesas’ right to designate the Renesas Director.

 

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Section 2.2 Voting Rights and Beneficial Ownership.

(a) Until January 1 of the year following the Initial Issue Date (the “Initial Limitation Period”), (i) Renesas shall not exercise voting rights attached to any shares of Common Stock owned by Renesas representing more than 9.9% of the Aggregate Company Voting Power (as defined below) (the “Voting Rights Limitation”) and (ii) any conversion or exercise of Securities by Renesas shall be null and void and treated as if never made to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion or exercise, Renesas would own Common Stock representing more than 39.9% of the Aggregate Company Voting Power immediately after giving effect to such conversion or exercise (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” and, together with the Voting Rights Limitation, the “Limitations”). Such Initial Limitation Period shall be automatically renewed for subsequent one (1) year periods (any such one (1) year period, a “Subsequent Limitation Period” and, together with the Initial Limitation Period, the “Limitation Periods”) unless Renesas provides signed written notice to the Company (email being sufficient) at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of any Limitation Period terminating the Limitations; provided, that the parties’ rights and obligations under this Section 2.2 shall automatically be terminated without any further action required in the event that Renesas beneficially owns (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) shares of Common Stock in the aggregate less than 9.9% of the Aggregate Company Voting Power. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Renesas may terminate the Limitations at any time and without regard to any Limitation Period by signed written notice to the Company (email being sufficient) if the Company has submitted to its stockholders’ meeting a proposal of (w) any transaction that would lead to a Change of Control of the Company, (x) the issuance of any Common Stock (or instruments convertible or exercisable into Common Stock), (y) any amendment to the Organizational Documents that would adversely affect any rights of Renesas and (z) any other matters that could adversely affect any rights of Renesas. The “Aggregate Company Voting Power” means the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of the Company’s equity securities entitled to vote as a single class on general matters submitted to a vote at a meeting of the Company’s stockholders.

(b) If the Company proposes any share buyback, open market purchase or other transaction that would reduce the outstanding shares of the Company’s equity securities such that Renesas would exceed the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (a “Repurchase Event”), the Company shall promptly notify Renesas of such Repurchase Event, and the Company and Renesas shall work together in good faith to restructure Renesas’ holdings such that Renesas shall not exceed the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 3.1 FOCI Mitigation Plan Compliance. For so long as the Company maintains a facility security clearance with DCSA and until such time as its foreign ownership control and influence mitigation plan (“FOCI Mitigation Plan”) pursuant to 32 C.F.R. § 117.11(d) is terminated by DCSA, the FOCI Mitigation Plan shall remain in full force and effect (subject to applicable law) and any conflict between the FOCI Mitigation Plan and this Agreement shall be resolved in favor of the FOCI Mitigation Plan.

 

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Section 3.2 Sale Proceeds Remittance; Entitlements Register. Prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date, the Company shall keep and properly maintain at its principal executive office a register (the “Register”) of the entitlements to recovery on account of Renesas’ allowed Class 5 claim pursuant to the Plan and the Order (I) Approving Disclosure Statement, (II) Confirming Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliates, and (III) Approving Entry Into the Backstop Agreement [Docket No. 285]. To the extent that the Company, prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date, conducts a primary registered offering of shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in the Plan) or Reserve Shares (as defined in the Plan) under the ELOC Program or ATM Program (collectively, the ELOC/ATM Program”), the Company shall cause the cash proceeds from such sale transaction (the “Sale Proceeds”) to be promptly remitted directly to Renesas (by delivery to Renesas of a certified or official bank check payable to the order of Renesas or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by Renesas) without any reduction, set-off, or any other deductions other than the commission or discount for the sales agent administering the ELOC/ATM Program or underwriter(s) for the primary registered offering. The Register shall provide for anti-dilution protections in respect of dividends, the subdivision or combination of outstanding Common Stock, Common Stock splits, the issuance of rights or warrants to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock, spinoffs, recapitalizations, and change of control transactions (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any price-based or “ratchet” protections). Renesas may issue direction letters (each a “Direction Letter”) to the Company exercising its right (i) to designate Reserve Shares for issuance and sale and to receive the Sale Proceeds from the sale of the Reserve Shares and (ii) to direct the Company to instruct the sales agent administering the ELOC/ATM Programs, or subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, underwriter(s) for any Registered Primary Offerings (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), to sell part or all of the Reserve Shares. The Direction Letter shall specify, among other things, (i) the number of the Reserve Shares to be issued and the portion of the Consideration Shares, the Warrant Consideration Shares or the Notes Consideration Shares (each, as defined in the Plan) to which such Direction Letter relates and whether such sales are conducted through the ELOC/ATM Program or a Registered Primary Offering, and may specify the minimum price at which any sale of such Reserve Shares may be executed. Upon delivery of a Direction Letter to the Company in connection with the ELOC/ATM Program, the Company shall (i) promptly notify and direct the sales agent administering the ELOC/ATM Program to sell part or all of the Reserve Shares, including by providing such sales agent with the applicable Direction Letter and other customary documentation needed by the such sales agent to effectuate the sale transaction, and (ii) issue the required Reserve Shares to the sales agent in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Renesas Contingent Documentation (as defined in the Plan) in connection with the sales agent consummating such sale transaction. All determinations as to whether to complete any sale transaction pursuant to the ELOC/ATM Program and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any such sale transaction (including the level of commission or discount for the sales agent administering the ELOC/ATM Program) shall be at the discretion of Renesas; provided, that, such sales transactions shall be subject to any contractual limitations the Company is then subject to (including pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement), market conditions, applicable laws, and customary quarterly blackout rights, and shall only take place during open trading window periods under the Company’s insider trading policy. The Company reserves the right to impose up to two (2) blackout periods for an aggregate of up to ninety (90) days in any twelve (12) month period when it is in possession of material non-public information

 

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during which sales under the ELOC/ATM Program shall not be permitted, if sales under the ELOC/ATM Program would have a detrimental impact on alternate transactions (including, but not limited to, merger, acquisition or offering transactions) being contemplated by the Company or if the Company reasonably believes it would require disclosure that would meaningfully interfere with an alternate company transaction or otherwise cause meaningful harm to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, Renesas shall have the right to demand the filing of a draft registration statement related to the ELOC/ATM Program during any blackout period; provided that the Company shall not be required to publicly file such registration statement until the day following the expiration of such blackout period. In addition, Renesas agrees not to use the ELOC/ATM Program, and to be locked up (for a customary period not longer than the lock-up period imposed on, and on the same terms as, to the extent applicable to Renesas’ right to use the ELOC/ATM Program, the Company) in connection with any underwritten offering being conducted by the Company for its own account or for the account of any other person, in each case even if it does not participate in such underwritten offering, subject to the following: (i) Renesas’ ability to have customary piggyback rights on any underwritten offering conducted by the Company (either primary or secondary) and (ii) that such lock-up requirement shall no longer apply when Renesas owns less than 10% of the Common Stock on a fully diluted basis and Renesas no longer has a director on the board of directors of the Company. The Company shall bear all administrative and registration costs, including the Company’s legal and accounting fees, in connection with the ELOC/ATM Program. Renesas shall bear any and all agents’, banks’, or underwriters’ underwriting, private placement, structuring or other fees (including discounts and commissions, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any legal fees of the sales agent administering the ELOC/ATM Program), as well as Renesas’s financial, legal, and other Renesas advisor fees. Upon remittance of such Sale Proceeds to Renesas, the Company shall update the Register accordingly for the sale of such shares of Common Stock. The Company shall provide Renesas with reasonable access to the Register upon request and shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with Renesas in furtherance of this Section 3.2.

Section 3.3 ELOC Program Undertaking. Within thirty (30) days following the Company’s receipt of written notice (email being sufficient) from Renesas of its intention to use the ELOC Program, which such notice shall not be delivered earlier than forty-five (45) days prior to the date that is nineteen (19) weeks after the date hereof, the Company shall (i) file a registration statement, reasonably acceptable to Renesas and the sales agent administering the ELOC Program, that registers the Reserve Shares under the ELOC Program and to cause the same to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as practicable after such filing and, in any event, within five (5) business days of resolving all Commission comments or receiving notice that such registration statement will not be reviewed, with such registration statement to remain effective until the termination of the ELOC Program, and (ii) enter into all documentation (including a purchase agreement and a registration rights agreement, each in customary form) reasonably necessary to establish and maintain such ELOC Program. For the avoidance of doubt, Renesas may not issue Direction Letters to sell Reserve Shares through the ELOC Program in accordance with Section 3.2 above, until the date that is nineteen (19) weeks after the date hereof.

 

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Section 3.4 Common Stock Reserve. Prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with a Registered Primary Offering pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock in connection with any Registered Primary Offering.

Section 3.5 Primary Registered Offerings; ELOC/ATM Sales. To the extent that the Company conducts sales of shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable for Common Stock) of the Company through a Registered Primary Offering or under the ELOC/ATM Program, and Renesas receives the Sale Proceeds from such sales, then the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with a Registered Primary Offering pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall be decreased proportionally for the sale of such shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable for Common Stock). Upon remittance of the Sale Proceeds to Renesas, Renesas’s entitlement to the Base Consideration (as defined in the Plan) and, if applicable after the Regulatory Trigger Deadline (as defined in the Plan), the Contingent Additional Consideration (as defined in the Plan) (including any cash proceeds from the applicable portion therefrom and any Reserve Shares related thereto) shall be reduced accordingly, including, as and to the extent specified in the Direction Letter issued by Renesas (i) the principal amount of the Second Lien Convertible Notes, if applicable, shall be reduced by the applicable amounts that are deemed to have been converted and (ii) the number of shares into which the Warrant is exercisable, if applicable, shall be reduced by the applicable amount of Warrant Consideration Shares so sold, if any.

Section 3.6 ATM Program; Sales Program Termination. Once the Company is eligible to use Form S-3, the Company agrees to create the ATM Program following written notice by Renesas (email being sufficient), and the Company shall (a) make all necessary registration and regulatory filings to establish and maintain the ATM Program, and (b) enter into all documentation reasonably necessary to establish and maintain such ATM Program, including, without limitation, to (i) cause the Company’s legal and accounting advisors to provide the necessary legal opinions and comfort letters as is necessary or customary to enter into and execute trades under the ATM Program and (ii) provide materials responsive to customary due diligence requests. For so long as the Company (x) is eligible to use Form S-3, (y) is maintaining the ATM Program, and (z) is otherwise in compliance with this Section 3.6, the Company shall not be required to maintain the ELOC Program. The termination date (the “ELOC/ATM Program Termination Date”) for the ATM Program (or the ELOC Program if the Company is not eligible to use Form S-3) shall be five (5) business days after the earlier of (i) the Renesas Base Distribution Date, (ii) the disposition of all properties related to the Base Consideration and, if applicable, the Contingent Additional Consideration subject to the Renesas Contingent Documentation, and (iii) ten (10) years from the date hereof; provided, that the documentation related to the ELOC/ATM Program shall provide for a reasonable period of winddown upon each such event (if necessary). Upon the ELOC/ATM Program Termination Date, the Company shall deliver to Renesas the remaining Base Consideration and, if applicable, Contingent Additional Consideration, not previously distributed to Renesas, less any portions of the Base Consideration and, if applicable, the Contingent Additional Consideration, in respect of which Renesas has received Sale Proceeds pursuant to primary registered offerings or the ELOC/ATM Program.

 

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Section 3.7 Tax Matters.

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Renesas shall hold its right or entitlement to receive the Base Consideration or, if applicable, Contingent Additional Consideration through a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), that provides the Company a valid IRS Form W-9 (a “U.S. W-9 Provider”); provided, if Renesas determines that it is not commercially reasonable to hold such right or entitlement through a U.S. W-9 Provider, then Renesas may Transfer such right or entitlement to an Affiliate that is not a U.S. W-9 Provider as long as (a) Renesas provides the Company written notice of such Transfer no later than the earlier of (i) ten (10) days after the Transfer and (ii) five (5) days prior to any Transfer or release of the Base Consideration, the Contingent Additional Consideration or any consideration pursuant to sales under the ELOC/ATM Program or any registered offering on a primary basis, (b) Renesas and such transferee agree in writing that the Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from any distribution, payment or Transfer made pursuant thereto or any transactions or documentation entered into in connection therewith, such amounts as are required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under applicable tax law; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in any case where Renesas or such transferee is subject to withholding, the Company’s sole remedy shall be to withhold or deduct the required amounts under applicable tax law and (c) such transferee shall provide the Company a valid IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or any amended or comparable substitute form). The Company and Renesas agree to cooperate in good faith to eliminate or minimize any applicable withholding tax imposed on the transactions or any transfer of consideration pursuant to sales under the ELOC/ATM Program or any registered offering on a primary basis contemplated in Section 3.2 and Section 3.6, in each case, to the extent permitted by applicable tax law.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, if a Distribution Event (as defined in the Plan) occurs and Renesas receives less consideration on an after-tax basis than it would have received had it received the Base Consideration and, if applicable, the Contingent Additional Consideration at the Effective Date (as defined in the Plan) solely as a result of a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law after the Effective Date or a failure of a Distribution Event to qualify for the intended tax treatment provided for in the Plan, then the Company and Renesas shall use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account outstanding Regulatory Approvals (as defined in the Plan)) to mitigate any tax incurred in excess of the amount of tax that would have been incurred by Renesas had the Regulatory Approvals been secured by the Effective Date. For the avoidance of doubt, Renesas will not bear any tax obligations of Wolfspeed Texas LLC or the Company or any respective agents thereof based on Wolfspeed Texas LLC’s, the Company’s, or any such agents’ income, gain or profits (howsoever denominated).

(c) The Company and Renesas agree to cooperate in good faith, to the extent permitted by applicable tax law, to eliminate or minimize any withholding taxes or backup withholding, including requesting from Renesas a complete and correct executed IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8, as applicable, prior to paying, withholding or setting off any withholding taxes or backup withholding under the Warrant or the Second Lien Convertible Notes Indenture.

(d) If a Distribution Event occurs, the Company and Renesas shall, solely for U.S. federal tax purposes, treat the Base Consideration and the Contingent Additional Consideration as consideration issued in exchange for the Allowed Renesas Claim (each, as defined in the Plan) in a transaction treated as a “recapitalization” under Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Code.

 

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(e) If a Distribution Event occurs, the Company and Renesas shall, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to the greatest extent permitted by law (reflecting a position at a “substantial authority” or higher level of comfort), treat any release of the Base Consideration or Contingent Additional Consideration to Renesas as a transaction that does not give rise to additional recognized gain or loss to Renesas.

(f) The Company shall obtain a valuation of the “Warrant” (as defined in the Warrant) for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes from Ernst & Young LLP (or if Ernst & Young LLP is unable to provide the valuation, such other nationally recognized accounting or valuation firm selected by the Company that is reasonably acceptable to Renesas (such firm, the “Valuation Firm”)) (the “Valuation”). The Valuation shall reflect and be consistent with the methodology used for determining the Black-Scholes Value of the Warrant (as defined in the Warrant), but taking into account any adjustments to clauses (B) and (C) of such definition that the Valuation Firm determines in good faith are necessary or appropriate to comply with generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America. The Company shall provide Renesas with a copy of the Valuation along with reasonable supporting documentation within forty-five (45) days of the Effective Date.

(g) The Company and Renesas shall report the transactions contemplated by the Restructuring Support Agreement (as defined in the Plan) in a manner consistent with the Distribution Event Intended Tax Treatment (as such term is defined in the Restructuring Support Agreement) unless otherwise required pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or corresponding provision of state or local U.S. tax law).

Section 3.8 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 3.9 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware irrespective of the choice of laws principles thereof. The parties agree that any legal action or proceeding regarding this Agreement shall be brought and determined exclusively in a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

14


Section 3.10 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No assignment of this Agreement or of any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto. Any purported assignment or delegation in violation of this Agreement shall be null and void ab initio.

Section 3.11 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if delivered in writing in person, by electronic mail or facsimile or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth below or at such other address as may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other parties. All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be delivered as follows:

 

  (a)

if to the Company, to:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, NC 27703

Attention: Melissa Garrett

E-mail:

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Attention: Tad J. Freese

   Richard Kim

E-mail:  Tad. Freese@lw.com

   Richard.Kim2@lw.com

 

  (b)

if to a Holder, to:

Renesas Electronics America Inc.

c/o Renesas Electronics Corporation

Toyosu Foresia, 3 2 24 Toyosu, Koto ku

Tokyo 135-0061 Japan

Attention: Shuhei Shinkai

   Sho Ozaki

   Takahiro Homma

E-mail:

 

15


with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Steven N. Serajeddini, P.C.

   Yusuf Salloum

   Claire Stephens

E-mail:  steven.serajeddini@kirkland.com

   yusuf.salloum@kirkland.com

   claire.stephens@kirkland.com

and

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20004

Attention: Rachel W. Sheridan, P.C.

   Shagufa R. Hossain, P.C.

   Anthony L. Sanderson

E-mail:  rachel.sheridan@kirkland.com

   shagufa.hossain@kirkland.com

   anthony.sanderson@kirkland.com

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been received (i) in the case of personal delivery or delivery by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date of such delivery, (ii) in the case of dispatch by nationally recognized overnight courier, on the next business day following such dispatch and (iii) in the case of mailing, on the fifth (5th) business day after the posting thereof.

Section 3.12 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

Section 3.13 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the FOCI Mitigation Plan and the other writings referred to herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such subject matter.

Section 3.14 Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that the other parties hereto, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any party hereto from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity which such party may have.

 

16


Section 3.15 Counterparts; Facsimile or .pdf Signature. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same document. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or .pdf signature, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include DocuSign, and a facsimile or .pdf signature, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include DocuSign, shall constitute an original for all purposes.

Section 3.16 Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented without the written consent of the Company and Renesas.

Section 3.17 Extensions; Waivers. Any party may, for itself only, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement and (b) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any extension or waiver pursuant to this Section 3.17 will be valid only if set forth in a writing signed by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver by any party of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.

Section 3.18 Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto shall execute all such further instruments and documents and take all such further action as any other party may reasonably require in order to effectuate the terms and purposes of this Agreement.

Section 3.19 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and other Persons expressly named herein.

Section 3.20 Interpretation; Construction. This Agreement has been freely and fairly negotiated among the parties. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any law will be deemed to refer to such law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified or supplemented, and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. References to “will” or “shall” mean that the party must perform the matter so described and a reference to “may” means that the party has the option, but not the obligation,

 

17


to perform the matter so described. All references to sections mean the sections of this Agreement, except where otherwise stated. The parties intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party has breached any covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) that the party has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the party’s breach of the first covenant.

Section 3.21 Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without any further action by any Person, upon the earlier of (i) the written agreement of each party hereto to terminate this Agreement, (ii) the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company. Nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability for the breach of any of the agreements set forth in this Agreement or (iii) such time when the parties hereto have no further rights or obligations hereunder. The provisions of Section 2.1(d) and Article III shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

[Signature pages follow]

 

18


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Investor Rights and Disposition Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

WOLFSPEED INC.
By:  

/s/ Melissa Garrett

  Name: Melissa Garrett
  Title:  Senior Vice President and General Counsel
RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.
By:  

/s/ Shuhei Shinkai

  Name: Shuhei Shinkai
  Title:  Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Investor Rights and Disposition Agreement]

Exhibit 10.3

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

AMONG

WOLFSPEED, INC.

AND

THE HOLDERS PARTY HERETO

DATED SEPTEMBER 29, 2025

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS      1  

Section 1.1

  Definitions      1  
ARTICLE II SHELF AND PRIMARY DEMAND REGISTRATION      7  

Section 2.1

  Shelf Registration      7  

Section 2.2

  Registered Primary Offerings      10  

Section 2.3

  Deferral or Suspension of Registration; Grace Periods      12  

Section 2.4

  Effective Registration Statement      13  

Section 2.5

  Selection of Underwriters; Cutback      14  

Section 2.6

  Lock-up      14  

Section 2.7

  Participation in Underwritten Offering; Information by Holder      15  

Section 2.8

  Registration Expenses      16  
ARTICLE III PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION      16  

Section 3.1

  Notices      16  

Section 3.2

  Underwriter’s Cutback      17  

Section 3.3

  Company Control      19  

Section 3.4

  Selection of Underwriters      19  

Section 3.5

  Withdrawal of Registration      19  
ARTICLE IV REGISTRATION PROCEDURES      19  

Section 4.1

  Registration Procedures      19  

Section 4.2

  Notice Opt-In and Opt-Out      24  
ARTICLE V INDEMNIFICATION      25  

Section 5.1

  Indemnification by the Company      25  

Section 5.2

  Indemnification by Selling Holders      26  

Section 5.3

  Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings      26  

Section 5.4

  Other Indemnification      27  

Section 5.5

  Contribution      27  
ARTICLE VI COMPLIANCE WITH EXEMPTION REQUIREMENTS      28  

Section 6.1

  Compliance with Exemption Requirements      28  
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS      28  

Section 7.1

  Severability      28  

Section 7.2

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial      29  

Section 7.3

  Other Registration Rights      29  

Section 7.4

  Additional Rights      29  

Section 7.5

  Successors and Assigns      29  

Section 7.6

  Notices      30  

Section 7.7

  Headings      31  

Section 7.8

  Additional Parties      31  

Section 7.9

  Adjustments      31  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

         Page  

Section 7.10

  Entire Agreement      31  

Section 7.11

  Specific Performance      31  

Section 7.12

  Counterparts; Facsimile or .pdf Signature      32  

Section 7.13

  Amendment      32  

Section 7.14

  Extensions; Waivers      32  

Section 7.15

  Further Assurances      32  

Section 7.16

  No Third-Party Beneficiaries      33  

Section 7.17

  Interpretation; Construction      33  

Section 7.18

  Term      33  

 

Exhibit A

     -     

Adoption Agreement

Schedule I

     -     

List of Holders

 

 

ii


THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of September 29, 2025 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with any successor entity thereto, the “Company”), and each of the Holders (as defined below) that are parties hereto from time to time.

RECITALS

A. Wolfspeed, Inc. and Wolfspeed Texas LLC filed the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliate [Docket No. 8] (as modified, amended, or supplemented from time to time, the “Plan”) on June 30, 2025 in the jointly-administered chapter 11 cases captioned In re Wolfspeed, Inc., et al., Case No. 25-90163 (CML), which was confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on September 8, 2025 pursuant to the Confirmation Order (as defined below).

B. The Company proposes to issue Common Stock, Warrants and Convertible Notes (each as defined below) and to remit to Renesas (as defined below) the Base Consideration Proceeds (as defined below) and, if applicable, the Contingent Additional Consideration Proceeds (as defined below) from the sale of Common Stock, in each case pursuant to, and upon the terms set forth in, the Plan, the Order (I) Approving (A) the Disclosure Statement, (II) Confirming Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Wolfspeed, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliate, and (III) Approving Entry into the Backstop Agreement [Docket No. 285] (the “Confirmation Order”), and the Definitive Documentation (as defined below).

C. The Company and the Holders have agreed to enter into this Agreement pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights under the Securities Act (as defined below) with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined below) in furtherance of the foregoing.

D. The Holders on Schedule I are deemed to have executed this Agreement pursuant to the Confirmation Order (as defined below).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Holders hereby agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

Additional Approvals” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Adoption Agreement” means an Adoption Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

1


Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person.

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” means an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 (or any successor rule then in effect) promulgated under the Securities Act.

Base Consideration Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

beneficially owned,” “beneficial ownership” and similar phrases have the same meanings as such terms have under Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 (or any successor rule then in effect) under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any Holder, such Holder shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Holder has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable upon the occurrence of a subsequent event (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Renesas Base Distribution Date) or with the passage of time.

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company from time to time.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks in New York City or the State of California in the United States, or Japan, are authorized or required by law to be closed.

CFIUS Approval” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any other U.S. Federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

Common Stock” means, collectively, the Company’s shares of common stock, par value $0.00125 per share, any additional security paid, issued or distributed in respect of any such shares by way of a dividend, split or distribution, or in connection with a combination of shares, and any security into which such Common Stock or additional securities shall have been converted or exchanged in connection with a recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, exchange, distribution or otherwise.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Confirmation Order” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Contingent Additional Consideration Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

 

2


Convertible Notes” means the Renesas Convertible Notes and the Non-Renesas Convertible Notes.

Definitive Documentation” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Disposition Agreement” means, together with any necessary ancillary related documentation, the Investor Rights and Disposition Agreement entered into on the date hereof between the Company and Renesas, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Effective Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

ELOC/ATM” means the equity line of credit or “at the market” program entered into to facilitate the sale of Common Stock as set forth in the Plan.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or any successor regulatory authority.

Form S-1 Shelf” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(a).

Form S-3 Shelf” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(a).

Free Writing Prospectus” means any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Holders” means any holder of Registrable Securities that is set forth on Schedule I hereto and Transferees of such Holders that acquire Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 7.5 and execute an Adoption Agreement in accordance with Section 7.5 (in each case, so long as such Persons holds any Registrable Securities).

Information” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(i).

Initial Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1(a).

Inspectors” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(i).

Lock-up Period” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6(a).

MNPI” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.

New 2L Convertible Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

New Renesas 2L Takeback Convertible Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

 

3


Non-Renesas Convertible Notes” means any New 2L Convertible Notes issued or issuable to Non-Renesas Holders pursuant to the Plan that are (i) issued to a Non-Renesas Holder who reasonably determines (on the advice of counsel) that it may be deemed an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company; provided, that, such Non-Renesas Holder provides notice to the Company and Renesas of such determination on or prior to the date hereof and the Company reasonably agrees (on advice of counsel) with such determination; or (ii) issued other than pursuant to Section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Non-Renesas Holders” means Holders party hereto from time to time, in each case other than Renesas.

Non-Renesas Underwritten Shelf Take-Down” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(b).

Non-Underwritten Shelf Take-Down” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(d).

Opt-In Election” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.

Opt-Out Election” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.

Person” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, company, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization or any governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

Piggyback Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1(a).

Piggyback Registration” means any registration pursuant to Section 3.1(a).

Plan” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Policies” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.

Primary Demand Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(b).

Primary Demand Registration” means a registration of Primary Shares pursuant to Section 2.2.

Primary Demand Right” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(a).

Primary Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(a).

Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the securities covered by such Registration Statement and, in each case, by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective amendments and, in each case, all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

Registered Primary Offering” means a primary registered offering of Primary Shares pursuant to Section 2.2.

 

4


Registrable Securities” means, with respect to any Holder, at any time, the Shares held or beneficially owned by such Holder at such time; provided, however, that as to any Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) upon the sale thereof pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) upon the sale thereof pursuant to Rule 144, (iii) when such securities cease to be outstanding, (iv) when (A) such Registrable Securities are held by a Holder that together with its Affiliates beneficially owns Shares representing less than 3% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company and (B) on advice of counsel to the Company, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the relevant Holder, such securities may be sold or disposed of by such Holder without the volume, manner of sale and public information limitations under Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force), or (v) if such securities shall have been otherwise transferred and new certificates or book-entries for them not bearing a legend restricting transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and such securities may be publicly resold without registration under the Securities Act; provided, further, that, prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date, clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) of this definition shall not apply to Registrable Securities held or beneficially owned by Renesas.

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Securities Act that covers the Registrable Securities or the Primary Shares, including any preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Regulatory Approvals” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Related Fund” means any investment manager or advisor that controls, manages, advises or subadvises a Holder.

Renesas” means Renesas Electronics America Inc., a California corporation (or any successor thereto), and any of its controlled Affiliates.

Renesas Base Distribution Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Renesas Convertible Notes” means the New Renesas 2L Takeback Convertible Notes issued or issuable to Renesas pursuant to the Plan, including, prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date, the associated entitlement to recovery on account of Renesas’ allowed Class 5 claim pursuant to the Plan and the Confirmation Order.

Renesas Underwritten Shelf Take-Down” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(b).

Renesas Warrants” means the Warrants issued or issuable to Renesas pursuant to the Plan, including, prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date, the associated entitlement to recovery on account of Renesas’ allowed Class 5 claim pursuant to the Plan and the Confirmation Order.

Representatives” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.

Required Holders” means each of (i) Renesas for so long as Renesas beneficially owns Registrable Securities and (ii) Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by Non-Renesas Holders.

 

5


Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or successor rule).

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act (or successor rule).

Seasoned Issuer” means an issuer eligible to use a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act and who is not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Selling Holders” means the Holders selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement under this Agreement.

Selling Holders’ Counsel” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b).

Shares” means Common Stock (i) issued or issuable to Renesas pursuant to the Plan, including, prior to the Renesas Base Distribution Date, the associated entitlement to recovery on account of Renesas’ allowed Class 5 claim pursuant to the Plan and the Confirmation Order; (ii) issued or issuable upon exercise of the Renesas Warrants; (iii) issued or issuable upon conversion of the Renesas Convertible Notes; (iv) issued or issuable to any Non-Renesas Holder pursuant to the Plan which Non-Renesas Holder reasonably determines (on the advice of counsel) that it may be deemed an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company; provided, that, such Non-Renesas Holder provides notice to the Company and Renesas of such determination on or prior to the date hereof and the Company reasonably agrees (on advice of counsel) with such determination; and (v) issued or issuable upon conversion of the Non-Renesas Convertible Notes and shall also include any security of the Company issued in respect of or in exchange for such securities of the Company described in the foregoing clause (i) through (v), whether by way of dividend or other distribution, split, recapitalization, merger, amalgamation, rollup transaction, consolidation or reorganization.

Shelf Holder” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(b).

Shelf Registration” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(a).

Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(a).

Shelf Take-Down” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(b).

Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(f).

Subsidiary” means each Person in which another Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, capital stock or other equity interests representing more than 50% in voting power of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests.

Transfer” means any direct or indirect sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, gift, bequest by will or under intestacy laws, pledge, mortgage, charge, hypothecation or other encumbrance, or any other disposition, of the stated security (or any interest therein or right thereto, including the issuance of any total return swap or other derivative whose economic value is primarily based upon the value of the stated security) or of all or part of the voting power (other than the granting of a revocable proxy) associated with the stated security (or any interest therein) whatsoever, or any other transfer of beneficial ownership of the stated security, with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily (including by operation of law).

 

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Transferee” means a Person acquiring Shares pursuant to a Transfer.

Underwritten Offering” means a sale, on the Company’s or any Holder’s behalf, of Shares or Primary Shares by the Company or a Holder to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

Underwritten Shelf Take-Down” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(c)(i).

Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(c)(i).

Warrants” means, collectively, those certain warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock issued to Renesas by the Company, dated as of date hereof.

Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect) and which (i) is a “well-known seasoned issuer” under paragraph (1)(i)(A) of such definition or (ii) is a “well-known seasoned issuer” under paragraph (1)(i)(B) of such definition and is also eligible to register a primary offering of its securities relying on General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

ARTICLE II

SHELF AND PRIMARY DEMAND REGISTRATION

Section 2.1 Shelf Registration.

(a) Filing. As promptly as practicable, and in any event not later than forty five (45) days of each of (i) the date hereof and (ii) solely with respect to Registrable Securities held by Renesas, the occurrence of the Renesas Base Distribution Date, the Company shall, pursuant to the requirements of this Section 2.1(a), file (or confidentially submit) on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”) or, if available, on Form S-3 (a “Form S-3 Shelf” and, together with the Form S-1 Shelf and any Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, if available, a “Shelf Registration Statement”) a Shelf Registration Statement to register under the Securities Act the Registrable Securities owned by the Holders (as applicable) at such time in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto (a “Shelf Registration”). For purposes of this Section 2.1 only, the Registrable Securities owned by Renesas on any date shall only include those Registrable Securities (including Registrable Securities underlying securities convertible for or exercisable into Shares) actually distributed to Renesas on or prior to such date pursuant to the Plan. With respect to each Shelf Registration, (i) the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective the Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as practicable after the filing (or confidential submission) thereof and, in any event, within five (5) Business Days of resolving all Commission comments or receiving notice that the Shelf Registration Statement will not be reviewed and (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement shall include a Plan of Distribution

 

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disclosure in customary form for similar resale registration statements as reasonably requested by the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Registration Statement (which shall include, if Registrable Securities held by Renesas are included in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Non-Renesas Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Registration Statement that are held by Non-Renesas Holders).

(b) Shelf Take-Downs. Any Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in an effective Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Holder”) may initiate an offering or sale of all or part of such Registrable Securities (a “Shelf Take-Down”), in which case the provisions of this Section 2.1 shall apply. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) any such Shelf Holder may initiate an unlimited number of Non-Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs pursuant to Section 2.1(d) below; (ii) Renesas may initiate no more than three (3) Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs (including any block trade) pursuant to Section 2.1(c) below during any 12-month period (any such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, a “Renesas Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”); and (iii) Non-Renesas Holders may initiate no more than two (2) Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs (including any block trade) pursuant to Section 2.1(c) below during any 12-month period (any such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, a “Non-Renesas Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”); provided, that, the Registrable Securities requested to be sold by the initiating Shelf Holder(s) of any single Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall have an anticipated aggregate offering price (before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions) of at least $75.0 million.

(c) Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs.

(i) Subject to Section 2.1(b), at any time that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if a Shelf Holder so elects in a written request delivered to the Company (an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice”), a Shelf Take-Down may be in the form of an Underwritten Offering (an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”) and, if necessary, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to file any necessary Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to its Shelf Registration Statement as soon as practicable and, in any event, within (x) if the Shelf Registration Statement is on Form S-3, ten (10) Business Days, and (y) if the Shelf Registration Statement is on Form S-1, fifteen (15) Business Days, in each case after the receipt of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Shelf Holder(s) initiating the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, and in all events subject to compliance with the notice requirements described in Section 2.1(c)(ii) and Section 3.1(a). Such initiating Shelf Holder(s) shall indicate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice (A) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities expected to be offered and sold in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, (B) the expected plan of distribution of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, and (C) whether it intends for such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to involve a customary “roadshow” (including an “electronic roadshow”) or other marketing effort by the underwriters.

(ii) Upon delivery of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice, the Company shall promptly deliver an Initial Notice of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to all Shelf Holders pursuant to Section 3.1(a).

(iii) Upon delivery of an Initial Notice, the other Shelf Holders may elect to sell Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, at the same price per Registrable Security and pursuant to the same terms and conditions with respect to payment for the Registrable Securities as agreed to by the initiating Shelf Holder(s), by following the procedure set forth in Section 3.1(a) (but, in all cases, subject to Section 2.5(b) and Section 2.7).

 

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(iv) Notwithstanding the delivery of any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice, all determinations as to whether to complete any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be at the discretion of the Shelf Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities contemplated to be sold under such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice. The Shelf Holder(s) initiating the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down may withdraw an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice by providing written notice to the Company at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement, unless the Company is informed by the remaining Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to continue with such offering and the anticipated aggregate offering price (before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions) of the remaining Registrable Securities covered thereby (excluding the Registrable Securities of the withdrawing Holders) are at least $75.0 million. To the extent an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice is so withdrawn, such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall not be counted towards the limitations set forth in Section 2.1(b). To the extent an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice was delivered by Renesas and is not so withdrawn, due to the remaining Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down informing the Company to proceed with such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, and to the extent that Renesas does not participate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be counted as a Non-Renesas Underwritten Shelf Take-Down under Section 2.1(b)(iii) and shall not be counted as a Renesas Underwritten Shelf Take-Down under Section 2.1(b)(ii). To the extent an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice was delivered by Non-Renesas Holder(s) and is not so withdrawn, due to Renesas informing the Company to proceed with such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, and to the extent that no Non-Renesas Holders participate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be counted as a Renesas Underwritten Shelf Take-Down under Section 2.1(b)(ii) and shall not be counted as a Non-Renesas Underwritten Shelf Take-Down under Section 2.1(b)(iii).

(d) Non-Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs. If a Shelf Holder desires to effect a Shelf Take-Down that does not constitute an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (a “Non-Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”), provided that the Company receives written notice of the Non-Underwritten Shelf Take-Down at least two (2) Business Days prior to the consummation thereof, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that upon the sale of Shares pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement a customary legal opinion is promptly, and, in any event not later than one (1) Business Days following the date of such sale, issued to the Company’s transfer agent permitting the removal of legends from such Shares subject to the delivery of customary representation letters of selling Holders and/or brokers to the Company, the continuing effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement and satisfaction of customary procedures necessary to allow such transfer agent to remove such legends in connection with a sale pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

(e) Continued Effectiveness. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof continuously effective under the Securities Act, including by filing a new Shelf Registration Statement if necessary, in order to permit the Prospectus (or any Prospectus supplement) forming a part thereof to be usable by a Shelf Holder until the earlier to occur of the date as of which (i) all Registrable Securities registered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold and (ii) all securities registered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement cease to constitute Registrable Securities as defined hereunder.

 

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(f) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Shelf Registration Statement filed under Section 2.1(a) or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the period described in Section 2.1(e), the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of such cessation of effectiveness amend such Shelf Registration Statement in a manner designed to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an additional shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in force) covering all of the Registrable Securities covered by and not sold under the Shelf Registration Statement (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective during the period described in Section 2.1(e). As used herein the term “Shelf Registration Statement” means the Shelf Registration Statement referenced in Section 2.1(a) and any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statements.

(g) Conversion to Form S-3. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Shelf Registration Statement to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company becomes a Seasoned Issuer or a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer.

Section 2.2 Registered Primary Offerings.

(a) Renesas Demand for Primary Registration. Prior to receipt of certification of all Regulatory Approvals or written confirmation by Renesas’s authorized representative of the granting of such Regulatory Approvals from the applicable regulatory authorities (where such certifications are not issued by the applicable regulatory authorities) for Renesas, subject to the provisions of this Article II and the provisions of the Disposition Agreement, at any time and from time to time, Renesas shall have the right to request in writing that the Company register the sale on Form S-1 (or any successor form thereto) or, if available, on Form S-3 (or any successor form thereto) under the Securities Act of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company on a primary basis (“Primary Shares”) for purposes of a Registered Primary Offering (a “Primary Demand Right”) to execute sales to receive Base Consideration Proceeds and Contingent Additional Consideration Proceeds, as applicable. Renesas may initiate no more than one (1) Registered Primary Offering pursuant to this Section 2.2 during any 12-month period; provided, that, after the Company becomes a Seasoned Issuer or a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer, Renesas may initiate no more than two (2) Registered Primary Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.2 during any 12-month period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if all Regulatory Approvals, other than CFIUS Approval or the Additional Approvals, have been obtained, Renesas shall not have the ability to exercise the Primary Demand Right until nineteen (19) weeks after the Effective Date.

 

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(b) Primary Demand Notices. All requests made pursuant to this Section 2.2 shall be made by providing written notice to the Company (each such written notice, a “Primary Demand Notice”), which notice shall specify the aggregate number and class or classes of Primary Shares proposed to be registered by the Company and the minimum price at which any sale of Primary Shares may be executed. The Company shall effect any requested Primary Demand Registration using a Form S-3 whenever the Company is a Seasoned Issuer or a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer and shall use an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement if it is a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer.

(c) Primary Demand Filing. Subject to Section 2.3, promptly after receipt of any Primary Demand Notice, the Company shall give an Initial Notice of the Primary Demand Notice to all Holders of Registrable Securities and otherwise comply with Section 3.1(a). Upon delivery of a Primary Demand Notice, the Holders may elect to sell Registrable Securities in such Registered Primary Offering, at the same price per Registrable Security and pursuant to the same terms and conditions with respect to payment for the Registrable Securities as applicable to the Primary Shares, by following the procedure set forth in Section 3.1(a) (but, in all cases, subject to Section 2.7 and Section 3.2(d)). Subject to Section 2.3, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to file (or confidentially submit) the Registration Statement in respect of a Primary Demand Notice as soon as practicable and, in any event, within thirty (30) days after receiving a Primary Demand Notice and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as practicable after such filing (or confidential submission) and, in any event, within five (5) Business Days of resolving all Commission comments or receiving notice that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to file any necessary Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as and when necessary in order to facilitate the Registered Primary Offering. All determinations as to whether to complete any Registered Primary Offering and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any Registered Primary Offering shall be at the discretion of Renesas.

(d) Selection of Underwriters. If Renesas delivers a Primary Demand Notice, Renesas shall select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such Registered Primary Offering, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be investment banking firms of nationally recognized standing and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company, such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(e) Primary Demand Withdrawal. Renesas may withdraw a Primary Demand Notice by providing written notice to the Company at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement, and such Primary Demand Notice shall not be counted towards the limitations set forth in Section 2.2(a).

(f) Termination of Primary Demand Right. The Primary Demand Right will terminate on the Renesas Base Distribution Date.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, Renesas may not provide a Primary Demand Notice during the period beginning upon the receipt by Renesas of an Initial Notice and ending upon the consummation or withdrawal of the related Piggyback Registration.

 

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Section 2.3 Deferral or Suspension of Registration; Grace Periods. If (a) the Company receives a Primary Demand Notice or an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice and the Board, in its good faith judgment after consultation with outside legal counsel of the Company, determines that it would be materially adverse to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed or declared effective on or before the date such filing or effectiveness would otherwise be required hereunder, or for such Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein to be used to sell Shares or Primary Shares or for such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to be effected, because such action would: (i) have a detrimental impact on alternate transactions (including, but not limited to, merger, acquisition or offering transactions) being contemplated by the Company, including, but not limited to, requiring the Company (in the reasonable judgment of the Company) to disclose such alternate transaction in a manner that would meaningfully interfere with such transaction; (ii) based on the advice of the Company’s outside counsel, require disclosure of material non-public information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, provided, that, the exception in clause (ii) shall continue to apply only during the time in which such business purpose is continuing and such material non-public information has not been disclosed and remains material; or (iii) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or (b) the Company is subject to a Commission stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of proceedings with respect to such Registration Statement under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing (but not the preparation), initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein, provided that, unless consented to in writing by the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included (in the case of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down) (including, if Renesas participates in such Underwritten Shelf-Take-Down, the Non-Renesas Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down held by Non-Renesas Holders) or Renesas (in the case of a Registered Primary Offering), the Company shall not use the deferral or suspension rights provided under Section 2.3(a) more than twice in any 12-month period or for more than ninety (90) calendar days in the aggregate in any 12-month period. For the avoidance of doubt, Renesas shall have the right to demand the filing of a draft registration statement during such period in furtherance of Section 2.2; provided that the Company shall not be required to publicly file a Registration Statement until the day following the expiration of such period. If the Company shall so postpone the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement with respect to a Primary Demand Notice or an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice and if Renesas or the applicable Shelf Holder, respectively, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice of postponement advises the Company in writing that it has determined to withdraw such Primary Demand Notice or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice, then such Primary Demand Notice or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice shall be deemed to be withdrawn and shall not be counted towards the limitations set forth in Section 2.1(b) or Section 2.2(a). In the event of any deferral or suspension pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Company shall (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Holders or Renesas, as applicable, apprised of the estimated length of the anticipated delay; and (ii) notify the Shelf Holders or Renesas, as applicable, promptly upon termination of the deferral or suspension. After the expiration of the deferral or suspension period and without any further request from the applicable Shelf Holder or Renesas, as applicable, to the extent such Shelf Holder or Renesas has not withdrawn the Primary Demand Notice or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice, if applicable, the Company shall as promptly as

 

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reasonably practicable prepare and file (or confidentially submit) a Registration Statement or post-effective amendment or supplement to the applicable Registration Statement or document, or file any other required document, as applicable, and cause any such amendment to be declared effective as promptly as practicable so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities or Primary Shares included therein, the Prospectus will not include a material misstatement or omission and will be effective and useable for the sale of Registrable Securities or Primary Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, sales of Shares or Primary Shares through any Underwritten Offering or Registered Primary Offering shall be subject to market conditions, applicable laws, and customary quarterly blackout rights, and shall only take place during open trading window periods under the Company’s insider trading policy.

Section 2.4 Effective Registration Statement. A registration required or requested pursuant to this Article II shall not be deemed to have been effected, nor shall such registration be counted towards the limitations set forth in Section 2.1(b) or Section 2.2(a):

(a) unless a Registration Statement with respect thereto has been declared effective by the Commission and remains effective in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and the laws of any U.S. state or other jurisdiction applicable to the disposition of Registrable Securities or Primary Shares covered by such Registration Statement for (x) not less than 180 days (or such shorter period as will terminate when all of such Registrable Securities or Primary Shares shall have been disposed of in accordance with such Registration Statement) or, if such Registration Statement relates to an Underwritten Offering, such longer period as, in the opinion of external counsel for the Company, a Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of Registrable Securities or Primary Shares by an underwriter or dealer or (y) in respect of a Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof, for such period as is provided in Section 2.1(e) hereof;

(b) if, after it becomes effective, such Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other governmental authority or court for any reason other than a violation of applicable law solely by any Selling Holder and has not thereafter become effective;

(c) unless the offering, in the case of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, has resulted in the disposition by the Holders of at least 75% of the amount of Registrable Securities requested in good faith for disposition (inclusive of any Registrable Securities reduced from such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down pursuant to the terms of Section 2.5 or Section 3.2, as applicable);

(d) with respect to any request for a Registration Statement or an offering, to the extent the applicable Holders shall have reimbursed the Company for all reasonable and documented expenses of the Company related to such Registration Statement or offering; or

(e) if, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the conditions to closing specified in an underwriting agreement applicable to the Company are not satisfied or waived other than by reason of any breach or failure by any Selling Holder.

 

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Section 2.5 Selection of Underwriters; Cutback.

(a) Selection of Underwriters. If a Shelf Holder intends to offer and sell the Registrable Securities covered by its request under this Article II by means of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, the participating Shelf Holders shall mutually select, in the final determination of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities under such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such offering, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be investment banking firms of nationally recognized standing and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company, such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(b) Underwriter’s Cutback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II or Section 3.1, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down advise the Company in their good faith opinion that the inclusion of all such Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down would be reasonably likely to interfere with the successful marketing, including, but not limited to, the pricing, timing or distribution, of the Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, then the number of securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be allocated among the Company, the Selling Holders and all other Persons selling securities in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down in the following order:

(i) first, the Registrable Securities of the class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at the Holder’s option into or for such class or classes) proposed to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the amounts of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down by each such Holder at the time of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down;

(ii) second, all other securities of the same class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at the holder’s option into or for such class or classes) requested to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down other than securities to be sold by the Company; and

(iii) third, the securities of the same class or classes to be sold by the Company.

No Registrable Securities excluded from the underwriting by reason of the underwriter’s marketing limitation shall be included in such offering. If the underwriter has not limited the number of Registrable Securities to be underwritten, the Company may include securities for its own account (or for the account of any other Persons) in such offering if the underwriter so agrees and if the number of Registrable Securities would not thereby be limited.

Section 2.6 Lock-up.

(a) If requested by the managing underwriters in connection with any Underwritten Offering, each Holder (i) who together with its Affiliates owns 10% or more of the Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis at the time of such Underwritten Offering, (ii) who possesses the right to select one or more members of the Board or (iii) who is a natural person and

 

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serving as a director or executive officer of the Company shall agree to be bound by customary lock-up agreements providing that such Holder shall not, directly or indirectly, effect any Transfer (including sales pursuant to Rule 144) of any such Shares without prior written consent from the underwriters managing such Underwritten Offering during a period beginning on the date of launch of such Underwritten Offering and ending up to ninety (90) days from and including the date of pricing or such shorter period as reasonably requested by the underwriters managing such Underwritten Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”); provided, that, (A) the foregoing shall not apply to any Shares that are offered for sale as part of such Underwritten Offering, (B) such Lock-Up Period shall be no longer than and on substantially the same terms as the lock-up period applicable to the Company and the executive officers and directors of the Company, (C) such Lock-Up Period shall include customary carve-outs as negotiated in good faith between the Holder and the underwriter and (D) the Holders shall have been offered the opportunity to participate in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to the terms of Article III hereof (subject to the terms of Section 2.5 or Section 3.2, as applicable). Each such Holder agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the underwriters to such effect.

(b) The terms of this Section 2.6 will no longer apply to a Holder once such Holder ceases to hold Registrable Securities.

Section 2.7 Participation in Underwritten Offering; Information by Holder. No Holder may participate in an Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Shares on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements, and in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including any lock-up arrangements, and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. In addition, the Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holders, as applicable, as the Company may reasonably request in writing and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to in this Article II. Nothing in this Section 2.7 shall be construed to create any additional rights regarding the registration of Shares in any Person otherwise than as set forth herein or require any Holder to make any representations, warranties or agreements in respect of or relating to the Company. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that (i) underwriting arrangements shall be in customary form, (ii) no underwriter shall require any Holder to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Holder and such Holder’s intended method of distribution, and (iii) any representation required to be made by such Holder by law and any other representations, warranties and agreements customarily made by selling securityholders registering securities in similar circumstances to the extent the same do not relate to the Company. If, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts, an underwriter requires any Holder to make additional representations or warranties to or agreements with such underwriter, such Holder may elect not to participate in such Underwritten Offering and shall not be bound by Section 2.7 hereof.

 

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Section 2.8 Registration Expenses. All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including without limitation (i) all registration and filing fees, and any other fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with any stock exchange, the Commission and FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel as may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA), (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters and one counsel for the Selling Holders that are Non-Renesas Holders in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Shares or Primary Shares and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the managing underwriters may designate), (iii) all printing and related messenger and delivery expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Shares and the Primary Shares in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses), (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of all independent certified public accountants of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including the expenses related to any “comfort” letters), (v) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares or the Primary Shares on any securities exchange and all rating agency fees, (vi) all fees and documented out-of-pocket disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by the issuer or sellers of securities and subject to reimbursement by the issuer pursuant to the applicable underwriting agreement, including expenses of any special experts retained in connection with the registration (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, and fees and disbursements of counsel to underwriters to the extent agreed to be paid by such underwriters (other than such fees and disbursements incurred in connection with any registration or qualification of Shares or Primary Shares under the securities or blue sky laws of any state)), (vii) all reasonable fees and documented out-of-pocket expenses of Selling Holders’ Counsel for the Non-Renesas Holders of Registrable Securities included in a Piggyback Registration or Shelf Take-Down, as applicable, not to exceed $50,000 per Piggyback Registration or Shelf Take-Down (as applicable), and (viii) fees and expenses of other Persons retained by the Company, and any other reasonable expenses customarily paid by the issuers of securities, will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether the Registration Statement becomes effective (or such offering is completed) and whether or not all or any portion of the Registrable Securities originally requested to be included in such registration or offering are ultimately included in such registration or offering; provided, however, that (A) any underwriting discounts, commissions or fees in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities will be borne by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of Shares so offered and sold, (B) any underwriting discounts, commissions or fees in connection with the sale of the Primary Shares will be borne by Renesas, (C) transfer taxes with respect to the sale of Registrable Securities will be borne by the Holder of such Registrable Securities, (D) the fees and expenses of any accountants or other persons retained or employed by any Holder will be borne by such Holder and (E) for the avoidance of doubt, Renesas will bear all of Renesas’ financial, legal and other advisor fees in connection with any (i) registration of Registrable Securities hereunder or any offering thereof in which Renesas is a Selling Holder or (ii) Registered Primary Offering.

ARTICLE III

PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION

Section 3.1 Notices.

(a) If the Company at any time proposes for any reason to register the sale of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company under the Securities Act (other than a Non-Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, sales under the ELOC/ATM, sales under any other “at-the-

 

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market” offering, a dividend reinvestment plan or rights offering, a registration on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or any successor of either such form, or a registration relating solely to the offer and sale to the Company’s directors or employees pursuant to any employee share plan or other employee benefit plan or arrangement) whether or not Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company are to be sold by the Company or otherwise, and whether or not in connection with any Primary Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, or any other agreement (such registration, a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give to each Holder holding Registrable Securities of the same class or classes proposed to be registered (or convertible or exercisable at the Holder’s option into or for such class or classes) written notice of its intention to so register the Shares, Primary Shares or other equity securities of the Company at least eight (8) Business Days prior to the expected date of filing of such Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in which the Company first intends to identify any selling stockholders and the number of Registrable Securities and Primary Shares to be sold (each such notice, an “Initial Notice”). The Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3.2 and Section 3.3 below, include in such Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as the securities otherwise being sold, all Registrable Securities of the same class or classes as the Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company proposed to be registered (or convertible or exercisable at the Holder’s option into or for such class or classes) with respect to which the Company has received written requests from Holders for inclusion therein within the time period specified by the Company in the applicable Initial Notice, which time period shall be not less than five (5) Business Days after sending the applicable Initial Notice (each such written request, a “Piggyback Notice”), which Piggyback Notice shall specify the number of Shares proposed to be included in the Piggyback Registration.

(b) If a Holder does not deliver a Piggyback Notice within the period specified in Section 3.1(a), such Holder shall be deemed to have irrevocably waived any and all rights under this Article III with respect to such registration (but not with respect to future registrations in accordance with this Article III).

(c) No registration effected under this Section 3.1 shall relieve the Company of its obligation to effect any registration or Shelf Take-Down under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 hereof, and no registration effected pursuant to this Section 3.1 shall be deemed to have been effected pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 hereof, and no Piggyback Registration shall count towards the number of Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs that a Shelf Holder is entitled to make pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof or Registered Primary Offerings that Renesas is entitled to initiate pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof. The Initial Notice, the Piggyback Notice and the contents thereof shall be kept confidential until the public filing of the applicable Registration Statement, post-effective amendment or Prospectus supplement.

Section 3.2 Underwriters Cutback. If the managing underwriter of an Underwritten Offering (including an offering pursuant to Section 2.2) that includes a Piggyback Registration advises the Company that it is the managing underwriter’s good faith opinion that the inclusion of all such Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering would be reasonably likely to interfere with the successful marketing, including, but not limited to, the pricing, timing or distribution, of the Registrable Securities or the Primary Shares to be offered thereby, then the number of securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall

 

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be allocated among the Company, the Selling Holders and all other Persons selling securities in such Underwritten Offering in the following order:

(a) If the Piggyback Registration referred to in Section 3.1 is initiated as an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company (other than a Registered Primary Offering pursuant to Section 2.2), then, with respect to each class proposed to be registered:

(i) first, Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company of the class or classes proposed to be registered that the Company proposes to sell, as applicable;

(ii) second, all Registrable Securities of the same class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at the Holder’s option into or for such class or classes) held by Holders requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration (pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the amounts of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such offering by each such Holder at the time of such Piggyback Registration); and

(iii) third, all other securities of the same class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at the holder’s option into or for such class or classes) requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration.

(b) if the Piggyback Registration referred to in Section 3.1 is an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, then the provisions of Section 2.5(b) shall apply.

(c) if the Piggyback Registration referred to in Section 3.1 is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of any holder of securities other than a Holder, then, with respect to each class proposed to be registered:

(i) first, the securities of the class or classes proposed to be registered held by such holder;

(ii) second, the Registrable Securities of the same class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at the Holder’s option into or for such class or classes) held by Holders requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration (pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the amounts of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each such Holder at the time of such Piggyback Registration);

(iii) third, all other securities of the same class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at the holder’s option into or for such class or classes) requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration other than securities to be sold by the Company; and

(iv) fourth, the Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company of the same class or classes to be sold by the Company.

 

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(d) if the Piggyback Registration referred to in Section 3.1 is a Registered Primary Offering, then, with respect to each class proposed to be registered:

(i) first, the Primary Shares and all Registrable Securities of the same class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at Renesas’ option into or for such class or classes) held by Renesas requested to be included in such Registered Primary Offering;

(ii) second, all Registrable Securities of the same class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at the Holder’s option into or for such class or classes) held by Holders other than Renesas requested to be included in such Registered Primary Offering (pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the amounts of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each such Holder at the time of such Registered Primary Offering);

(iii) third, all other securities of the same class or classes (or convertible or exercisable at the holder’s option into or for such class or classes) requested to be included in such Registered Primary Offering other than securities to be sold by the Company; and

(iv) fourth, any additional securities of the same class or classes to be sold by the Company.

Section 3.3 Company Control. Except for a Registration Statement being filed in connection with a Shelf Registration or the exercise of a Primary Demand Right, the Company may decline to file a Registration Statement after an Initial Notice has been given or after receipt by the Company of a Piggyback Notice, and the Company may withdraw a Registration Statement after filing and after such Initial Notice or Piggyback Notice, but prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, provided, that, the Company shall promptly notify the Selling Holders in writing of any such action.

Section 3.4 Selection of Underwriters. If the Company intends to offer and sell Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company by means of an Underwritten Offering (other than an offering pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2), the Company shall select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such Underwritten Offering, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be investment banking firms of nationally recognized standing.

Section 3.5 Withdrawal of Registration. Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw all or a part of its Piggyback Notice by giving written notice to the Company of such withdrawal at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement.

ARTICLE IV

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

Section 4.1 Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is under an obligation pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities or Primary Shares or the offering thereof, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:

(a) in the case of Registrable Securities, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause a Registration Statement that registers such Registrable Securities to become and remain effective for a period of 180 days or, if earlier, until the earlier to occur of the date as of which

 

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(i) all of such Registrable Securities covered thereby have been disposed of and (ii) all securities registered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement cease to constitute Registrable Securities as defined hereunder; provided, that, in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on a Shelf Registration Statement which are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, such 180-day period shall be extended, if necessary or contemplated by Section 2.1(e), to keep the registration statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of such Registrable Securities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, until the Company is no longer required to keep the registration statement continuously effective pursuant to Section 2.1(e) of this Agreement;

(b) (x) with respect to a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration, furnish to each Selling Holder, and (y) with respect to a Registered Primary Offering, furnish to Renesas, in each case at least ten (10) Business Days before filing the related Registration Statement, or such shorter period as reasonably practical or necessary due to the timing requirements of Section 2.1(c)(i), as applicable, copies of such Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements thereto, which documents shall be subject to the review, comment and reasonable approval by (x) counsel to Renesas (including any reasonably necessary local counsel), to the extent any Registrable Securities beneficially owned by Renesas are included on such Registration Statement, and (y) solely in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration, one (1) lead counsel (and any reasonably necessary local counsel) selected by the Non-Renesas Holders who beneficially own a majority of any Registrable Securities owned by Non-Renesas Holders included on such Registration Statement, and who shall represent all Selling Holders that are Non-Renesas Holders as a group (such counsel in (x) and (y), collectively, the “Selling Holders’ Counsel”) (it being understood that such ten (10) Business Day period need not apply to successive drafts of the same document proposed to be filed so long as such successive drafts are supplied to the Selling Holders’ Counsel in advance of the proposed filing by a period of time that is customary and reasonable under the circumstances);

(c) furnish to Renesas (in the case of a Registered Primary Offering) and each Selling Holder (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) and each underwriter, if any, such number of copies of final conformed versions of the applicable Registration Statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits and any documents incorporated by reference) reasonably requested by Renesas or such Selling Holder (as applicable) or underwriter in writing;

(d) in the case of Registrable Securities and Primary Shares, prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus or Prospectus supplement, including any Free Writing Prospectus as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, used in connection therewith as may be (i) reasonably requested by any Selling Holder (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration and to the extent such request relates to information relating to such Selling Holder) or any Holder requesting the inclusion of its Registrable Securities therein, or (ii) necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for at least the period specified in Section 4.1(a) or elsewhere in this Agreement and to comply with the provisions of this Agreement and the Securities Act with respect to the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities and Primary Shares, and furnish to each Selling Holder (in the case of a

 

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Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) and Renesas (in the case of a Registered Primary Offering) and to the managing underwriter(s), if any, within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof a copy of any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided, however, that, with respect to each Free Writing Prospectus or other materials to be delivered to purchasers at the time of sale of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall (i) ensure that no Registrable Securities are sold “by means of” (as defined in Rule 159A(b) under the Securities Act) such Free Writing Prospectus or other materials without the prior written consent of the sellers of the Registrable Securities, which Free Writing Prospectus or other materials shall be subject to the review of counsel to such sellers and (ii) make all required filings of all Free Writing Prospectuses or other materials with the Commission as are required;

(e) notify in writing each Selling Holder (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) and Renesas (in the case of a Registered Primary Offering) promptly (i) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to any comments by the Commission with respect to such Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing thereof or for additional information with respect thereto, (ii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of such Registrable Securities or Primary Shares (as the case may be) for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purposes and, in any such case as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, prepare and file an amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

(f) use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities and Primary Shares under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) reasonably request (or reasonably necessary, in the case of Primary Shares) and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Selling Holders to consummate their disposition in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business, subject itself to general taxation or consent to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to do so but for this Section 4.1(f);

(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration, furnish to each Selling Holder such number of copies of a summary Prospectus or other prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Selling Holders or any underwriter may reasonably request in writing;

(h) notify on a timely basis each Selling Holder of such Registrable Securities (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) at any time when a prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact

 

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required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and, at the request of such Selling Holder, as soon as practicable prepare and furnish to such Selling Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the offeree of such securities, such Prospectus shall not include an 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(i) make available to the Selling Holders, the Selling Holders’ Counsel, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and counsel to the underwriter(s) (collectively, the “Inspectors”) any pertinent corporate records and documents reasonably requested to conduct customary due diligence in connection with the related disposition (collectively, the “Information”) and, to the extent customary and requested by the underwriter(s) participating in any such disposition, request that the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements make themselves available, at reasonable times and for reasonable periods, to discuss the business of the Company. Any of the Information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless otherwise agreed between the Inspector and the Company;

(j) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, cause to be delivered to the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering a “comfort” letter in customary form and at customary times and covering matters of the type customarily covered by such comfort letters from its independent certified public accountants;

(k) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, cause to be delivered to the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering a written and signed legal opinion or opinions in customary form from its outside or in-house legal counsel dated the closing date of the Underwritten Offering;

(l) provide a transfer agent and registrar (which may be the same entity) for such Registrable Securities or Primary Shares and deliver to such transfer agent and registrar such customary forms, legal opinions from its outside or in-house legal counsel, agreements and other documentation as such transfer agent and/or registrar so request;

(m) issue to any underwriter to which any Selling Holders may sell Registrable Securities or the Company may sell Primary Shares in such offering certificates evidencing such Registrable Securities or Primary Shares;

(n) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) and Primary Shares (in the case of a Registered Primary Offering) to be listed on any national securities exchange on which any Common Stock is listed or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, upon the request of any Selling Holder of the Registrable Securities included in such registration (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) or Renesas (in the case of a Registered Primary Offering), use commercially reasonable efforts to qualify such Registrable Securities (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) and Primary Shares (in the case of a Registered Primary Offering) for inclusion on such national securities exchange as the Company shall designate;

 

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(o) otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make available to its security holders, no later than sixty (60) days after the end of the 12-month period beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full fiscal quarter after the effective date of such Registration Statement, earnings statements (which need not be audited) covering a period of twelve (12) months beginning within three (3) months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earnings statements shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto, provided that such requirement shall be deemed satisfied if the Company timely files complete and accurate information on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K under the Exchange Act;

(p) notify the Selling Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration) and Renesas (in the case of a Registered Primary Offering) and the lead underwriter or underwriters, if any, and (if requested) confirm such advice in writing, as promptly as reasonably practicable after notice thereof is received by the Company when the applicable Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or becomes effective and when the applicable Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed;

(q) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the entry of, and use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable the withdrawal of, any stop order with respect to the applicable Registration Statement or other order suspending the use of any preliminary or final Prospectus;

(r) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement such information as the lead underwriter or underwriters, if any, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration, each Selling Holder agree should be included therein relating to the plan of distribution with respect to such class of Registrable Securities or Primary Shares, which may include disposition of Registrable Securities or Primary Shares by all lawful means, including firm-commitment underwritten public offerings, block trades, agented transactions, sales directly into the market, purchases or sales by brokers, derivative transactions, short sales, stock loan or stock pledge transactions and sales not involving a public offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as promptly as reasonably practicable after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(s) if a Prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down or Registered Primary Offering and the managing underwriter(s) at any time shall notify the Company in writing that, in the sole judgment of such managing underwriter(s), inclusion of detailed information to be used in such Prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down or Registered Primary Offering, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such Prospectus supplement;

 

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(t) cooperate with each Selling Holder in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration and each underwriter or agent, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities or Primary Shares and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

(u) provide a CUSIP number or numbers for all such shares, in each case not later than the effective date of the applicable registration statement;

(v) to the extent reasonably requested by the lead or managing underwriters in connection with an Underwritten Offering, send appropriate officers of the Company to attend any “roadshows” scheduled in connection with any such Underwritten Offering, with all out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Company or such officers in connection with such attendance to be paid by the Company;

(w) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as (i) in the case of a Shelf Registration or Piggyback Registration, the Selling Holder or Selling Holders, as the case may be, owning at least a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by any applicable Registration Statement shall reasonably request and (ii) in the case of a Registered Primary Offering, Renesas shall reasonably request, in each case in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and Primary Shares (as applicable), including customary indemnification and contribution to the effect and to the extent provided in Article V hereof, provided, however, that in the case of a Shelf Registration or a Piggyback Registration, if a Selling Holder becomes a party to any underwriting agreement or related documents, the Selling Holder shall not be required in any such underwriting agreement or related documents to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than customary representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder’s title to Registrable Securities and any written information provided by the Selling Holder to the Company expressly for inclusion in the related Registration Statement, and the liability of any Selling Holder under the underwriting agreement shall be several and not joint and in no event shall the liability of any Selling Holder under the underwriting agreement be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Selling Holder under the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such underwriting agreement (net of underwriting discounts and commissions); and

(x) subject to all the other provisions of this Agreement, use commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration, marketing and sale of such Registrable Securities or Primary Shares contemplated hereby.

Section 4.2 Notice Opt-In and Opt-Out. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, until a Holder makes an affirmative written election, the Company shall not deliver any notice or any information to such Holder that would reasonably be expected to constitute material non-public information (“MNPI”), including any applicable registration notices, or any other information under this Agreement. Upon receipt of a written election to receive such notices or information (an “Opt-In Election”) the Company shall provide to the Holder all applicable notices or information pursuant to this Agreement from the date of such Opt-In Election. At any time following a Holder making an Opt-In Election, such Holder may also make a written election to no longer receive any such notices or information (an “Opt-Out Election”), which election shall

 

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cancel any previous Opt-In Election, and, following receipt of such Opt-Out Election, the Company shall not deliver any such notice or information to such Holder from the date of such Opt-Out Election. An Opt-Out Election may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely. A Holder who previously has given the Company an Opt-In Election or Opt-Out Election may revoke such election at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-In Elections and Opt-Out Elections. Should any Holder have made an Opt-In Election and have received a notice or any information that would reasonably be expected to constitute MNPI, such Holder agrees that it shall treat such MNPI as confidential in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (the “Policies”) and shall not disclose such MNPI, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as such MNPI is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement; provided, that, a Holder may deliver or disclose MNPI (A) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents, external advisors or legal counsel (collectively, “Representatives”), but solely to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to its evaluation of exercise of its rights under this Agreement and the sale of any Registrable Securities in connection therewith, and such Representatives are subject to the Policies or agree to hold the MNPI confidential on terms substantially consistent with this Section 4.2; (B) when disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities; (C) when disclosure of such information is required, in the reasonable opinion of such Holder’s counsel, by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to federal securities laws in connection with the filing of any Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus referred to in this Agreement); or (D) when such information becomes available to any such Person from a source other than the Company and such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement.

ARTICLE V

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 5.1 Indemnification by the Company. In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder is participating, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, such Holder, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, managers, partners, members and representatives, and each of their respective successors and assigns, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in settlement, caused by any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with the registration contemplated by such Registration Statement or any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus, or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any other disclosure document (including reports and other documents filed under the Exchange Act and any document incorporated by reference therein) or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus, or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or

 

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supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense specifically for use therein. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any such Person and shall survive the transfer of such securities. The Company shall also provide customary indemnification to any underwriters participating in any Underwritten Offering.

Section 5.2 Indemnification by Selling Holders. Each Selling Holder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, the Company, the Company’s controlled Affiliates and its and their respective directors, managers, partners, members and representatives, and each of their respective successors and assigns, and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities and expenses caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance on and in conformity with any information furnished in writing by such Selling Holder to the Company expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement and has not been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to or concurrently with the sale of the Registrable Securities to the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense; provided, that, the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, for each Selling Holder and in no event shall the liability of any Selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions) received by such Selling Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

Section 5.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt (but in any event within thirty (30) days after such Person has actual knowledge of the facts constituting the basis for indemnification) written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder only to the extent that it is materially prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure, but shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any other liability that it may have otherwise. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the Person entitled to indemnification hereunder and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person, (c) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded, based on the advice of counsel, that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party or (d) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person, based upon advice of counsel, a conflict of interest may exist between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if such Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that

 

26


such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person). If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party and (iii) does not commit any indemnified party to take, or hold back from taking, any action. No indemnified party shall, without the written consent of the indemnifying party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder, and no indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any such action or claim effected without its consent, in each case which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Section 5.4 Other Indemnification. Indemnification similar to that specified in this Article V (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each Selling Holder with respect to any required registration or other qualification of Registrable Securities under Federal or state law or regulation of governmental authority other than the Securities Act.

Section 5.5 Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless as contemplated by Section 5.1 and Section 5.2, then (i) the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and such prospective sellers, on the other hand, from their sale of the Registrable Securities. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5.5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders or any underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 5.5. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.5, no Holder shall be required to contribute an amount greater than the dollar amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holder with respect to the sale of any Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification and contribution obligation exceeds the amount of damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any and all untrue or alleged untrue statements of material fact or omissions or alleged omissions of material fact made in any registration statement, prospectus or

 

27


preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto related to such sale of Registrable Securities. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or, except as provided in Section 5.3, defending any such action or claim. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations in this Section 5.5 to contribute shall be several in proportion to the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions) received by such Selling Holders with respect to the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation and not joint.

ARTICLE VI

COMPLIANCE WITH EXEMPTION REQUIREMENTS

Section 6.1 Compliance with Exemption Requirements. So long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to enable Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Section 4(a)(7), Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rules may be amended from time to time or any similar rules or regulations adopted by the Commission, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) making and keeping current public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, (ii) filing with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act, to the extent so required, and (iii) at the request of any Holder if such Holder proposes to sell securities in compliance with Section 4(a)(7), Rule 144 or Rule 144A, forthwith furnish to such Holder, as applicable, a written statement of compliance with the reporting requirements of the Commission as set forth in such rules and make available to such Holder such information as will enable the Holder to make sales pursuant to Section 4(a)(7), Rule 144 or Rule 144A.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

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Section 7.2 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware irrespective of the choice of laws principles thereof. The parties agree that any legal action or proceeding regarding this Agreement shall be brought and determined exclusively in a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 7.3 Other Registration Rights. The Company shall not grant any demand, piggyback or shelf registration rights, the terms of which are senior to or conflict with the rights granted to the Holders hereunder to any other Person, without the prior written consent of the Required Holders.

Section 7.4 Additional Rights. If the Company at any time after the date hereof grants to any other holders of Common Stock or securities of the Company convertible or exercisable into or for Common Stock any rights to request the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any shares of Common Stock on terms more favorable to such holders than the terms set forth in this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed amended or supplemented to the extent necessary to provide the Holders such more favorable rights and benefits.

Section 7.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties hereto, each of which, in the case of the Holders and any Transferees thereof, shall agree to become subject to the terms of this Agreement by executing an Adoption Agreement and be bound to the same extent as the parties hereto. The Company may not assign any of its rights or delegate any of its duties hereunder (a) with respect to Section 2.2 and any associated rights and duties herein, without the prior written consent of Renesas for so long as Renesas holds or beneficially owns any Registrable Securities, and (b) with respect to any other rights or duties hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Required Holders. Any Holder may, at its election and at any time or from time to time, assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder, in whole or in part, to any Transferee of such Holder (each, an “Assignee”); provided, that no such assignment shall be binding upon or obligate the Company to any such Assignee unless and until such Assignee delivers the Company an Adoption Agreement; provided, that (i) any rights assigned hereunder shall apply only in respect of Registrable Securities that are Transferred and not in respect of any other securities that the Transferee may hold and (ii) any Registrable Securities that are Transferred may cease to constitute Registrable Securities following such Transfer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If a Holder assigns its rights under this Agreement in connection with the Transfer of less than all of its Registrable Securities, the Holder shall retain its rights under this Agreement with respect to its remaining Registrable Securities. If a Holder assigns its rights under this Agreement in connection with the Transfer of all of its Registrable Securities, the Holder shall have no further rights or obligations under this Agreement, except under Article V hereof in respect of offerings in which such Holder participated or registrations in which Registrable Securities held by such Holder were included. Any purported assignment in violation of this provision shall be null and void ab initio.

 

29


Section 7.6 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if delivered in writing in person, by electronic mail or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth below or at such other address as may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other parties. All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be delivered as follows:

(a) if to the Company, to:

Wolfspeed, Inc.

4600 Silicon Drive

Durham, NC 27703

Attention: Melissa Garrett

Email:

with a copy, in each case, (which shall not constitute notice), to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Attention:   Tad J. Freese

Richard Kim

E-mail:   Tad. Freese@lw.com

Richard.Kim2@lw.com

(b) if to Renesas, to the address or e-mail address set forth under Renesas’ name in Schedule I attached hereto,

with a copy, in each case, (which shall not constitute notice), to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

Attention: Rachel W. Sheridan, P.C.

Shagufa R. Hossain, P.C.

Anthony L. Sanderson

Email: rachel.sheridan@kirkland.com

shagufa.hossain@kirkland.com

anthony.sanderson@kirkland.com

 

30


(c) if to any Non-Renesas Holder, to the address or e-mail address set forth under such other Holder’s name in Schedule I attached hereto,

with a copy, in each case, (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Ropes & Gray LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Attn:  Ryan P. Dahl

Matthew M. Roose

Sam Badawi

Email: ryan.dahl@ropesgray.com

matthew.roose@ropesgray.com

sam.badawi@ropesgray.com

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been received (i) in the case of personal delivery or delivery by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date of such delivery, (ii) in the case of dispatch by nationally recognized overnight courier, on the next Business Day following such dispatch and (iii) in the case of mailing, on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the posting thereof.

Section 7.7 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

Section 7.8 Additional Parties. Additional parties to this Agreement shall only include each Holder (a) who has executed an Adoption Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, or (b) who (i) is bound by and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) has adopted this Agreement with the same force and effect as if it were originally a party hereto.

Section 7.9 Adjustments. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for Shares as a result of any reclassification, recapitalization, split (including a reverse split), or subdivision or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any share dividend or share distribution, merger, amalgamation or other similar transaction affecting such Shares or such securities, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to such Shares or such securities as so changed.

Section 7.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other writings referred to herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such subject matter.

Section 7.11 Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that the other parties hereto, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to seek an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any party hereto from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity which such party may have.

 

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Section 7.12 Counterparts; Facsimile or .pdf Signature. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same document. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or .pdf signature, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include DocuSign, and a facsimile or .pdf signature, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include DocuSign, shall constitute an original for all purposes.

Section 7.13 Amendment. Other than with respect to amendments to Schedule I attached hereto, which may be amended by the Company from time to time to reflect the Holders at such time, this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented without the written consent of the Required Holders; provided, however, that, with respect to a particular Holder or group of Holders, any such amendment, supplement, modification or waiver that (a) would materially and adversely disproportionately affect such Holder or group of Holders in any respect as compared to any other Holder or group of Holders or (b) would disproportionately benefit any other Holder or group of Holders or confer any benefit on any other Holder or group of Holders to which such Holder of group of Holders would not be entitled, shall not be effective against such Holder or group of Holders unless approved in writing by such Holder or the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities held by such group of Holders, as the case may be. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company and Renesas (for so long as Renesas holds or beneficially owns any Registrable Securities) can amend Section 2.2 and any associated rights, duties and definitions without the written consent of any other Holder so long as such amendment is not materially adverse any such Holders.

Section 7.14 Extensions; Waivers. Any party may, for itself only, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of any other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any extension or waiver pursuant to this Section 7.14 will be valid only if set forth in a writing signed by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver by any party of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.

Section 7.15 Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto shall execute all such further instruments and documents and take all such further action as the Company may reasonably require in order to effectuate the terms and purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Section 7.16 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except pursuant to Article V, this Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and other Persons expressly named herein.

Section 7.17 Interpretation; Construction. This Agreement has been freely and fairly negotiated among the parties. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any law will be deemed to refer to such law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, including the schedules, exhibits and annexes, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified or supplemented, and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. References to “will” or “shall” mean that the party must perform the matter so described and a reference to “may” means that the party has the option, but not the obligation, to perform the matter so described. All references to sections, schedules, annexes and exhibits mean the sections of this Agreement and the schedules, annexes and exhibits attached to this Agreement, except where otherwise stated. The parties intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party has breached any covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) that the party has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the party’s breach of the first covenant.

Section 7.18 Term. This Agreement shall terminate (i) with respect to any Holder, at such time as such Holder has no Registrable Securities and (ii) in full and be of no further effect at such time as there are no Registrable Securities held by any Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Article V, Section 7.2, Section 7.6, and Section 7.17 shall survive any termination.

* * * *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement, or been deemed to execute this Agreement, on the date first above written.

 

THE COMPANY:
WOLFSPEED, INC.
By:  

/s/ Melissa Garrett

  Name: Melissa Garrett
  Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement, or been deemed to execute this Agreement, on the date first above written.

 

HOLDER:

 

RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.

By:   /s/ Shuhei Shinkai
  Name: Shuhei Shinkai
  Title:  Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“Adoption”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2025, a copy of which is attached hereto (as amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), by the undersigned (the “Undersigned”) executing this Adoption. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Registration Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein. By the execution of this Adoption, the Undersigned agrees as follows:

1. Acknowledgment. The Undersigned acknowledges that the Undersigned is acquiring certain Shares (or securities convertible into or exercisable for Shares), subject to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement.

2. Agreement. The Undersigned (i) agrees that the Shares (or securities convertible into or exercisable for Shares) acquired by the Undersigned, and certain other Shares and other securities of the Company convertible into or exercisable for Shares that may be acquired by the Undersigned in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Registration Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if the undersigned were originally a party thereto.

3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Registration Rights Agreement shall be given to the Undersigned at the address listed beside the Undersigned’s signature below.

4. Opt-In Election. The undersigned Holder hereby notifies the Company of its decision to either exercise or decline its Opt-In Election by marking the appropriate box below.

[_] The undersigned Holder hereby exercises its Opt-In Election.

[_] The undersigned Holder hereby declines its Opt-In Election.

 

[NAME OF HOLDER]       Address for Notices:
By:  

 

      [•]
Name         [•]
Title:         Telephone: [•]
Date:         Email: [•]

 

 

Exhibit A


SCHEDULE I

List of Holders

[On file with the Company]

Exhibit 10.4

 

LOGO

2025 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Establishment of Plan. Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the “Wolfspeed, Inc. 2025 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan” (the “Plan”), as set forth in this document.

1.2 Purpose of Plan. The objectives of the Plan are to (i) attract and retain employees and directors of the Company and its affiliates by providing competitive compensation opportunities; (ii) provide incentives to those individuals who contribute significantly to the long-term performance and growth of the Company and its affiliates; and (iii) align the long-term financial interests of employees and directors with those of the Company’s shareholders.

1.3 Types of Awards. Awards under the Plan may be made to Eligible Participants who are employees in the form of (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonqualified Stock Options, (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iv) Restricted Stock, (v) Restricted Stock Units, (vi) Performance Shares, (vii) Performance Stock Units, (viii) Performance Units, (ix) Other Awards, or any combination of these.

1.4 Effective Date. The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on September 29, 2025 contingent on the approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The Plan will become effective on the date the plan of reorganization of the Company filed with the Bankruptcy Court in connection with the Company’s voluntary Chapter 11 case becomes effective in accordance with its terms (the “Effective Date”).

ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS

Except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply:

2.1 “409A Award” means each Award that is subject to, and not exempt from, Section 409A of the Code.

2.2 “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended from time to time or any successor thereto. All citations to sections of the Act or rules thereunder are to such sections or rules as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.

2.3 “Affiliate” means any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, a partnership or a limited liability company) that is affiliated with the Company through stock or equity ownership or otherwise and is designated as an Affiliate for purposes of this Plan by the Committee unless the context demands otherwise, or the term is otherwise expressly defined. For purposes of granting stock options or stock appreciation rights, an entity may not be considered an Affiliate if it results in noncompliance with Section 409A of the Code.

2.4 “Award” means an award granted to a Participant under the Plan that is an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, Performance Unit, Other Award, or combination of thereof.


2.5 “Award Agreement” or “Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement, notice, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award granted under the Plan. As determined by the Committee, each Award Agreement shall consist of either (i) a written agreement in a form approved by the Committee and executed on behalf of the Company by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (ii) an electronic notice of Award grant in a form approved by the Committee and recorded by the Company (or its designee) in an electronic recordkeeping system used for the purpose of tracking Award grants under the Plan, and if required by the Committee, executed or otherwise electronically accepted by the recipient of the Award in such form and manner as the Committee may require. The Committee may authorize any officer of the Company (other than the particular Award recipient) to execute any or all Award Agreements on behalf the Company.

2.6 “Award Pool” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

2.7 “Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.8 “Cause” means, unless provided otherwise in the Award Agreement: (i) “Cause” as defined in an Individual Agreement to which a Participant is a party that is then in effect, or (ii) if there is no such Individual Agreement or if it does not define Cause, termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company or any other Employer because of any conduct amounting to fraud, dishonesty, willful misconduct, negligence, activities materially harmful to the reputation of the Company or an Employer, insubordination, commission of or indictment for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, all as determined by the Committee in good faith, including but not limited to (as determined by the Committee in good faith), the (A) Participant’s breach of any agreement between the Participant and an Employer (including but not limited to any agreement regarding confidential information, noncompetition, nonsolicitation or similar covenants), (B) Participant’s intentional or negligent failure to perform a reasonably requested directive or assignment or to perform his duties to an Employer substantially in accordance with the Employer’s operating and personnel policies and procedures generally applicable to all of its employees, (C) Participant’s misappropriation or attempted misappropriation of any of the Employer’s funds or property (including but not limited to intellectual property), (D) Participant’s violation of the Company’s or an Employer’s written policies or codes of conduct, including written policies related to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, performance of illegal or unethical activities, or ethical misconduct, (E) Participant’s failure to substantially perform the Participant’s material duties to the Company or an Employer (other than as a result of physical or mental illness or injury) or to comply with a lawful directive or order of the Board, in either case that has continued after the Company or Employer has provided written notice of such failure and the Participant has not cured such failure (if curable) promptly after the date of such written notice, or (F) Participant’s breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the Company or an Employer.

2.9 “Change in Control” or “Change of Control” will be deemed to have occurred upon the happening of any of the following events: (a) any “Person” as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Act, including a “group” (as that term is used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Act), but excluding the Company or any of its Affiliates and any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by any Affiliate of the Company (including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee), who together with its “affiliates” and “associates” (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Act) of more than 50% of the then-outstanding Shares or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of its directors. For purposes of calculating the number of shares or voting power held by such Person and its affiliates and associates under this clause (a), there shall be excluded any securities acquired by such Person or its affiliates or associates directly from any Affiliate of the Company; (b) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets is consummated, other than such a sale or disposition that would not have constituted a Change of Control under clause (d) below had it been structured as a merger or consolidation; (c) the shareholders of the Company approve a definitive agreement or plan to liquidate the Company; or (d) a merger or consolidation of the Company with and into another entity is consummated, unless immediately following such transaction (i) more than 50% of the members of the governing body of the surviving entity were Directors at the time of execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction, (ii) no “Person” (as defined in clause (a) above), together with its “affiliates” and “associates” (as defined in clause (a) above), is the “Beneficial Owner” (as defined in clause (a) above), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then-outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity entitled to vote generally in the election of members of its governing body, and (iii) more than 50% of the then-outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity entitled to vote generally in the election of members of its governing body is “Beneficially Owned”, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the “Beneficial Owners” of the Shares

 

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immediately prior to such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such transaction; To the extent any Award (or any portion thereof) pursuant to this Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code is to be made because of the occurrence of a Change in Control, then payment shall not be made unless such Change in Control also constitutes a “change in ownership,” “change in effective control,” or “change in ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

2.10 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority issued thereunder, in each case, as now in effect or as hereafter amended. All citations to sections of the Code are to such sections as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.

2.11 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be appointed by the Board from time to time to administer this Plan pursuant to Article 3. All of the members of the Committee shall be “Independent Directors” within the meaning of the NYSE’s listing standards (as applicable). If the Committee does not exist or cannot function for any reason, the Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee. If any member of the Committee does not qualify as a “Non Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b 3 under the Act, the Board shall appoint a subcommittee of the Committee, consisting of at least two Directors who are not also employed by the Company or any other Employer, to grant Awards to Insiders. References to the Committee in the Plan shall include and, as appropriate, apply to any such subcommittee.

2.12 “Company” means Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and assigns.

2.13 “Corporate Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.5.

2.14 “Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board.

2.15 “Disability” means, unless provided otherwise in the Award Agreement, an individual’s permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code whereby said individual is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 2.15 or anything in any Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement would cause a payment of a 409A Award to be made because of the Participant’s Disability, then there shall not be a Disability that triggers payment until the date (if any) that the Participant is disabled within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code. Any payment that would have been made except for the application of the preceding sentence shall be made in accordance with the payment schedule that would have applied in the absence of a Disability (and other Participant rights that are tied to a Disability, such as vesting, shall not be affected by the prior sentence).

2.16 “DRO” means a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.

2.17 “Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.4.

2.18 “Eligible Participant” means any employee of any Employer and any Outside Director, subject to such limitations as may be provided by the Code, the Act or the Committee, as shall be determined by the Committee.

2.19 “Employer” means the Company and any entity during any period that it is a “parent corporation” or a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code. With respect to all purposes of the Plan, including but not limited to, the establishment, amendment, termination, operation and administration of the Plan, the Company shall be authorized to act on behalf of all other entities included within the definition of “Employer.”

 

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2.20 “Fair Market Value” or “FMV” means the fair market value of a Share, as determined in good faith by the Committee; provided, however, that unless otherwise directed by the Committee:

(a) if the Shares are listed on the NYSE on the given date, Fair Market Value on such date shall be the last sale price reported for the Shares on such system during the regular trading session on such date or, if no sale was reported during the regular trading session on such date, on the last day preceding such date on which a sale was reported during the regular trading session;

(b) if the Shares are listed on a national or regional securities exchange other than the NYSE on the given date, Fair Market Value on such date shall be the last sale price reported for the Shares on such system during the regular trading session on such date or, if no sale was reported during the regular trading session on such date, on the last day preceding such date on which a sale was reported during the regular trading session; or

(c) if neither (a) nor (b) applies on the given date, the fair market value of a Share on that date shall be determined in good faith by the Committee, taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any other applicable laws, rules, or regulations.

For purposes of subsection (a) above, if the Shares are traded on more than one national securities exchange, then the following exchange shall be referenced to determine Fair Market Value: (i) the NYSE if the Shares are then traded on such exchange and (ii) otherwise such other exchange on which Shares are traded as may be designated by the Committee.

Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to the next paragraph, if the Committee determines in its discretion that an alternative definition of Fair Market Value should be used in connection with the grant, exercise, vesting, settlement or payout of any Award, it may specify such alternative definition in the Award Agreement. Such alternative definition may include a price that is based on the opening, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of a Share on the NYSE or other securities exchange on the given date, the trading date preceding the given date, the trading date next succeeding the given date, or an average of trading days.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the case of an Option or SAR, Fair Market Value shall be determined in accordance with a definition of fair market value that permits the Award to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code; and (ii) in the case of an Option that is intended to qualify as an ISO under Section 422 of the Code, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, as applicable.

2.21 “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following, without the Participant’s consent and not due to Cause: (i) a material reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary or target annual bonus or (ii) the Company or an Employer requiring the Participant to relocate the Participant’s principal place of business outside of a thirty-five (35) mile radius from the Participant’s current principal place of employment; provided, however, that the Participant shall only have Good Reason if the Participant provides notice to the Company or Employer of the existence of the event or circumstances constituting Good Reason specified in either of the preceding clauses within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such event or circumstances and if such event or circumstances are not cured within thirty (30) days after the Participant gives such written notice. If the Participant initiates a termination of employment for Good Reason, the actual date on which employment is terminated must occur within thirty (30) days after expiration of the cure period. The Participant’s failure to timely give notice of the occurrence of a specific event that would otherwise constitute Good Reason shall not constitute a waiver of the Participant’s right to give notice of any new subsequent event that would constitute Good Reason that occurs after such prior event (regardless of whether the new subsequent event is of the same or different nature as the preceding event). The Participant’s actions approving in writing (or by such other means as is reliable and verifiable) any change, reduction, requirement or occurrence (that otherwise may be considered Good Reason) in the Participant’s role as with the Company shall be considered consent for the purposes of this Good Reason definition.

 

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2.22 “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” means a Participant who owns (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) stock of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any “parent” or “subsidiary” (within the meaning of Section 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively), determined at the time an Option is granted.

2.23 “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option granted to an Eligible Participant under Article 5 which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

2.24 “Individual Agreement” means a written agreement between a Participant and the Company or any other Employer relating to employment by the Company or other Employer or to service as an Outside Director of the Company (other than an Award Agreement).

2.25 “Insider” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Act.

2.26 “Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an Option granted to an Eligible Participant under Article 5 which is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or that otherwise does not meet such requirements.

2.27 “NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange or its successor.

2.28 “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. An Option shall be designated in the applicable Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, and in the absence of such designation, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. Furthermore, any Option that is initially intended to be and is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code for any reason shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option with respect to all or such portion that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option per Article 5.

2.29 “Option Price” means the price at which a Participant may purchase a Share pursuant to an Option.

2.30 “Other Award” means any form of equity-based or equity-related award, other than an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Stock or Performance Unit, that is granted pursuant to Article 9.

2.31 “Outside Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any other Employer.

2.32 “Participant” means an Eligible Participant to whom an Award has been granted.

2.33 “Performance Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

2.34 “Performance Share” means an Award under Article 8 that is valued by reference to a Share, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance objectives during the relevant Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such Award or thereafter.

2.35 “Performance Unit” means an Award under Article 8 that has a value set by the Committee (or that is determined by reference to a valuation formula specified by the Committee), which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance objectives during the relevant Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such Award or thereafter.

2.36 “Plan” means this Wolfspeed, Inc. 2025 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan set forth in this document and as it may be amended from time to time.

 

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2.37 “Reimbursement Expenses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

2.38 “Restricted Stock” means an Award of Shares under Article 7, which Shares are issued with such restriction(s) as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose, including without limitation, any restriction on the right to retain such Shares, to sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Shares, to vote such Shares, and/or to receive any cash dividends with respect to such Shares, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.

2.39 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award under Article 7 that is valued by reference to a Share, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, and that has such restriction(s) as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose, including without limitation, any restriction on the right to retain such Awards, to sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Awards, and/or to receive any cash dividend equivalents with respect to such Awards, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.

2.40 “Restriction Period” means the period during which Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to one or more restrictions that will lapse based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or the occurrence of another event or events, as determined by the Committee and specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

2.41 “Restructuring Support Agreement” means that certain Restructuring Support Agreement by and among the Company, Wolfspeed Texas LLC and the Consenting Creditors (as defined therein), dated June 22, 2025, including all exhibits, annexes and schedules attached thereto (as may be amended, supplemented or modified prior to the Effective Date). All references in the Plan to the Restructuring Support Agreement and the terms thereof shall be to the Restructuring Support Agreement as in effect immediately prior to any termination thereof and shall apply irrespective of any such termination.

2.42 “SAR Price” means the amount that is subtracted from the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time of exercise of a SAR to determine the amount payable, if any, upon exercise of the SAR.

2.43 “Share” means one share of common stock, par value $0.00125 per share, of the Company, as such Share may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.4.

2.44 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted under Article 6 which provides for an amount payable in Shares and/or cash, as determined by the Committee, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over the SAR Price.

2.45 “Tandem SAR” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

2.46 “Termination of Service” means, unless provided otherwise in the Award Agreement, the discontinuance of employment of a Participant with the Employer for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the case of an Outside Director, the discontinuance of services to the Company by an Outside Director, for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant becomes a consultant or independent contractor providing services to an Employer immediately upon terminating service as an employee, such seamless continuation of service as a consultant or contractor shall constitute a continuation of service with respect to Awards granted to the Participant while he or she served as an employee. Furthermore, if an Outside Director becomes an employee of the Company or any other Employer before or upon terminating service as an Outside Director, such employment will constitute a continuation of service with respect to Awards granted to the Participant while he or she served as a member of the Board. The determination of whether a Participant has discontinued employment or service shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion. “Termination of Employment” as used in an Award Agreement shall mean Termination of Service and vice-versa.

 

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ARTICLE 3. ADMINISTRATION

3.1 Composition of Committee. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall consist of two or more Outside Directors who shall be appointed by the Board. The Board shall fill vacancies on the Committee and may from time to time remove or add members of the Committee. Except with respect to Awards to Outside Directors under Article 10, the Board, in its sole discretion, may exercise any authority of the Committee under this Plan in lieu of the Committee’s exercise thereof and in such instances references herein to the Committee shall refer to the Board of Directors. Unless the Board directs otherwise, the Compensation Committee of the Board shall serve as the Committee.

3.2 Authority of the Committee.

(a) The Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power to interpret the terms and intent of the Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement or document ancillary to or in connection with this Plan as well as the right and power to construe and administer the Plan, to select Eligible Participants and the persons who are eligible to receive an Award, and to act in all matters pertaining to the granting of an Award and the contents of the Award Agreement evidencing the Award, including without limitation, the determination of the number of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Performance Units or Other Awards subject to an Award and the form, terms, conditions and duration of each Award, and any amendment thereof consistent with the provisions of the Plan. The Committee may adopt such rules, regulations and procedures of general application for the administration of this Plan as it deems appropriate. The Committee shall be further authorized to act on behalf of all Affiliates and subsidiaries with respect to all purposes of the Plan.

(b) The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry it into effect.

(c) In the event the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of another corporation or business entity, the Committee may, in its discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.

(d) The Committee shall have the discretion to determine the effect upon an Award and upon an individual’s status as an employee or Outside Director under the Plan (including whether a Participant shall be deemed to have experienced a Termination of Service, or other change in status) and upon the vesting, expiration or forfeiture of an Award in the case of (i) any individual who is employed by an entity that ceases to qualify as an Employer, (ii) any leave of absence, (iii) any transfer between locations of employment with the Company and any other Employer (including Affiliates) or vice versa, (iv) any change in the Participant’s status from an employee to a consultant or member of the Board of Directors, or vice versa, and (v) any employee who, at the request of the Employer or the Company, becomes employed by any partnership, joint venture, corporation or other entity not meeting the requirements of an Employer.

(e) All actions, determinations and decisions of the Committee made or taken pursuant to grants of authority under the Plan or with respect to any questions arising in connection with the administration, operation, and interpretation of the Plan, including the severability of any and all of the provisions thereof, shall be conclusive, final and binding upon all parties, including the Company, its shareholders, Participants, Eligible Participants and their estates, beneficiaries and successors. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems relevant to making or taking such actions, determinations and decisions including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any Director, officer or employee of the Company and such attorneys, consultants and accountants as it may select. A Participant or other holder of an Award may contest an action, determination or decision by the Committee with respect to such person or Award only on the grounds that such action, determination or decision was arbitrary or capricious or was unlawful, and any review of such action, determination or decision shall be limited to determining whether the Committee’s decision or action was arbitrary or capricious or was unlawful.

 

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3.3 Rules for Foreign Jurisdictions. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend or vary the terms of the Plan in order to conform such terms with the requirements of each non-U.S. jurisdiction where an Eligible Participant is located or to meet the goals and objectives of the Plan; establish one or more sub-plans for these purposes; and establish administrative rules and procedures to facilitate the operation of the Plan in such non-U.S. jurisdictions.

3.4 Delegation of Authority. The Committee may, in its discretion, at any time and from time to time, delegate to one or more of the members of the Committee such of its powers as it deems appropriate (provided that any such delegation shall be to at least two members of the Committee with respect to Awards to Insiders). Except with respect to Awards to Insiders, the Committee may, in its discretion, at any time and from time to time, delegate to one or more persons who are not members of the Committee any or all of its authority and discretion under Section 3.2 and 3.3, to the full extent permitted by law and the rules of any exchange on which Shares are traded.

3.5 Award Agreements. Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to and incorporate, by reference or otherwise, the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan, and any other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be directed by the Committee, including without limitation, provisions related to the consequences of Termination of Service. A copy of such document shall be provided to the Participant, and the Committee may, but need not, require that the Participant sign a copy of the Award Agreement or otherwise confirm the Participant’s acceptance of the provisions of the Award Agreement. The Participant shall in any event be deemed to have accepted the provisions of an Award Agreement delivered to the Participant with respect to an Award by exercising the Award or receiving any benefits thereunder.

3.6 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as members of the Committee, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee against (i) reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal thereof, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted thereunder, (ii) all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof, provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company, and (iii) all amounts paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except as to matters as to which the Committee member has been negligent or engaged in misconduct in the performance of his duties (all amounts reimbursed hereunder are referred to as the “Reimbursement Expenses”); provided, that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, a Committee member shall in writing offer the Company the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same. In the performance of its responsibilities with respect to the Plan, the members of the Committee shall be entitled to rely upon, and no member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in good faith reliance upon, information and/or advice furnished by the Company’s officers or employees, the Company’s accountants, or the Company’s counsel. To the extent the entitlement to Reimbursement Expenses is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it applies during the lifetime of the Committee member; the Company shall pay each Reimbursement Expense no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Committee member incurred such Reimbursement Expense; the amount of Reimbursement Expenses available to a Committee member in one tax year will not affect the amount of Reimbursement Expenses available to the Committee member in any other tax year; and the entitlement to Reimbursement Expenses is not subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

ARTICLE 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

4.1 Aggregate Limits.

(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to Awards under this Plan (the “Award Pool”) shall be 4,058,925. Without limiting the foregoing, in accordance with the Restructuring Support Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference and notwithstanding any termination thereof, Awards granted during fiscal year 2026 shall have a value as of the date of grant, as determined by the Board or Committee, equivalent to $26.6 million, and Awards granted during fiscal year 2027 shall have a value as of the date of grant, as determined by the Board or Committee, equivalent to $27.5 million.

(b) Up to 4,058,925 Shares are available for issuance pursuant to ISOs granted under the Plan. Otherwise, the Award Pool shall be available for all types of Awards granted under the Plan; there is no maximum number of Shares per type of Award. Such Shares shall be made available from Shares authorized but unissued, including Shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions.

 

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4.2 Share Counting Rules.

(a) Each Option shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool.

(b) Each share of Restricted Stock and each Restricted Stock Unit and each Other Award that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool. Restricted Stock Units and Other Awards that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.

(c) Each Performance Share or Performance Stock Unit that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award, based on the number of Shares that would be paid under the Performance Share or Performance Stock Unit for achievement of target performance, and deducted from the Award Pool. Each Performance Unit that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as a number of Shares subject to an Award, based on the number of Shares that would be paid under the Performance Unit for achievement of target performance, with the number determined by dividing the value of the Performance Unit at the time of grant by the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time of grant, and this number shall be deducted from the Award Pool. In both cases, in the event that the Award is later settled based on above-target performance, the number of Shares corresponding to the above-target performance, calculated pursuant to the applicable methodology specified above, shall be deducted from the Award Pool at the time of such settlement; in the event that the Award is later settled upon below-target performance, the number of Shares corresponding to the below-target performance, calculated pursuant to the applicable methodology specified above, shall be added back to the Award Pool. Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.

(d) Each Stock Appreciation Right that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool. Stock Appreciation Rights that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.

(e) If for any reason any Shares awarded or subject to issuance under the Plan are not issued, or are reacquired by the Company from the Participant or the Participant’s transferee, for reasons including, but not limited to: (i) a forfeiture of Restricted Stock or a Restricted Stock Unit; (ii) the termination, expiration or cancellation of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, Performance Unit or Other Award; (iii) Shares withheld for payment of taxes pursuant to Section 14.2 (other than for an Option or Stock Appreciation Right); or (iv) settlement of an Award in cash in lieu of Shares, such Shares shall again be available for issuance pursuant to an Award under the Plan and shall be added back to the Award Pool. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary: (i) Shares with respect to which a Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan is exercised; (ii) Shares tendered, withheld, or subject to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan surrendered in connection with the payment of the Option Price upon exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, if applicable, or in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations with respect to Options or stock-settled Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan; (iii) Shares not issued upon the net settlement or net exercise of a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan; and (iv) Shares purchased by the Company with proceeds from the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall not thereafter be available for issuance under the Plan nor added back to the Award Pool.

4.3 Outside Director Award Limits. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4, the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the Date of Grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted to any Outside Director during any single fiscal year, taken together with any cash fees paid to such Outside Director during such fiscal year, shall not exceed $1,000,000.

4.4 Adjustment of Shares. If any change in corporate capitalization, such as a stock split, reverse stock split, or stock dividend; or any corporate transaction such as a reorganization, reclassification, merger or consolidation or separation, including a spin-off, of the Company or sale or other disposition by the Company of all or a portion of its assets, any other change in the Company’s corporate structure, or any distribution to shareholders (other than an

 

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ordinary cash dividend) results in the outstanding Shares, or any securities exchanged therefore or received in their place, being exchanged for a different number or class of shares or other securities of the Company, or for shares of stock or other securities of any other corporation; or new, different or additional shares or other securities of the Company or of any other corporation being received by the holders of outstanding Shares; then the Committee shall make equitable adjustments, as it determines are necessary and appropriate, in:

(a) the number and class of stock or other securities that comprise the Award Pool as set forth in Section 4.1;

(b) the limitations on the aggregate number of Awards that may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant may be provided for herein or pursuant to an Award Agreement;

(c) the number and class of stock or other securities subject to outstanding Awards, and which have not been issued or transferred under outstanding Awards;

(d) the Option Price under outstanding Options, the SAR Price under outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights and the number of Shares to be transferred in settlement of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights; and

(e) the terms, conditions or restrictions of any Award and Award Agreement, including the price payable for the acquisition of Shares.

It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated above shall be made in a manner that satisfies applicable legal requirements, as well as applicable requirements with respect to taxation (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Sections 424 and 409A of the Code) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment).

Without limiting the generality of the above, any good faith determination by the Committee as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances and the extent and nature of any such adjustment shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons.

Subject to the provisions of Article 15 and notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, without affecting the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with the rules under Sections 409A, 422 and 424 of the Code, as and where applicable.

ARTICLE 5. STOCK OPTIONS

5.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Eligible Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have sole discretion in determining the number of Shares subject to Options granted to each Participant. The Committee may grant a Participant ISOs, NQSOs or a combination thereof, and may vary such Awards among Participants; provided that only employees may be granted ISOs. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 5 to the contrary, except for Options that are specifically designated as intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, Options may only be granted to individuals who provide direct services on the date of grant of the Option to the Company or another entity in a chain of entities in which the Company or another such entity has a controlling interest (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-l(b)(5)(iii)(E)) in each entity in the chain. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan to the contrary, Participants shall not be entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents on unexercised Options granted under the Plan.

5.2 Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which the Option shall become vested and exercisable and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. The Award Agreement shall further specify whether the Award is intended to be an ISO or an NQSO. Any portion of an Option that is not designated as an ISO or otherwise fails or is not qualified as an ISO (even if designated as an ISO) shall be an NQSO.

 

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5.3 Option Price. Subject to Section 5.8, the Option Price for each grant of an Option shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, an Option may be granted with an Option Price that is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted if such Option is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that such Option Price is appropriate to preserve the economic benefit of the replaced award and will not impair the exemption of the Option from Section 409A of the Code (unless the Committee clearly and expressly foregoes such exemption at the time the Option is granted).

5.4 Duration of Options. Each Option shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that the Committee may extend the term of any Option that would otherwise expire at a time when the Participant is not permitted by applicable law or Company policy to exercise such Option to the extent permitted by Sections 409A and 422 of the Code, or other applicable law; and provided, further, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of its grant date or, in the case of an ISO granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the fifth (5th) anniversary of its grant date.

5.5 Exercise of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, including conditions related to the employment of or provision of services by the Participant with the Company, a subsidiary or any other Employer, to the extent permitted by applicable law, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant. The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement and/or an Individual Agreement that vesting of the Award shall accelerate or other restrictions applicable to the Award shall lapse only: (i) in the event of the Participant’s death, Disability, or retirement (as defined in the applicable Award Agreement), (ii) in connection with a Change of Control, or (iii) pursuant to Section 15.5. Deferral of Option gains is not permitted.

5.6 Payment. Options shall be exercised by the delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company or its designated representative, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised and satisfying any requirements that the Committee may establish in or pursuant to the Award Agreement from time to time, together with, (a) payment in full of the Option Price for the number of Shares for which the Option is exercised, and (b) satisfaction in full of any withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items in a manner specified in Article 13. The Option Price shall be payable to the Company either: (a) in cash, (b) in a cash equivalent approved by the Committee, (c) if approved by the Committee, by tendering previously acquired Shares (or delivering a certification or attestation of ownership of such Shares) having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price (provided that the tendered Shares must have been held by the Participant for any period required by the Committee), (d) by a combination of (a), (b) and/or (c), and (e) any other method expressly approved or accepted by the Committee in the Committee’s sole discretion. The Committee also may allow cashless exercises as permitted under Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, subject to applicable securities law restrictions, or by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan’s purpose and applicable law. Unless otherwise authorized by the Committee, no Shares shall be delivered until the full Option Price has been paid.

5.7 Nontransferability of Options.

(a) Incentive Stock Options. No ISO granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, all ISOs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. In no event may an ISO be transferred for value or consideration.

(b) Nonqualified Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement consistent with securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, no NQSO granted under this Article 5 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee, all NQSOs granted to a Participant under this Article 5 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. In no event may an NQSO be transferred for value or consideration.

 

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5.8 Special Rules for ISOs. Notwithstanding the above, in no event shall any Greater Than 10% Stockholder be eligible to receive an ISO at an Option Price less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share on the date the ISO is granted or be eligible to receive an ISO that is exercisable later than the fifth (5th) anniversary date of its grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value of shares with respect to which incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) granted to a Participant are first exercisable in any calendar year (under the Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Employer) shall not exceed $100,000. For this purpose, Fair Market Value shall be determined with respect to a particular incentive stock option on the date on which such incentive stock option is granted. In the event that this One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limit is exceeded with respect to a Participant, then Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan to such Participant shall, to the extent and in the order required by Treasury Regulations under Section 422 of the Code, automatically become NQSOs granted under this Plan. Solely for purposes of determining the limit on ISOs that may be granted under the Plan, the provisions of Section 4.2 that replenish or forgo a deduction from the Award Pool shall only be applied to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.

ARTICLE 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1 Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Eligible Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to an Eligible Participant in connection with an Option granted under Article 5 of this Plan or may be granted independently of any Option. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the holder, within the specified period, to exercise the SAR and receive in exchange a payment having an aggregate value equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the SAR Price, times the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. A SAR granted in connection with an Option (a “Tandem SAR”) shall entitle the holder of the related Option, within the period specified for the exercise of the Option, to surrender the unexercised Option, or a portion thereof, and to receive in exchange therefore a payment having an aggregate value equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the Option Price, times the number of Shares under the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 6 to the contrary, except for SARs that are specifically designated as intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, SARs may only be granted to individuals who provide direct services on the date of grant of the SAR to the Company or another entity in a chain of entities in which the Company or another such entity has a controlling interest (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-l(b)(5)(iii)(E)) in each entity in the chain. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan to the contrary, Participants shall not be entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents on unexercised SARs granted under the Plan.

6.2 Award Agreement. Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the SAR Price, the duration of the SAR, the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR pertains, the conditions upon which the SAR shall become vested and exercisable and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

6.3 Tandem SARs. Each Tandem SAR shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related Option, including limitations on transferability, shall be exercisable only to the extent such Option is exercisable and shall terminate or lapse and cease to be exercisable when the related Option terminates or lapses. The grant of Stock Appreciation Rights related to ISOs must be concurrent with the grant of the ISOs. With respect to NQSOs, the grant either may be concurrent with the grant of the NQSOs, or in connection with NQSOs previously granted under Article 5, which are unexercised and have not terminated or lapsed.

6.4 Payment. The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine in each Award Agreement whether the payment with respect to the exercise of an SAR will be in the form of cash, Shares, or any combination thereof. If payment is to be made in Shares, the number of Shares shall be determined based on the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise.

6.5 SAR Price. The SAR Price for each grant of a SAR shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the SAR is granted. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, a SAR may be granted with a SAR Price that is less than one hundred percent

 

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(100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the SAR is granted if such SAR is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that such SAR Price is appropriate to preserve the economic benefit of the replaced award and will not impair the exemption of the SAR from Section 409A of the Code (unless the Committee clearly and expressly foregoes such exemption at the time the SAR is granted).

6.6 Duration of SARs. Each SAR shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that the Committee may extend the term of any SAR that would otherwise expire at a time when the Participant is not permitted by applicable law or Company policy to exercise such SAR; and provided, further, that no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of its grant date.

6.7 Exercise of SARs. SARs granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, including conditions related to the employment of or provision of services by the Participant with the Company or any Employer, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant. The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement and/or an Individual Agreement that vesting of the Award shall accelerate or other restrictions applicable to the Award shall lapse only: (i) in the event of the Participant’s death, Disability, or retirement (as defined in the applicable Award Agreement), (ii) in connection with a Change of Control, or (iii) pursuant to Section 15.5. Upon exercise of a Tandem SAR, the number of Shares subject to exercise under the related Option shall automatically be reduced by the number of Shares represented by the Option or portion thereof which is surrendered. SARs shall be exercised by the delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company or its designated representative, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is to be exercised and satisfying any requirements that the Committee may apply from time to time.

6.8 Nontransferability of SARs. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee consistent with securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, no SAR granted under this Article 6 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee, all SARs granted to a Participant under this Article 6 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. In no event may a SAR be transferred for value or consideration.

ARTICLE 7. RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

7.1 Grants of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be made to Eligible Participants as an incentive for the performance of future services that the Committee in its sole discretion determines will contribute materially to the successful operation of the Employer. Subject to Article 11 with respect to grants to Outside Directors, Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be made either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan and may be current grants of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or deferred grants of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

7.2 Restricted Stock/Unit Award Agreement.

(a) In General. Each Award of Restricted Stock/Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall set forth the terms of the Award, as determined by the Committee, including, without limitation, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted; the purchase price, if any, to be paid for each Share of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit, which may be more than, equal to, or less than Fair Market Value of a Share and may be zero, subject to such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law; any restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock/Units such as continued service or achievement of performance goals, or both; the length of the Restriction Period and whether any circumstances, such as death, Disability, retirement (as defined in the applicable Award Agreement) or a Change in Control, will shorten or terminate the Restriction Period; and whether Restricted Stock Units will be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares. The Restriction Period may be of any duration. The Award may provide for lapse of the Restriction Period in monthly or longer installments over the course of the Restriction Period, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

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(b) Execution of Award Agreements. Notwithstanding Section 3.5, a Restricted Stock or Stock Unit Award must be accepted prior to the first vesting date or such other period as the Committee may specify, by executing a Restricted Stock/Unit Award Agreement, or otherwise electronically accepting the Award, and paying whatever price, if any, is required. The prospective recipient of a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not have any rights with respect to such Award, unless and until such recipient has executed a Restricted Stock/Unit Award Agreement and has delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, or otherwise electronically accepted the Award, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award.

7.3 Nontransferability. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 7 or in an Award Agreement, no shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units received by a Participant shall be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of during the Restriction Period or, in the case of Restricted Stock Units, until the date of delivery of Shares or other payment with respect to the Restricted Stock Units, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant’s rights under an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be available during the Participant’s lifetime only to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.

7.4 Certificates. Upon an Award of Restricted Stock to a Participant, Shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the Participant’s name. Certificates, if issued, may either be held in custody by the Company until the Restriction Period expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse and/or be issued to the Participant and registered in the name of the Participant, bearing an appropriate restrictive legend and remaining subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders. If required by the Committee, the Participant shall deliver to the Company one or more stock powers endorsed in blank relating to the Restricted Stock. If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock subject to such Restriction Period, unrestricted certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant.

7.5 Dividends and Other Distributions. Except as provided in this Article 7 or in the Award Agreement, a Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award shall have, with respect to such Award, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the Shares to the extent, if any, such Shares possess voting rights and the right to receive any dividends; provided, however, that, in all cases, (i) any dividends or other distributions on such Shares of Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period shall be either automatically deferred and reinvested in additional Shares of Restricted Stock or paid to the Company for the account of the Participant, in either case subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, and (ii) all terms and conditions for payment of such dividends and other distributions shall be included in the Award Agreement related to the Award and shall, to the extent required, comply with Section 409A of the Code. The Committee shall determine whether interest, if any, shall be paid on such amounts, the rate of any such interest, and the other terms applicable to such amounts (again, provided that all such terms shall, to the extent required, comply with Section 409A of the Code). A Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not possess voting rights and shall accrue dividend equivalents on such Restricted Stock Units only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement relating to the Award; provided, however, that in all cases (i) any dividend equivalents payable on such Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, and (ii) all terms and conditions for payment of such dividend equivalents shall be included in the Award Agreement related to the Award and shall, to the extent required, comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

7.6 Short-Term Deferral. To the extent an Award described in this Section is a 409A Award and is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (or will be granted upon the satisfaction of a condition that constitutes such a substantial risk of forfeiture), any compensation due under the Award (or pursuant to a commitment to grant an Award) shall be paid in full not later than the 60th day following the date on which there is no longer such a substantial risk of forfeiture with respect to the Award (and the Participant shall have no right to designate the year of the payment), unless the Committee shall clearly and expressly provide otherwise at the time of granting the Award.

 

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ARTICLE 8. PERFORMANCE SHARES AND UNITS

8.1 Grant of Performance Shares / Performance Stock Units / Performance Units. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”), and Performance Units may be granted to Eligible Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee.

8.2 Value of Performance Shares / Performance Stock Units and Performance Units. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each Performance Share or Performance Stock Unit shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. In addition to any non-performance terms applicable to the Award, the Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Performance Units or all three, as applicable, that will be paid out to the Participant. For purposes of this Article 8, the time period during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award shall be called a “Performance Period.”

8.3 Earning of Performance Shares / Units. Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units shall be entitled to receive a payout of the number and value of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved and any applicable non-performance terms have been met. The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement and/or an Individual Agreement that the Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units are earned notwithstanding achievement of the performance goals only: (i) in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability, (ii) in the event of the Participant’s “retirement” (as such term is defined in the applicable Award Agreement), (iii) in connection with a Change of Control, or (iv) pursuant to Section 15.5.

8.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units. Subject to the terms of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units in the form of cash or Shares or other Awards (or in a combination thereof) which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units at the close of the applicable Performance Period. Any such Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form and timing of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent an Award described in this Article 8 is a 409A Award and is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (or will be granted upon the satisfaction of a condition that constitutes such a substantial risk of forfeiture), any compensation due under the Award (or pursuant to a commitment to grant an Award) shall be paid in full not later than the 60th day following the date there is no longer such a substantial risk of forfeiture with respect to the Award (and the Participant shall have no right to designate the year of the payment), unless the Committee shall clearly and expressly provide otherwise at the time of granting the Award.

8.5 Dividends and Other Distributions. A Participant receiving a Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, or Performance Unit Award shall not possess voting rights. A Participant receiving a Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, Performance Unit Award or any other Award that is subject to performance conditions shall accrue dividend equivalents on such Award only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement relating to the Award; provided, however, that (i) any dividend equivalents payable on such Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Performance Units or other Award subject to performance conditions shall be subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, and (ii) all terms and conditions for payment of such dividend equivalent shall be included in the Award Agreement related to the Award and shall, to the extent required, comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

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8.6 Nontransferability. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8 or the applicable Award Agreement, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant’s rights with respect to Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units shall be available during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. In no event may a Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, or Performance Unit be transferred for value or consideration.

ARTICLE 9. OTHER AWARDS

The Committee shall have the authority to specify the terms and provisions of other forms of equity-based or equity-related awards not described above that the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company. The Other Awards may provide for cash payments based in whole or in part on the value or future value of Shares, for the acquisition or future acquisition of Shares, or any combination of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where the value of an Other Award is based on the difference in the value of a Share at different points in time, the grant or exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant unless the Other Award is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that the Other Award preserves the economic benefit of the replaced award and is either exempt from or in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. A Participant receiving an Other Award shall accrue dividend equivalents on such Other Award only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement relating to the Other Award; provided, however, that (i) any dividend equivalents payable on such Other Award shall be subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, and (ii) all terms and conditions for payment of such dividend equivalents shall be included in the Award Agreement related to the Other Award and shall, to the extent required, comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE 10. PERFORMANCE MEASURES

10.1 In General. The Committee may, in its discretion, include performance conditions or objectives in any Award. The Committee may provide for a threshold level of performance below which no amount of compensation will be paid, and the Committee may provide for the payment of differing amounts of compensation for different levels of performance.

10.2 Committee Determination of Achievement of Performance Goals; Adjustments. For each Award that has been granted subject to a specified performance goal or objective, the Committee shall determine within an administratively practicable period following the end of the applicable Performance Period whether such performance goals or objectives for that Performance Period have been achieved and, if they have, the Committee shall so certify in writing and ascertain the amount payable under the applicable Award. If a performance goal or objective for a Performance Period is not achieved, the Committee in its sole discretion may nonetheless pay all or a portion of that Award based on such criteria as the Committee deems appropriate, including without limitation individual performance, Company-wide performance, or the performance of specific Employer entities or Affiliates, divisions, departments, regions, or service line or function employing the Participant.

In determining whether any performance goal or objective has been satisfied, the Committee may include or exclude any or all items that are unusual or non-recurring, including but not limited to (i) charges, costs, benefits gains or income associated with reorganizations or restructurings of the Employer (or related entities and Affiliates), discontinued operations, goodwill, other intangible assets, long-lived assets (non-cash), real estate strategy, litigation, or the resolution of litigation (e.g., settlements, judgments, or attorneys’ fees), or currency or commodity fluctuations; and (ii) the effects of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. In addition, the Committee may adjust any performance objective for a Performance Period as it deems equitable to recognize unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Employer (or related entities and Affiliates), changes in tax laws or regulations or accounting procedures, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, or any other factors as the Committee may determine. To the extent that a performance objective is based on the price of a Share, then in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other changes in the capital structure of the Company, any merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets (other than a

 

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normal cash dividend), issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities or any other corporate transaction having an effect similar to any of the foregoing, the Committee shall make or provide for such adjustments in such performance objective as the Committee in the Committee’s sole discretion may in good faith determine to be equitably required in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants.

ARTICLE 11. AWARDS TO OUTSIDE DIRECTORS

Awards to Outside Directors may be in the form of Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Awards or a combination thereof.

ARTICLE 12. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

To the extent permitted by the Committee, each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, in the manner determined by the Committee, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. If any such designation is permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such designations. Unless different rules and procedures are established by the Committee, each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with a designated representative of the Committee during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate or legal heirs.

ARTICLE 13. DEFERRALS

The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, or the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units. If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such deferrals, and the Committee may provide for such arrangements, including conversion to another form of Award that is available under the Plan and has equivalent value, as it deems necessary in order to permit the deferral of taxes in connection with such deferral by the Participant. Any deferrals required or permitted by the Committee of Awards shall be made in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE 14. TAX WITHHOLDING

14.1 Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan or any Award. The Company shall not be required to issue Shares or to recognize the disposition of such Shares until such obligations are satisfied.

14.2 Share Withholding. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee or provided in an Award Agreement, with respect to tax withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, upon the achievement of performance goals related to Performance Shares or Performance Units, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of or in connection with an Award granted hereunder that is settled in Shares, unless other arrangements are made with the consent of the Committee, Participants shall satisfy the withholding requirement by: (i) having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to but not more than the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations at the minimum statutory withholding rates (or any greater rate that will not result in adverse accounting or tax treatment as determined by the Committee), or (ii) if approved by the Committee, authorizing the sale of Shares equal to but not more than the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations at the minimum statutory withholding rates (or any greater rate that will not result in adverse accounting or tax treatment as determined by the Committee). All such withholding arrangements shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

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ARTICLE 15. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

15.1 Amendment of Plan. The Board may at any time terminate or from time to time amend the Plan in whole or in part, but, unless required by applicable law or applicable listing standard, no such action shall materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to any Awards previously granted under the Plan, unless the affected Participants consent in writing. The Company will also obtain the approval of the shareholders before amending the Plan to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code or the rules of any securities exchange or quotation or trading system on which Shares are traded or other applicable law.

15.2 Amendment of Award; Repricing. The Committee may, at any time, amend outstanding Awards in a manner not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan; provided, however, that if such amendment is adverse to the Participant, as determined by the Committee, the amendment shall not be effective unless and until the Participant consents, in writing, to such amendment, except as may be required by applicable law, as provided in Section 15.4 and Section 15.5, or as provided in the Award Agreement. To the extent not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and the foregoing, the Committee may, at any time, amend an outstanding Award Agreement in a manner that is not unfavorable to the Participant without the consent of such Participant. Notwithstanding the above provision, the Committee shall not permit or effect a repricing, except in accordance with Section 4.4 or to the extent the repricing is approved by the shareholders of the Company; for this purpose, a repricing is an amendment to the terms of an outstanding Option or SAR that would reduce the Option Price or SAR Price of that Option or SAR, respectively, or a cancellation, exchange, substitution, buyout or surrender of an outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for cash, another Award or Option or SAR with an Option Price or SAR Price that is less than the Option Price or SAR Price of the original Option or SAR, respectively (or as further defined within US generally accepted accounting practices or any applicable stock exchange rule). Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 15.2, (i) no amendment of an Award Agreement shall cause an award to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, unless the Award Agreement, as amended, complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and (ii) no amendment of an Award Agreement that is subject to Section 409A of the Code shall cause such an Award Agreement (or the underlying Award) to violate Section 409A of the Code.

15.3 Termination of Plan. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. However, Awards granted under the Plan on or prior to the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date shall remain outstanding beyond that date in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreements corresponding to such Awards.

15.4 Cancellation of Awards / Clawback. The Committee may, in its discretion, specify in an Award Agreement or a policy that will be deemed incorporated into an Award Agreement by reference (regardless of whether such policy is established before or after the date of such Award Agreement), that a Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, rescission or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting, restrictions or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, Termination of Service with or without Cause, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or restatement of the Company’s financial statements to reflect adverse results from those previously released financial statements, as a consequence of errors, omissions, fraud, or misconduct. In addition, all Awards under the Plan (and payments and Shares in settlement of Awards as well as any proceeds received from the disposition of such property) are subject to any clawback policy implemented, including any clawback policy adopted to comply with the requirements of applicable law, including Section 954 of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, Rule 10D 1 under the Act, and the NYSE’s listing standards (as applicable).

15.5 Assumption or Acceleration of Awards. In the event of a Change in Control or any other corporate transaction to which the Committee deems this provision applicable (a “Corporate Event”), each Award outstanding at the time of the Corporate Event shall be assumed or an equivalent Award shall be substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (and adjusted as appropriate), unless such successor corporation does not agree to assume the Award or to substitute an equivalent award (including a cash-based award), in which case the time- or service-based vesting of each Award shall fully accelerate and any performance- or milestone-based vesting condition shall be treated in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee shall notify the Participant of any accelerated vesting provided in accordance with this Section 15.5 or

 

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pursuant to an applicable Award Agreement and, subject to rescission if the Corporate Event is not successfully completed within a certain period, the Option or other Award shall be exercisable as to the vested Shares subject thereto (after giving effect to any such accelerated vesting) for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice (or such other period as provided by the Committee), and, to the extent not exercised, the Option or other Award will terminate upon the expiration of such period. Alternatively, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of any or all vested Awards (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting provided under this Section 15.5 or an applicable Award Agreement) or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all vested Awards (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting provided under this Section 15.5 or an applicable Award Agreement), based upon, to the extent relevant under the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of Shares upon or in respect of the Corporate Event. The Committee may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash settlement and, in the case of Options, SARs or similar rights, but without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess (if any) of the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the Option Price or SAR Price, as applicable, of the Award and may cancel each Option or SAR with an Option Price or SAR Price greater than the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event without any payment to the person holding such Option or SAR. Any actions taken under this Section 15.5 shall be valid with respect to a 409A Award only to the extent that such action complies with Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE 16. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

16.1 Restrictions on Shares. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or quotation or trading system on which Shares are traded and any applicable federal, state, local or foreign laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. In making such determination, the Committee may rely upon an opinion of counsel for the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no liability to deliver any Shares under the Plan or make any other distribution of the benefits under the Plan unless such delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933), and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or quotation or trading system on which Shares are traded.

16.2 Rights of a Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided in Article 7 or in the applicable Restricted Stock Award Agreement, each Participant who receives an Award of Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares to the extent, if any, such Shares possess voting rights and receive dividends and other distributions. No Participant awarded an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Award (including but not limited to the right to vote the Shares) prior to the date on which the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares. Except as provided otherwise in the Plan or in an Award Agreement, no Participant awarded a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, or Performance Unit shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Award (including but not limited to the right to vote the Shares) prior to the date on which the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.

16.3 No Implied Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the service of the Employer, or to serve as a member of the Board, or interfere in any way with the right of the Employer to terminate his or her employment or other service relationship at any time. Except to the extent approved by the Board, no Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any employee benefit plan, severance program, or other arrangement of the Employer for the benefit of its employees. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. No Participant shall have any claim to an Award until it is actually granted under the Plan. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, be no greater than the right of an unfunded and unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

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16.4 Compliance with Laws. The Plan and the grant of Awards shall be subject to all applicable federal, state local and foreign laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan and any Award granted or awarded to an Insider shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Act (including Rule 16b-3) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule. Any provision herein relating to compliance with Rule 16b-3 under the Act shall not be applicable with respect to participation in the Plan by Participants who are not Insiders. If the Committee determines that the listing, registration or qualification upon any securities exchange or under any law of shares subject to any Award is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of same or the issue or purchase of Shares thereunder, no such Award may be exercised in whole or in part (as applicable), no such Award may be paid out (as applicable) and no shares may be issued pursuant to such Award (as applicable) unless such listing, registration or qualification is effected free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

16.5 Section 409A.

(a) General. The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code, such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A of the Code apply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (i) exempt this Plan or any Award from Section 409A of the Code, or (ii) comply with Section 409A of the Code, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax treatment under Section 409A of the Code or otherwise. The Company will have no obligation under this Section 16.5 or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A of the Code with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A of the Code.

(b) Separation from Service. Any payment or settlement of a 409A Award upon a Participant’s Termination of Service will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A of the Code, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the Participant’s Termination of Service. For purposes of this Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms means a “separation from service.”

(c) Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under a 409A Award to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code and as the Committee determines) due to such person’s “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award Agreement) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest). Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such 409A Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.

(d) Separate Payments. If an Award includes a “series of installment payments” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Participant’s right to the series of installment payments will be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not as a right to a single payment and, if an Award includes “dividend equivalents” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Participant’s right to receive the dividend equivalents will be treated separately from the right to other amounts under the Award.

(e) Change in Control. Any payment due under a 409A Award upon a Change in Control of the Company will be paid only if such Change in Control constitutes a “change in ownership” or “change in effective control” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and in the event that such Change in Control does not constitute a “change in the ownership” or “change in the effective control” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, such 409A Award for which payment is due upon a Change in Control of the Company will vest upon the Change in Control and any payment will be delayed until the first compliant date under Section 409A of the Code.

 

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16.6 Employees Based Outside of the United States. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company or any Employer (or the Affiliates and/or its subsidiaries of an Employer) operate or have employees or Directors, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall, in addition to the administrative authority set forth in Section 3.3 of this Plan, have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Affiliates and subsidiaries, if any, may be covered by this Plan in accordance with all applicable laws; (b) determine which employees and/or Directors of an Employer outside the United States are eligible to participate in this Plan; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to employees and/or Directors outside the United States, if any, to comply with applicable foreign laws; (d) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law. For purposes of clarity, the terms and conditions contained herein which are subject to variation in a non-U.S. jurisdiction shall be reflected in a written addendum to the Plan and/or Award Agreement for such non-U.S. jurisdiction.

16.7 Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 16.7 by and among the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its subsidiaries and affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 16.7 in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Committee’s sole discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 16.7. For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

16.8 Whistleblower Protection. Nothing contained in this Plan or any Award Agreement: (i) shall be deemed to prohibit any Participant from responding to a subpoena or order of a court or other governmental authority to testify or give evidence or engaging in conduct otherwise protected by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (ii) shall be deemed to prohibit any Participant from providing truthful information in good faith to any federal, state, or local governmental body, agency, or official investigating an alleged violation of any antidiscrimination or other employment-related law or otherwise gathering information or evidence pursuant to any official investigation, hearing, trial, or proceeding; (iii) is intended in any way to intimidate, coerce, deter, persuade, or compensate any Participant with respect to providing, withholding, or restricting any communication whatsoever to the extent prohibited under 18 U.S.C. §§ 201, 1503, or 1512 or under any similar or related provision of state or federal law; and (iv) is intended to require any Participant to provide notice to the Company, any Affiliate or any subsidiary or an attorney of any such entity before reporting any possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity (“Whistleblower Disclosures”) or to provide notice to the Company, any Affiliate, or any subsidiary or any attorney of any such entity after any Participant has made any such Whistleblower Disclosures.

 

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16.9 Transfer of Employee. The transfer of an employee of the Company or any Employer from one Employer (or Affiliate or subsidiary of an Employer) to another Employer (or Affiliate or subsidiary of the other Employer) shall not be considered a termination of employment for Plan purposes unless required by applicable law; nor shall it be considered a termination of employment if an employee is placed on military, disability or sick leave or such other leave of absence which is considered by the Committee as continuing intact the employment relationship. If an employee’s employment or other service relationship is with an Affiliate or subsidiary of an Employer and that entity ceases to be an Affiliate or subsidiary of the Employer, a termination of employment shall be deemed to have occurred when the entity ceases to be an Affiliate or subsidiary of such Employer unless the employee transfers the Employee’s employment or other service relationship to the Employer or its remaining Affiliates or subsidiaries.

16.10 Successors. The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon the Company, and its successors and assigns.

16.11 Tax Elections. Each Participant shall give the Committee prompt written notice of any election made by such Participant under Section 83(b) of the Code or any similar provision thereof. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Committee may condition any award on the Participant not making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code.

16.12 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award; in the discretion of the Committee, the Company shall forfeit the value of fractional shares or make cash payments in lieu of fractional Shares.

16.13 Delivery of Title. The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares under the Plan prior to:

(a) Obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and

(b) Completing any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines are necessary or advisable.

16.14 Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company (after reasonable efforts) to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and/or sale of any Awards or Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue and/or sell such Awards or Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

16.15 Uncertificated Shares. To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such Shares may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.

16.16 Legal Construction.

(a) Severability. If any provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would result in the Plan or any Award Agreement not complying with any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award Agreement, it shall be stricken and the remainder of the Plan or the Award Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

(b) Gender and Number. Where the context permits, words in any gender shall include the other gender, words in the singular shall include the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular.

 

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(c) Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan and all Award Agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice or law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan or the Award Agreement (as applicable) to the substantive law of any other jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the recipient of an Award is deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Federal and state courts of Delaware to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Plan or such Award Agreement.

(d) Governing Documents. If any contradiction occurs between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company (or any subsidiary), the Plan will govern, unless such Award Agreement or other written agreement was approved by the Committee and expressly provides that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply.

 

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Exhibit 10.5

 

LOGO

2025 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Establishment of Plan. Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the “Wolfspeed, Inc. 2025 Management Incentive Compensation Plan” (the “Plan”), as set forth in this document.

1.2 Purpose of Plan. The objectives of the Plan are to (i) attract and retain employees of the Company and its affiliates by providing competitive compensation opportunities; (ii) provide incentives to those individuals who contribute significantly to the long-term performance and growth of the Company and its affiliates; and (iii) align the long-term financial interests of employees and directors with those of the Company’s shareholders.

1.3 Types of Awards. Awards under the Plan may be made to Eligible Participants who are employees in the form of (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonqualified Stock Options, (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iv) Restricted Stock, (v) Restricted Stock Units, (vi) Performance Shares, (vii) Performance Stock Units, (viii) Performance Units, (ix) Other Awards, or any combination of these.

1.4 Effective Date. The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on September 29, 2025 contingent on the approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The Plan will become effective on the date the plan of reorganization of the Company filed with the Bankruptcy Court in connection with the Company’s voluntary Chapter 11 case becomes effective in accordance with its terms (the “Effective Date”).

ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS

Except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply:

2.1 “409A Award” means each Award that is subject to, and not exempt from, Section 409A of the Code.

2.2 “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended from time to time or any successor thereto. All citations to sections of the Act or rules thereunder are to such sections or rules as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.

2.3 “Affiliate” means any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, a partnership or a limited liability company) that is affiliated with the Company through stock or equity ownership or otherwise and is designated as an Affiliate for purposes of this Plan by the Committee unless the context demands otherwise, or the term is otherwise expressly defined. For purposes of granting stock options or stock appreciation rights, an entity may not be considered an Affiliate if it results in noncompliance with Section 409A of the Code.

2.4 “Award” means an award granted to a Participant under the Plan that is an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, Performance Unit, Other Award, or combination of thereof.


2.5 “Award Agreement” or “Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement, notice, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award granted under the Plan. As determined by the Committee, each Award Agreement shall consist of either (i) a written agreement in a form approved by the Committee and executed on behalf of the Company by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (ii) an electronic notice of Award grant in a form approved by the Committee and recorded by the Company (or its designee) in an electronic recordkeeping system used for the purpose of tracking Award grants under the Plan, and if required by the Committee, executed or otherwise electronically accepted by the recipient of the Award in such form and manner as the Committee may require. The Committee may authorize any officer of the Company (other than the particular Award recipient) to execute any or all Award Agreements on behalf the Company.

2.6 “Award Pool” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

2.7 “Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.8 “Cause” means, unless provided otherwise in the Award Agreement: (i) “Cause” as defined in an Individual Agreement to which a Participant is a party that is then in effect, or (ii) if there is no such Individual Agreement or if it does not define Cause, termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company or any other Employer because of any conduct amounting to fraud, dishonesty, willful misconduct, negligence, activities materially harmful to the reputation of the Company or an Employer, insubordination, commission of or indictment for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, all as determined by the Committee in good faith, including but not limited to (as determined by the Committee in good faith), the (A) Participant’s breach of any agreement between the Participant and an Employer (including but not limited to any agreement regarding confidential information, noncompetition, nonsolicitation or similar covenants), (B) Participant’s intentional or negligent failure to perform a reasonably requested directive or assignment or to perform his duties to an Employer substantially in accordance with the Employer’s operating and personnel policies and procedures generally applicable to all of its employees, (C) Participant’s misappropriation or attempted misappropriation of any of the Employer’s funds or property (including but not limited to intellectual property), (D) Participant’s violation of the Company’s or an Employer’s written policies or codes of conduct, including written policies related to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, performance of illegal or unethical activities, or ethical misconduct, (E) Participant’s failure to substantially perform the Participant’s material duties to the Company or an Employer (other than as a result of physical or mental illness or injury) or to comply with a lawful directive or order of the Board, in either case that has continued after the Company or Employer has provided written notice of such failure and the Participant has not cured such failure (if curable) promptly after the date of such written notice, or (F) Participant’s breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the Company or an Employer.

2.9 “Change in Control” or “Change of Control” will be deemed to have occurred upon the happening of any of the following events: (a) any “Person” as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Act, including a “group” (as that term is used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Act), but excluding the Company or any of its Affiliates and any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by any Affiliate of the Company (including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee), who together with its “affiliates” and “associates” (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Act) of more than 50% of the then-outstanding Shares or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of its directors. For purposes of calculating the number of shares or voting power held by such Person and its affiliates and associates under this clause (a), there shall be excluded any securities acquired by such Person or its affiliates or associates directly from any Affiliate of the Company; (b) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets is consummated, other than such a sale or disposition that would not have constituted a Change of Control under clause (d) below had it been structured as a merger or consolidation; (c) the shareholders of the Company approve a definitive agreement or plan to liquidate the Company; or (d) a merger or consolidation of the Company with and into another entity is consummated, unless immediately following such transaction (i) more than 50% of the members of the governing body of the surviving entity were Directors at the time of execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction, (ii) no “Person” (as defined in clause (a) above), together with its “affiliates” and “associates” (as defined in clause (a) above), is the “Beneficial Owner” (as defined in clause (a) above), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then-outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity entitled to vote generally in the election of members of its governing body, and (iii) more than 50% of the then-outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding equity interests of the surviving

 

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entity entitled to vote generally in the election of members of its governing body is “Beneficially Owned”, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the “Beneficial Owners” of the Shares immediately prior to such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such transaction; To the extent any Award (or any portion thereof) pursuant to this Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code is to be made because of the occurrence of a Change in Control, then payment shall not be made unless such Change in Control also constitutes a “change in ownership,” “change in effective control,” or “change in ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

2.10 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority issued thereunder, in each case, as now in effect or as hereafter amended. All citations to sections of the Code are to such sections as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.

2.11 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be appointed by the Board from time to time to administer this Plan pursuant to Article 3. All of the members of the Committee shall be “Independent Directors” within the meaning of the NYSE’s listing standards (as applicable). If the Committee does not exist or cannot function for any reason, the Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee. If any member of the Committee does not qualify as a “Non Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b 3 under the Act, the Board shall appoint a subcommittee of the Committee, consisting of at least two Directors who are not also employed by the Company or any other Employer, to grant Awards to Insiders. References to the Committee in the Plan shall include and, as appropriate, apply to any such subcommittee.

2.12 “Company” means Wolfspeed, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and assigns.

2.13 “Corporate Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.5.

2.14 “Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board.

2.15 “Disability” means, unless provided otherwise in the Award Agreement, an individual’s permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code whereby said individual is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 2.15 or anything in any Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement would cause a payment of a 409A Award to be made because of the Participant’s Disability, then there shall not be a Disability that triggers payment until the date (if any) that the Participant is disabled within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code. Any payment that would have been made except for the application of the preceding sentence shall be made in accordance with the payment schedule that would have applied in the absence of a Disability (and other Participant rights that are tied to a Disability, such as vesting, shall not be affected by the prior sentence).

2.16 “DRO” means a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.

2.17 “Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.4.

2.18 “Eligible Participant” means, subject to such limitations as may be provided by the Code, the Act or the Committee, each executive officer and other key employee of any Employer, as determined by the Committee, and any other employee of any Employer and any Outside Director, in each case, to the extent deemed an Eligible Participant hereunder by the Committee.

 

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2.19 “Employer” means the Company and any entity during any period that it is a “parent corporation” or a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code. With respect to all purposes of the Plan, including but not limited to, the establishment, amendment, termination, operation and administration of the Plan, the Company shall be authorized to act on behalf of all other entities included within the definition of “Employer.”

2.20 “Fair Market Value” or “FMV” means the fair market value of a Share, as determined in good faith by the Committee; provided, however, that unless otherwise directed by the Committee:

(a) if the Shares are listed on the NYSE on the given date, Fair Market Value on such date shall be the last sale price reported for the Shares on such system during the regular trading session on such date or, if no sale was reported during the regular trading session on such date, on the last day preceding such date on which a sale was reported during the regular trading session;

(b) if the Shares are listed on a national or regional securities exchange other than the NYSE on the given date, Fair Market Value on such date shall be the last sale price reported for the Shares on such system during the regular trading session on such date or, if no sale was reported during the regular trading session on such date, on the last day preceding such date on which a sale was reported during the regular trading session; or

(c) if neither (a) nor (b) applies on the given date, the fair market value of a Share on that date shall be determined in good faith by the Committee, taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any other applicable laws, rules, or regulations.

For purposes of subsection (a) above, if the Shares are traded on more than one national securities exchange, then the following exchange shall be referenced to determine Fair Market Value: (i) the NYSE if the Shares are then traded on such exchange and (ii) otherwise such other exchange on which Shares are traded as may be designated by the Committee.

Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to the next paragraph, if the Committee determines in its discretion that an alternative definition of Fair Market Value should be used in connection with the grant, exercise, vesting, settlement or payout of any Award, it may specify such alternative definition in the Award Agreement. Such alternative definition may include a price that is based on the opening, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of a Share on the NYSE or other securities exchange on the given date, the trading date preceding the given date, the trading date next succeeding the given date, or an average of trading days.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the case of an Option or SAR, Fair Market Value shall be determined in accordance with a definition of fair market value that permits the Award to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code; and (ii) in the case of an Option that is intended to qualify as an ISO under Section 422 of the Code, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, as applicable.

2.21 “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following, without the Participant’s consent and not due to Cause: (i) a material reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary or target annual bonus or (ii) the Company or an Employer requiring the Participant to relocate the Participant’s principal place of business outside of a thirty-five (35) mile radius from the Participant’s current principal place of employment; provided, however, that the Participant shall only have Good Reason if the Participant provides notice to the Company or Employer of the existence of the event or circumstances constituting Good Reason specified in either of the preceding clauses within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such event or circumstances and if such event or circumstances are not cured within thirty (30) days after the Participant gives such written notice. If the Participant initiates a termination of employment for Good Reason, the actual date on which employment is terminated must occur within thirty (30) days after expiration of the cure period. The Participant’s failure to timely give notice of the occurrence of a specific event that would otherwise constitute Good Reason shall not constitute a waiver of the Participant’s right to give notice of any new subsequent event that would constitute Good Reason that occurs after such prior event (regardless of whether the new subsequent event is of the same or different nature as the preceding event). The Participant’s actions approving in writing (or by such other means as is reliable and verifiable) any change, reduction, requirement or occurrence (that otherwise may be considered Good Reason) in the Participant’s role as with the Company shall be considered consent for the purposes of this Good Reason definition.

 

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2.22 “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” means a Participant who owns (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) stock of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any “parent” or “subsidiary” (within the meaning of Section 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively), determined at the time an Option is granted.

2.23 “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option granted to an Eligible Participant under Article 5 which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

2.24 “Individual Agreement” means a written agreement between a Participant and the Company or any other Employer relating to employment by the Company or other Employer or to service as an Outside Director of the Company (other than an Award Agreement).

2.25 “Initial MIP Grants” shall mean the Awards that are granted to Eligible Individuals upon, or as soon as administratively practicable following, the Effective Date in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

2.26 “Insider” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Act.

2.27 “Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an Option granted to an Eligible Participant under Article 5 which is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or that otherwise does not meet such requirements.

2.28 “NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange or its successor.

2.29 “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. An Option shall be designated in the applicable Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, and in the absence of such designation, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. Furthermore, any Option that is initially intended to be and is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code for any reason shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option with respect to all or such portion that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option per Article 5.

2.30 “Option Price” means the price at which a Participant may purchase a Share pursuant to an Option.

2.31 “Other Award” means any form of equity-based or equity-related award, other than an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Stock or Performance Unit, that is granted pursuant to Article 9.

2.32 “Outside Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any other Employer.

2.33 “Participant” means an Eligible Participant to whom an Award has been granted.

2.34 “Performance Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

2.35 “Performance Share” means an Award under Article 8 that is valued by reference to a Share, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance objectives during the relevant Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such Award or thereafter.

 

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2.36 “Performance Unit” means an Award under Article 8 that has a value set by the Committee (or that is determined by reference to a valuation formula specified by the Committee), which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance objectives during the relevant Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such Award or thereafter.

2.37 “Plan” means this Wolfspeed, Inc. 2025 Management Incentive Compensation Plan set forth in this document and as it may be amended from time to time.

2.38 “Reimbursement Expenses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

2.39 “Restricted Stock” means an Award of Shares under Article 7, which Shares are issued with such restriction(s) as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose, including without limitation, any restriction on the right to retain such Shares, to sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Shares, to vote such Shares, and/or to receive any cash dividends with respect to such Shares, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.

2.40 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award under Article 7 that is valued by reference to a Share, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, and that has such restriction(s) as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose, including without limitation, any restriction on the right to retain such Awards, to sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Awards, and/or to receive any cash dividend equivalents with respect to such Awards, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.

2.41 “Restriction Period” means the period during which Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to one or more restrictions that will lapse based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or the occurrence of another event or events, as determined by the Committee and specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

2.42 “Restructuring Support Agreement” means that certain Restructuring Support Agreement by and among the Company, Wolfspeed Texas LLC and the Consenting Creditors (as defined therein), dated June 22, 2025, including all exhibits, annexes and schedules attached thereto (as may be amended, supplemented or modified prior to the Effective Date). All references in the Plan to the Restructuring Support Agreement and the terms thereof shall be to the Restructuring Support Agreement as in effect immediately prior to any termination thereof and shall apply irrespective of any such termination.

2.43 “SAR Price” means the amount that is subtracted from the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time of exercise of a SAR to determine the amount payable, if any, upon exercise of the SAR.

2.44 “Share” means one share of common stock, par value $0.00125 per share, of the Company, as such Share may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.4.

2.45 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted under Article 6 which provides for an amount payable in Shares and/or cash, as determined by the Committee, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over the SAR Price.

2.46 “Tandem SAR” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

2.47 “Termination of Service” means, unless provided otherwise in the Award Agreement, the discontinuance of employment of a Participant with the Employer for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the case of an Outside Director, the discontinuance of services to the Company by an Outside Director, for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant becomes a consultant or independent contractor providing services to an Employer immediately upon terminating service as an employee, such seamless continuation of service as a consultant or contractor shall constitute a continuation of service with respect to

 

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Awards granted to the Participant while he or she served as an employee. Furthermore, if an Outside Director becomes an employee of the Company or any other Employer before or upon terminating service as an Outside Director, such employment will constitute a continuation of service with respect to Awards granted to the Participant while he or she served as a member of the Board. The determination of whether a Participant has discontinued employment or service shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion. “Termination of Employment” as used in an Award Agreement shall mean Termination of Service and vice-versa.

ARTICLE 3. ADMINISTRATION

3.1 Composition of Committee. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall consist of two or more Outside Directors who shall be appointed by the Board. The Board shall fill vacancies on the Committee and may from time to time remove or add members of the Committee. Except with respect to Awards to Outside Directors under Article 10, the Board, in its sole discretion, may exercise any authority of the Committee under this Plan in lieu of the Committee’s exercise thereof and in such instances references herein to the Committee shall refer to the Board of Directors. Unless the Board directs otherwise, the Compensation Committee of the Board shall serve as the Committee.

3.2 Authority of the Committee.

(a) The Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power to interpret the terms and intent of the Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement or document ancillary to or in connection with this Plan as well as the right and power to construe and administer the Plan, to select Eligible Participants and the persons who are eligible to receive an Award, and to act in all matters pertaining to the granting of an Award and the contents of the Award Agreement evidencing the Award, including without limitation, the determination of the number of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Performance Units or Other Awards subject to an Award and the form, terms, conditions and duration of each Award, and any amendment thereof consistent with the provisions of the Plan. The Committee may adopt such rules, regulations and procedures of general application for the administration of this Plan as it deems appropriate. The Committee shall be further authorized to act on behalf of all Affiliates and subsidiaries with respect to all purposes of the Plan.

(b) The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry it into effect.

(c) In the event the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of another corporation or business entity, the Committee may, in its discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.

(d) The Committee shall have the discretion to determine the effect upon an Award and upon an individual’s status as an employee or Outside Director under the Plan (including whether a Participant shall be deemed to have experienced a Termination of Service, or other change in status) and upon the vesting, expiration or forfeiture of an Award in the case of (i) any individual who is employed by an entity that ceases to qualify as an Employer, (ii) any leave of absence, (iii) any transfer between locations of employment with the Company and any other Employer (including Affiliates) or vice versa, (iv) any change in the Participant’s status from an employee to a consultant or member of the Board of Directors, or vice versa, and (v) any employee who, at the request of the Employer or the Company, becomes employed by any partnership, joint venture, corporation or other entity not meeting the requirements of an Employer.

(e) All actions, determinations and decisions of the Committee made or taken pursuant to grants of authority under the Plan or with respect to any questions arising in connection with the administration, operation, and interpretation of the Plan, including the severability of any and all of the provisions thereof, shall be conclusive, final and binding upon all parties, including the Company, its shareholders, Participants, Eligible Participants and their estates, beneficiaries and successors. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems relevant to making or taking such actions, determinations and decisions including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any Director, officer or employee of the Company and such attorneys, consultants and

 

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accountants as it may select. A Participant or other holder of an Award may contest an action, determination or decision by the Committee with respect to such person or Award only on the grounds that such action, determination or decision was arbitrary or capricious or was unlawful, and any review of such action, determination or decision shall be limited to determining whether the Committee’s decision or action was arbitrary or capricious or was unlawful.

3.3 Rules for Foreign Jurisdictions. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend or vary the terms of the Plan in order to conform such terms with the requirements of each non-U.S. jurisdiction where an Eligible Participant is located or to meet the goals and objectives of the Plan; establish one or more sub-plans for these purposes; and establish administrative rules and procedures to facilitate the operation of the Plan in such non-U.S. jurisdictions.

3.4 Delegation of Authority. The Committee may, in its discretion, at any time and from time to time, delegate to one or more of the members of the Committee such of its powers as it deems appropriate (provided that any such delegation shall be to at least two members of the Committee with respect to Awards to Insiders). Except with respect to Awards to Insiders, the Committee may, in its discretion, at any time and from time to time, delegate to one or more persons who are not members of the Committee any or all of its authority and discretion under Section 3.2 and 3.3, to the full extent permitted by law and the rules of any exchange on which Shares are traded.

3.5 Award Agreements. Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to and incorporate, by reference or otherwise, the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan, and any other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be directed by the Committee, including without limitation, provisions related to the consequences of Termination of Service. A copy of such document shall be provided to the Participant, and the Committee may, but need not, require that the Participant sign a copy of the Award Agreement or otherwise confirm the Participant’s acceptance of the provisions of the Award Agreement. The Participant shall in any event be deemed to have accepted the provisions of an Award Agreement delivered to the Participant with respect to an Award by exercising the Award or receiving any benefits thereunder.

3.6 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as members of the Committee, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee against (i) reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal thereof, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted thereunder, (ii) all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof, provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company, and (iii) all amounts paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except as to matters as to which the Committee member has been negligent or engaged in misconduct in the performance of his duties (all amounts reimbursed hereunder are referred to as the “Reimbursement Expenses”); provided, that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, a Committee member shall in writing offer the Company the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same. In the performance of its responsibilities with respect to the Plan, the members of the Committee shall be entitled to rely upon, and no member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in good faith reliance upon, information and/or advice furnished by the Company’s officers or employees, the Company’s accountants, or the Company’s counsel. To the extent the entitlement to Reimbursement Expenses is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it applies during the lifetime of the Committee member; the Company shall pay each Reimbursement Expense no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Committee member incurred such Reimbursement Expense; the amount of Reimbursement Expenses available to a Committee member in one tax year will not affect the amount of Reimbursement Expenses available to the Committee member in any other tax year; and the entitlement to Reimbursement Expenses is not subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

ARTICLE 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

4.1 Aggregate Limits.

(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to Awards under this Plan (the “Award Pool”) shall be 8,117,851.

 

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(b) Up to 8,117,851 Shares are available for issuance pursuant to ISOs granted under the Plan. Otherwise, the Award Pool shall be available for all types of Awards granted under the Plan; there is no maximum number of Shares per type of Award. Such Shares shall be made available from Shares authorized but unissued, including Shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions.

4.2 Share Counting Rules.

(a) Each Option shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool.

(b) Each share of Restricted Stock and each Restricted Stock Unit and each Other Award that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool. Restricted Stock Units and Other Awards that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.

(c) Each Performance Share or Performance Stock Unit that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award, based on the number of Shares that would be paid under the Performance Share or Performance Stock Unit for achievement of target performance, and deducted from the Award Pool. Each Performance Unit that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as a number of Shares subject to an Award, based on the number of Shares that would be paid under the Performance Unit for achievement of target performance, with the number determined by dividing the value of the Performance Unit at the time of grant by the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time of grant, and this number shall be deducted from the Award Pool. In both cases, in the event that the Award is later settled based on above-target performance, the number of Shares corresponding to the above-target performance, calculated pursuant to the applicable methodology specified above, shall be deducted from the Award Pool at the time of such settlement; in the event that the Award is later settled upon below-target performance, the number of Shares corresponding to the below-target performance, calculated pursuant to the applicable methodology specified above, shall be added back to the Award Pool. Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.

(d) Each Stock Appreciation Right that may be settled in Shares shall be counted as one Share subject to an Award and deducted from the Award Pool. Stock Appreciation Rights that may not be settled in Shares shall not result in a deduction from the Award Pool.

(e) If for any reason any Shares awarded or subject to issuance under the Plan are not issued, or are reacquired by the Company from the Participant or the Participant’s transferee, for reasons including, but not limited to: (i) a forfeiture of Restricted Stock or a Restricted Stock Unit; (ii) the termination, expiration or cancellation of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, Performance Unit or Other Award; (iii) Shares withheld for payment of taxes pursuant to Section 14.2 (other than for an Option or Stock Appreciation Right); or (iv) settlement of an Award in cash in lieu of Shares, such Shares shall again be available for issuance pursuant to an Award under the Plan and shall be added back to the Award Pool. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary: (i) Shares with respect to which a Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan is exercised; (ii) Shares tendered, withheld, or subject to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan surrendered in connection with the payment of the Option Price upon exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, if applicable, or in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations with respect to Options or stock-settled Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan; (iii) Shares not issued upon the net settlement or net exercise of a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan; and (iv) Shares purchased by the Company with proceeds from the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall not thereafter be available for issuance under the Plan nor added back to the Award Pool.

4.3 Outside Director Award Limits. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4, the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the Date of Grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted to any Outside Director during any single fiscal year, taken together with any cash fees paid to such Outside Director during such fiscal year, shall not exceed $1,000,000.

 

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4.4 Adjustment of Shares. If any change in corporate capitalization, such as a stock split, reverse stock split, or stock dividend; or any corporate transaction such as a reorganization, reclassification, merger or consolidation or separation, including a spin-off, of the Company or sale or other disposition by the Company of all or a portion of its assets, any other change in the Company’s corporate structure, or any distribution to shareholders (other than an ordinary cash dividend) results in the outstanding Shares, or any securities exchanged therefore or received in their place, being exchanged for a different number or class of shares or other securities of the Company, or for shares of stock or other securities of any other corporation; or new, different or additional shares or other securities of the Company or of any other corporation being received by the holders of outstanding Shares; then the Committee shall make equitable adjustments, as it determines are necessary and appropriate, in:

(a) the number and class of stock or other securities that comprise the Award Pool as set forth in Section 4.1;

(b) the limitations on the aggregate number of Awards that may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant may be provided for herein or pursuant to an Award Agreement;

(c) the number and class of stock or other securities subject to outstanding Awards, and which have not been issued or transferred under outstanding Awards;

(d) the Option Price under outstanding Options, the SAR Price under outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights and the number of Shares to be transferred in settlement of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights; and

(e) the terms, conditions or restrictions of any Award and Award Agreement, including the price payable for the acquisition of Shares.

It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated above shall be made in a manner that satisfies applicable legal requirements, as well as applicable requirements with respect to taxation (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Sections 424 and 409A of the Code) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment).

Without limiting the generality of the above, any good faith determination by the Committee as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances and the extent and nature of any such adjustment shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons.

Subject to the provisions of Article 15 and notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, without affecting the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with the rules under Sections 409A, 422 and 424 of the Code, as and where applicable.

ARTICLE 5. STOCK OPTIONS

5.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Eligible Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have sole discretion in determining the number of Shares subject to Options granted to each Participant. The Committee may grant a Participant ISOs, NQSOs or a combination thereof, and may vary such Awards among Participants; provided that only employees may be granted ISOs. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 5 to the contrary, except for Options that are specifically designated as intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, Options may only be granted to individuals who provide direct services on the date of grant of the Option to the Company or another entity in a chain of entities in which the Company or another such entity has a controlling interest (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-l(b)(5)(iii)(E)) in each entity in the chain. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan to the contrary, Participants shall not be entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents on unexercised Options granted under the Plan.

 

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5.2 Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which the Option shall become vested and exercisable and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. The Award Agreement shall further specify whether the Award is intended to be an ISO or an NQSO. Any portion of an Option that is not designated as an ISO or otherwise fails or is not qualified as an ISO (even if designated as an ISO) shall be an NQSO.

5.3 Option Price. Subject to Section 5.8, the Option Price for each grant of an Option shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, an Option may be granted with an Option Price that is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted if such Option is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that such Option Price is appropriate to preserve the economic benefit of the replaced award and will not impair the exemption of the Option from Section 409A of the Code (unless the Committee clearly and expressly foregoes such exemption at the time the Option is granted).

5.4 Duration of Options. Each Option shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that the Committee may extend the term of any Option that would otherwise expire at a time when the Participant is not permitted by applicable law or Company policy to exercise such Option to the extent permitted by Sections 409A and 422 of the Code, or other applicable law; and provided, further, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of its grant date or, in the case of an ISO granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the fifth (5th) anniversary of its grant date.

5.5 Exercise of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, including conditions related to the employment of or provision of services by the Participant with the Company, a subsidiary or any other Employer, to the extent permitted by applicable law, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant. The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement and/or an Individual Agreement that vesting of the Award shall accelerate or other restrictions applicable to the Award shall lapse only: (i) in the event of the Participant’s death, Disability, or retirement (as defined in the applicable Award Agreement), (ii) in connection with a Change of Control, or (iii) pursuant to Section 15.5. Deferral of Option gains is not permitted.

5.6 Payment. Options shall be exercised by the delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company or its designated representative, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised and satisfying any requirements that the Committee may establish in or pursuant to the Award Agreement from time to time, together with, (a) payment in full of the Option Price for the number of Shares for which the Option is exercised, and (b) satisfaction in full of any withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items in a manner specified in Article 13. The Option Price shall be payable to the Company either: (a) in cash, (b) in a cash equivalent approved by the Committee, (c) if approved by the Committee, by tendering previously acquired Shares (or delivering a certification or attestation of ownership of such Shares) having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price (provided that the tendered Shares must have been held by the Participant for any period required by the Committee), (d) by a combination of (a), (b) and/or (c), and (e) any other method expressly approved or accepted by the Committee in the Committee’s sole discretion. The Committee also may allow cashless exercises as permitted under Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, subject to applicable securities law restrictions, or by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan’s purpose and applicable law. Unless otherwise authorized by the Committee, no Shares shall be delivered until the full Option Price has been paid.

5.7 Nontransferability of Options.

(a) Incentive Stock Options. No ISO granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, all ISOs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. In no event may an ISO be transferred for value or consideration.

 

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(b) Nonqualified Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement consistent with securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, no NQSO granted under this Article 5 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee, all NQSOs granted to a Participant under this Article 5 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. In no event may an NQSO be transferred for value or consideration.

5.8 Special Rules for ISOs. Notwithstanding the above, in no event shall any Greater Than 10% Stockholder be eligible to receive an ISO at an Option Price less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share on the date the ISO is granted or be eligible to receive an ISO that is exercisable later than the fifth (5th) anniversary date of its grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value of shares with respect to which incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) granted to a Participant are first exercisable in any calendar year (under the Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Employer) shall not exceed $100,000. For this purpose, Fair Market Value shall be determined with respect to a particular incentive stock option on the date on which such incentive stock option is granted. In the event that this One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limit is exceeded with respect to a Participant, then Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan to such Participant shall, to the extent and in the order required by Treasury Regulations under Section 422 of the Code, automatically become NQSOs granted under this Plan. Solely for purposes of determining the limit on ISOs that may be granted under the Plan, the provisions of Section 4.2 that replenish or forgo a deduction from the Award Pool shall only be applied to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.

ARTICLE 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1 Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Eligible Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to an Eligible Participant in connection with an Option granted under Article 5 of this Plan or may be granted independently of any Option. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the holder, within the specified period, to exercise the SAR and receive in exchange a payment having an aggregate value equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the SAR Price, times the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. A SAR granted in connection with an Option (a “Tandem SAR”) shall entitle the holder of the related Option, within the period specified for the exercise of the Option, to surrender the unexercised Option, or a portion thereof, and to receive in exchange therefore a payment having an aggregate value equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the Option Price, times the number of Shares under the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 6 to the contrary, except for SARs that are specifically designated as intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, SARs may only be granted to individuals who provide direct services on the date of grant of the SAR to the Company or another entity in a chain of entities in which the Company or another such entity has a controlling interest (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-l(b)(5)(iii)(E)) in each entity in the chain. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan to the contrary, Participants shall not be entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents on unexercised SARs granted under the Plan.

6.2 Award Agreement. Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the SAR Price, the duration of the SAR, the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR pertains, the conditions upon which the SAR shall become vested and exercisable and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

6.3 Tandem SARs. Each Tandem SAR shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the related Option, including limitations on transferability, shall be exercisable only to the extent such Option is exercisable and shall terminate or lapse and cease to be exercisable when the related Option terminates or lapses. The grant of Stock Appreciation Rights related to ISOs must be concurrent with the grant of the ISOs. With respect to NQSOs, the grant either may be concurrent with the grant of the NQSOs, or in connection with NQSOs previously granted under Article 5, which are unexercised and have not terminated or lapsed.

6.4 Payment. The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine in each Award Agreement whether the payment with respect to the exercise of an SAR will be in the form of cash, Shares, or any combination thereof. If payment is to be made in Shares, the number of Shares shall be determined based on the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise.

 

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6.5 SAR Price. The SAR Price for each grant of a SAR shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the SAR is granted. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, a SAR may be granted with a SAR Price that is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the SAR is granted if such SAR is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that such SAR Price is appropriate to preserve the economic benefit of the replaced award and will not impair the exemption of the SAR from Section 409A of the Code (unless the Committee clearly and expressly foregoes such exemption at the time the SAR is granted).

6.6 Duration of SARs. Each SAR shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that the Committee may extend the term of any SAR that would otherwise expire at a time when the Participant is not permitted by applicable law or Company policy to exercise such SAR; and provided, further, that no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of its grant date.

6.7 Exercise of SARs. SARs granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, including conditions related to the employment of or provision of services by the Participant with the Company or any Employer, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant. The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement and/or an Individual Agreement that vesting of the Award shall accelerate or other restrictions applicable to the Award shall lapse only: (i) in the event of the Participant’s death, Disability, or retirement (as defined in the applicable Award Agreement), (ii) in connection with a Change of Control, or (iii) pursuant to Section 15.5. Upon exercise of a Tandem SAR, the number of Shares subject to exercise under the related Option shall automatically be reduced by the number of Shares represented by the Option or portion thereof which is surrendered. SARs shall be exercised by the delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company or its designated representative, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is to be exercised and satisfying any requirements that the Committee may apply from time to time.

6.8 Nontransferability of SARs. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee consistent with securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, no SAR granted under this Article 6 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee, all SARs granted to a Participant under this Article 6 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. In no event may a SAR be transferred for value or consideration.

ARTICLE 7. RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

7.1 Grants of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be made to Eligible Participants as an incentive for the performance of future services that the Committee in its sole discretion determines will contribute materially to the successful operation of the Employer. Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be made either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan and may be current grants of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or deferred grants of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

7.2 Restricted Stock/Unit Award Agreement.

(a) In General. Each Award of Restricted Stock/Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall set forth the terms of the Award, as determined by the Committee, including, without limitation, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted; the purchase price, if any, to be paid for each Share of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit, which may be more than, equal to, or less than Fair Market Value of a Share and may be zero, subject to such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law; any restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock/Units such as continued service or achievement of performance goals, or both; the length of the Restriction Period and whether any circumstances, such as death, Disability, retirement (as defined in the applicable Award Agreement) or a Change in Control, will shorten or terminate the Restriction Period; and whether Restricted Stock Units will be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares. The Restriction Period may be of any duration. The Award may provide for lapse of the Restriction Period in monthly or longer installments over the course of the Restriction Period, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

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(b) Execution of Award Agreements. Notwithstanding Section 3.5, a Restricted Stock or Stock Unit Award must be accepted prior to the first vesting date or such other period as the Committee may specify, by executing a Restricted Stock/Unit Award Agreement, or otherwise electronically accepting the Award, and paying whatever price, if any, is required. The prospective recipient of a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not have any rights with respect to such Award, unless and until such recipient has executed a Restricted Stock/Unit Award Agreement and has delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, or otherwise electronically accepted the Award, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award.

7.3 Nontransferability. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 7 or in an Award Agreement, no shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units received by a Participant shall be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of during the Restriction Period or, in the case of Restricted Stock Units, until the date of delivery of Shares or other payment with respect to the Restricted Stock Units, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant’s rights under an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be available during the Participant’s lifetime only to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.

7.4 Certificates. Upon an Award of Restricted Stock to a Participant, Shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the Participant’s name. Certificates, if issued, may either be held in custody by the Company until the Restriction Period expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse and/or be issued to the Participant and registered in the name of the Participant, bearing an appropriate restrictive legend and remaining subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders. If required by the Committee, the Participant shall deliver to the Company one or more stock powers endorsed in blank relating to the Restricted Stock. If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock subject to such Restriction Period, unrestricted certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant.

7.5 Dividends and Other Distributions. Except as provided in this Article 7 or in the Award Agreement, a Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award shall have, with respect to such Award, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the Shares to the extent, if any, such Shares possess voting rights and the right to receive any dividends; provided, however, that, in all cases, (i) any dividends or other distributions on such Shares of Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period shall be either automatically deferred and reinvested in additional Shares of Restricted Stock or paid to the Company for the account of the Participant, in either case subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, and (ii) all terms and conditions for payment of such dividends and other distributions shall be included in the Award Agreement related to the Award and shall, to the extent required, comply with Section 409A of the Code. The Committee shall determine whether interest, if any, shall be paid on such amounts, the rate of any such interest, and the other terms applicable to such amounts (again, provided that all such terms shall, to the extent required, comply with Section 409A of the Code). A Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not possess voting rights and shall accrue dividend equivalents on such Restricted Stock Units only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement relating to the Award; provided, however, that in all cases (i) any dividend equivalents payable on such Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, and (ii) all terms and conditions for payment of such dividend equivalents shall be included in the Award Agreement related to the Award and shall, to the extent required, comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

7.6 Short-Term Deferral. To the extent an Award described in this Section is a 409A Award and is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (or will be granted upon the satisfaction of a condition that constitutes such a substantial risk of forfeiture), any compensation due under the Award (or pursuant to a commitment to grant an Award) shall be paid in full not later than the 60th day following the date on which there is no longer such a substantial risk of forfeiture with respect to the Award (and the Participant shall have no right to designate the year of the payment), unless the Committee shall clearly and expressly provide otherwise at the time of granting the Award.

 

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ARTICLE 8. PERFORMANCE SHARES AND UNITS

8.1 Grant of Performance Shares / Performance Stock Units / Performance Units. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”), and Performance Units may be granted to Eligible Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee.

8.2 Value of Performance Shares / Performance Stock Units and Performance Units. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each Performance Share or Performance Stock Unit shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. In addition to any non-performance terms applicable to the Award, the Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Performance Units or all three, as applicable, that will be paid out to the Participant. For purposes of this Article 8, the time period during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award shall be called a “Performance Period.”

8.3 Earning of Performance Shares / Units. Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units shall be entitled to receive a payout of the number and value of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved and any applicable non-performance terms have been met. The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement and/or an Individual Agreement that the Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units are earned notwithstanding achievement of the performance goals only: (i) in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability, (ii) in the event of the Participant’s “retirement” (as such term is defined in the applicable Award Agreement), (iii) in connection with a Change of Control, or (iv) pursuant to Section 15.5.

8.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units. Subject to the terms of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units in the form of cash or Shares or other Awards (or in a combination thereof) which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units at the close of the applicable Performance Period. Any such Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form and timing of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent an Award described in this Article 8 is a 409A Award and is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (or will be granted upon the satisfaction of a condition that constitutes such a substantial risk of forfeiture), any compensation due under the Award (or pursuant to a commitment to grant an Award) shall be paid in full not later than the 60th day following the date there is no longer such a substantial risk of forfeiture with respect to the Award (and the Participant shall have no right to designate the year of the payment), unless the Committee shall clearly and expressly provide otherwise at the time of granting the Award.

8.5 Dividends and Other Distributions. A Participant receiving a Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, or Performance Unit Award shall not possess voting rights. A Participant receiving a Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, Performance Unit Award or any other Award that is subject to performance conditions shall accrue dividend equivalents on such Award only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement relating to the Award; provided, however, that (i) any dividend equivalents payable on such Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Performance Units or other Award subject to performance conditions shall be subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, and (ii) all terms and conditions for payment of such dividend equivalent shall be included in the Award Agreement related to the Award and shall, to the extent required, comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

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8.6 Nontransferability. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8 or the applicable Award Agreement, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the Committee’s consent, pursuant to a DRO. Further, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant’s rights with respect to Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Units shall be available during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. In no event may a Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, or Performance Unit be transferred for value or consideration.

ARTICLE 9. OTHER AWARDS

The Committee shall have the authority to specify the terms and provisions of other forms of equity-based or equity-related awards not described above that the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company. The Other Awards may provide for cash payments based in whole or in part on the value or future value of Shares, for the acquisition or future acquisition of Shares, or any combination of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where the value of an Other Award is based on the difference in the value of a Share at different points in time, the grant or exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant unless the Other Award is granted in replacement for an award previously granted by an entity that is assumed by the Company in a business combination, provided that the Committee determines that the Other Award preserves the economic benefit of the replaced award and is either exempt from or in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. A Participant receiving an Other Award shall accrue dividend equivalents on such Other Award only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement relating to the Other Award; provided, however, that (i) any dividend equivalents payable on such Other Award shall be subject to the same restrictions on vesting as the underlying Award, and (ii) all terms and conditions for payment of such dividend equivalents shall be included in the Award Agreement related to the Other Award and shall, to the extent required, comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE 10. PERFORMANCE MEASURES

10.1 In General. The Committee may, in its discretion, include performance conditions or objectives in any Award. The Committee may provide for a threshold level of performance below which no amount of compensation will be paid, and the Committee may provide for the payment of differing amounts of compensation for different levels of performance.

10.2 Committee Determination of Achievement of Performance Goals; Adjustments. For each Award that has been granted subject to a specified performance goal or objective, the Committee shall determine within an administratively practicable period following the end of the applicable Performance Period whether such performance goals or objectives for that Performance Period have been achieved and, if they have, the Committee shall so certify in writing and ascertain the amount payable under the applicable Award. If a performance goal or objective for a Performance Period is not achieved, the Committee in its sole discretion may nonetheless pay all or a portion of that Award based on such criteria as the Committee deems appropriate, including without limitation individual performance, Company-wide performance, or the performance of specific Employer entities or Affiliates, divisions, departments, regions, or service line or function employing the Participant.

In determining whether any performance goal or objective has been satisfied, the Committee may include or exclude any or all items that are unusual or non-recurring, including but not limited to (i) charges, costs, benefits gains or income associated with reorganizations or restructurings of the Employer (or related entities and Affiliates), discontinued operations, goodwill, other intangible assets, long-lived assets (non-cash), real estate strategy, litigation, or the resolution of litigation (e.g., settlements, judgments, or attorneys’ fees), or currency or commodity fluctuations; and (ii) the effects of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. In addition, the Committee may adjust any performance objective for a Performance Period as it deems equitable to recognize unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Employer (or related entities and Affiliates), changes in tax laws or regulations or accounting procedures, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, or any other factors as the Committee may determine. To the extent that a performance objective is based on the price of a Share, then in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other changes in the capital structure of the Company, any merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets (other than a

 

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normal cash dividend), issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities or any other corporate transaction having an effect similar to any of the foregoing, the Committee shall make or provide for such adjustments in such performance objective as the Committee in the Committee’s sole discretion may in good faith determine to be equitably required in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants.

ARTICLE 11. INITIAL MIP GRANTS

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, the Initial MIP Grants shall be awarded to Eligible Individuals in such amounts and consistent with such vesting and other terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restructuring Support Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference and notwithstanding any earlier termination thereof.

ARTICLE 12. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

To the extent permitted by the Committee, each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, in the manner determined by the Committee, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. If any such designation is permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such designations. Unless different rules and procedures are established by the Committee, each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with a designated representative of the Committee during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate or legal heirs.

ARTICLE 13. DEFERRALS

The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, or the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, or Performance Units. If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such deferrals, and the Committee may provide for such arrangements, including conversion to another form of Award that is available under the Plan and has equivalent value, as it deems necessary in order to permit the deferral of taxes in connection with such deferral by the Participant. Any deferrals required or permitted by the Committee of Awards shall be made in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE 14. TAX WITHHOLDING

14.1 Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan or any Award. The Company shall not be required to issue Shares or to recognize the disposition of such Shares until such obligations are satisfied.

14.2 Share Withholding. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee or provided in an Award Agreement, with respect to tax withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, upon the achievement of performance goals related to Performance Shares or Performance Units, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of or in connection with an Award granted hereunder that is settled in Shares, unless other arrangements are made with the consent of the Committee, Participants shall satisfy the withholding requirement by: (i) having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to but not more than the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations at the minimum statutory withholding rates (or any greater rate that will not result in adverse accounting or tax treatment as determined by the Committee), or (ii) if approved by the Committee, authorizing the sale of Shares equal to but not more than the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations at the minimum statutory withholding rates (or any greater rate that will not result in adverse accounting or tax treatment as determined by the Committee). All such withholding arrangements shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

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ARTICLE 15. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

15.1 Amendment of Plan. The Board may at any time terminate or from time to time amend the Plan in whole or in part, but, unless required by applicable law or applicable listing standard, no such action shall materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to any Awards previously granted under the Plan, unless the affected Participants consent in writing. The Company will also obtain the approval of the shareholders before amending the Plan to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code or the rules of any securities exchange or quotation or trading system on which Shares are traded or other applicable law.

15.2 Amendment of Award; Repricing. The Committee may, at any time, amend outstanding Awards in a manner not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan; provided, however, that if such amendment is adverse to the Participant, as determined by the Committee, the amendment shall not be effective unless and until the Participant consents, in writing, to such amendment, except as may be required by applicable law, as provided in Section 15.4 and Section 15.5, or as provided in the Award Agreement. To the extent not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and the foregoing, the Committee may, at any time, amend an outstanding Award Agreement in a manner that is not unfavorable to the Participant without the consent of such Participant. Notwithstanding the above provision, the Committee shall not permit or effect a repricing, except in accordance with Section 4.4 or to the extent the repricing is approved by the shareholders of the Company; for this purpose, a repricing is an amendment to the terms of an outstanding Option or SAR that would reduce the Option Price or SAR Price of that Option or SAR, respectively, or a cancellation, exchange, substitution, buyout or surrender of an outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for cash, another Award or Option or SAR with an Option Price or SAR Price that is less than the Option Price or SAR Price of the original Option or SAR, respectively (or as further defined within US generally accepted accounting practices or any applicable stock exchange rule). Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 15.2, (i) no amendment of an Award Agreement shall cause an award to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, unless the Award Agreement, as amended, complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and (ii) no amendment of an Award Agreement that is subject to Section 409A of the Code shall cause such an Award Agreement (or the underlying Award) to violate Section 409A of the Code.

15.3 Termination of Plan. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. However, Awards granted under the Plan on or prior to the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date shall remain outstanding beyond that date in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreements corresponding to such Awards.

15.4 Cancellation of Awards / Clawback. The Committee may, in its discretion, specify in an Award Agreement or a policy that will be deemed incorporated into an Award Agreement by reference (regardless of whether such policy is established before or after the date of such Award Agreement), that a Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, rescission or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting, restrictions or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, Termination of Service with or without Cause, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or restatement of the Company’s financial statements to reflect adverse results from those previously released financial statements, as a consequence of errors, omissions, fraud, or misconduct. In addition, all Awards under the Plan (and payments and Shares in settlement of Awards as well as any proceeds received from the disposition of such property) are subject to any clawback policy implemented, including any clawback policy adopted to comply with the requirements of applicable law, including Section 954 of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, Rule 10D 1 under the Act, and the NYSE’s listing standards (as applicable).

15.5 Assumption or Acceleration of Awards. In the event of a Change in Control or any other corporate transaction to which the Committee deems this provision applicable (a “Corporate Event”), each Award outstanding at the time of the Corporate Event shall be assumed or an equivalent Award shall be substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (and adjusted as appropriate), unless such successor corporation does not agree to assume the Award or to substitute an equivalent award (including a cash-based award),

 

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in which case the time- or service-based vesting of each Award shall fully accelerate and any performance- or milestone-based vesting condition shall be treated in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee shall notify the Participant of any accelerated vesting provided in accordance with this Section 15.5 or pursuant to an applicable Award Agreement and, subject to rescission if the Corporate Event is not successfully completed within a certain period, the Option or other Award shall be exercisable as to the vested Shares subject thereto (after giving effect to any such accelerated vesting) for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice (or such other period as provided by the Committee), and, to the extent not exercised, the Option or other Award will terminate upon the expiration of such period. Alternatively, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of any or all vested Awards (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting provided under this Section 15.5 or an applicable Award Agreement) or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all vested Awards (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting provided under this Section 15.5 or an applicable Award Agreement), based upon, to the extent relevant under the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of Shares upon or in respect of the Corporate Event. The Committee may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash settlement and, in the case of Options, SARs or similar rights, but without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess (if any) of the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the Option Price or SAR Price, as applicable, of the Award and may cancel each Option or SAR with an Option Price or SAR Price greater than the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event without any payment to the person holding such Option or SAR. Any actions taken under this Section 15.5 shall be valid with respect to a 409A Award only to the extent that such action complies with Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE 16. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

16.1 Restrictions on Shares. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or quotation or trading system on which Shares are traded and any applicable federal, state, local or foreign laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. In making such determination, the Committee may rely upon an opinion of counsel for the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no liability to deliver any Shares under the Plan or make any other distribution of the benefits under the Plan unless such delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933), and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or quotation or trading system on which Shares are traded.

16.2 Rights of a Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided in Article 7 or in the applicable Restricted Stock Award Agreement, each Participant who receives an Award of Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares to the extent, if any, such Shares possess voting rights and receive dividends and other distributions. No Participant awarded an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Award (including but not limited to the right to vote the Shares) prior to the date on which the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares. Except as provided otherwise in the Plan or in an Award Agreement, no Participant awarded a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Stock Unit, or Performance Unit shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Award (including but not limited to the right to vote the Shares) prior to the date on which the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.

16.3 No Implied Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the service of the Employer, or to serve as a member of the Board, or interfere in any way with the right of the Employer to terminate his or her employment or other service relationship at any time. Except to the extent approved by the Board, no Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any employee benefit plan, severance program, or other arrangement of the Employer for the benefit of its employees. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. No Participant shall have any claim to an Award until it is actually granted under the Plan. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, be no greater than the right of an unfunded and unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

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16.4 Compliance with Laws. The Plan and the grant of Awards shall be subject to all applicable federal, state local and foreign laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan and any Award granted or awarded to an Insider shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Act (including Rule 16b-3) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule. Any provision herein relating to compliance with Rule 16b-3 under the Act shall not be applicable with respect to participation in the Plan by Participants who are not Insiders. If the Committee determines that the listing, registration or qualification upon any securities exchange or under any law of shares subject to any Award is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of same or the issue or purchase of Shares thereunder, no such Award may be exercised in whole or in part (as applicable), no such Award may be paid out (as applicable) and no shares may be issued pursuant to such Award (as applicable) unless such listing, registration or qualification is effected free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

16.5 Section 409A.

(a) General. The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code, such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A of the Code apply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (i) exempt this Plan or any Award from Section 409A of the Code, or (ii) comply with Section 409A of the Code, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax treatment under Section 409A of the Code or otherwise. The Company will have no obligation under this Section 16.5 or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A of the Code with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A of the Code.

(b) Separation from Service. Any payment or settlement of a 409A Award upon a Participant’s Termination of Service will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A of the Code, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the Participant’s Termination of Service. For purposes of this Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms means a “separation from service.”

(c) Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under a 409A Award to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code and as the Committee determines) due to such person’s “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award Agreement) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest). Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such 409A Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.

(d) Separate Payments. If an Award includes a “series of installment payments” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Participant’s right to the series of installment payments will be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not as a right to a single payment and, if an Award includes “dividend equivalents” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Participant’s right to receive the dividend equivalents will be treated separately from the right to other amounts under the Award.

 

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(e) Change in Control. Any payment due under a 409A Award upon a Change in Control of the Company will be paid only if such Change in Control constitutes a “change in ownership” or “change in effective control” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and in the event that such Change in Control does not constitute a “change in the ownership” or “change in the effective control” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, such 409A Award for which payment is due upon a Change in Control of the Company will vest upon the Change in Control and any payment will be delayed until the first compliant date under Section 409A of the Code.

16.6 Employees Based Outside of the United States. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company or any Employer (or the Affiliates and/or its subsidiaries of an Employer) operate or have employees or Directors, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall, in addition to the administrative authority set forth in Section 3.3 of this Plan, have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Affiliates and subsidiaries, if any, may be covered by this Plan in accordance with all applicable laws; (b) determine which employees and/or Directors of an Employer outside the United States are eligible to participate in this Plan; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to employees and/or Directors outside the United States, if any, to comply with applicable foreign laws; (d) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law. For purposes of clarity, the terms and conditions contained herein which are subject to variation in a non-U.S. jurisdiction shall be reflected in a written addendum to the Plan and/or Award Agreement for such non-U.S. jurisdiction.

16.7 Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 16.7 by and among the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its subsidiaries and affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 16.7 in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Committee’s sole discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 16.7. For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

16.8 Whistleblower Protection. Nothing contained in this Plan or any Award Agreement: (i) shall be deemed to prohibit any Participant from responding to a subpoena or order of a court or other governmental authority to testify or give evidence or engaging in conduct otherwise protected by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (ii) shall be deemed to prohibit any Participant from providing truthful information in good faith to any federal, state, or local governmental body, agency, or official investigating an alleged violation of any antidiscrimination or other employment-related law or otherwise gathering information or evidence pursuant to any official investigation, hearing, trial, or proceeding; (iii) is intended in any way to intimidate, coerce, deter, persuade, or compensate any Participant with respect to providing, withholding, or restricting any communication whatsoever to the extent prohibited under 18 U.S.C. §§ 201, 1503, or 1512 or under any similar or related provision of state or federal law; and (iv) is intended to require any Participant to provide notice to the Company, any Affiliate or any subsidiary or an attorney of any such entity before reporting any possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity (“Whistleblower Disclosures”) or to provide notice to the Company, any Affiliate, or any subsidiary or any attorney of any such entity after any Participant has made any such Whistleblower Disclosures.

 

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16.9 Transfer of Employee. The transfer of an employee of the Company or any Employer from one Employer (or Affiliate or subsidiary of an Employer) to another Employer (or Affiliate or subsidiary of the other Employer) shall not be considered a termination of employment for Plan purposes unless required by applicable law; nor shall it be considered a termination of employment if an employee is placed on military, disability or sick leave or such other leave of absence which is considered by the Committee as continuing intact the employment relationship. If an employee’s employment or other service relationship is with an Affiliate or subsidiary of an Employer and that entity ceases to be an Affiliate or subsidiary of the Employer, a termination of employment shall be deemed to have occurred when the entity ceases to be an Affiliate or subsidiary of such Employer unless the employee transfers the Employee’s employment or other service relationship to the Employer or its remaining Affiliates or subsidiaries.

16.10 Successors. The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon the Company, and its successors and assigns.

16.11 Tax Elections. Each Participant shall give the Committee prompt written notice of any election made by such Participant under Section 83(b) of the Code or any similar provision thereof. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Committee may condition any award on the Participant not making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code.

16.12 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award; in the discretion of the Committee, the Company shall forfeit the value of fractional shares or make cash payments in lieu of fractional Shares.

16.13 Delivery of Title. The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares under the Plan prior to:

(a) Obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and

(b) Completing any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines are necessary or advisable.

16.14 Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company (after reasonable efforts) to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and/or sale of any Awards or Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue and/or sell such Awards or Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

16.15 Uncertificated Shares. To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such Shares may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.

16.16 Legal Construction.

(a) Severability. If any provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would result in the Plan or any Award Agreement not complying with any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award Agreement, it shall be stricken and the remainder of the Plan or the Award Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

(b) Gender and Number. Where the context permits, words in any gender shall include the other gender, words in the singular shall include the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular.

 

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(c) Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan and all Award Agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice or law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan or the Award Agreement (as applicable) to the substantive law of any other jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the recipient of an Award is deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Federal and state courts of Delaware to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Plan or such Award Agreement.

(d) Governing Documents. If any contradiction occurs between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company (or any subsidiary), the Plan will govern, unless such Award Agreement or other written agreement was approved by the Committee and expressly provides that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply.

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Wolfspeed Successfully Completes Financial Restructuring, Emerges as Financially Stronger

Company Well Positioned in Silicon Carbide Market

Enters a New Era with New Energy and Renewed Commitment to Innovation and Research and Development

Growth Plan to Leverage Installed 200mm Capacity, which Will Be Self-Funded Through Free Cash Flow Generation

DURHAM, N.C. September 29, 2025 — Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF), a global leader in silicon carbide technologies, today announced the successful completion of its financial restructuring process and emergence from Chapter 11 protection.

Through the restructuring process, Wolfspeed has reduced its total debt by approximately 70%, with maturities extended to 2030, and lowered its annual cash interest expense by roughly 60%. In addition, the Company believes that it maintains ample liquidity to continue supplying customers with leading silicon carbide solutions. With a self-funded business plan supported by free cash flow generation, Wolfspeed is well positioned to leverage its vertically-integrated 200mm manufacturing footprint—underpinned by a secure and scalable U.S.-based supply chain—to drive sustainable growth.

“Wolfspeed has emerged from its expedited restructuring process, marking the beginning of a new era, which we are entering with new energy and a renewed commitment to the growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit that have powered Wolfspeed since its inception,” said Robert Feurle, Chief Executive Officer of Wolfspeed. “As we enter this new era, we do so with much improved financial stability, a scaled, greenfield and vertically integrated 200mm facility footprint, and our large capital deployment behind us.“

Feurle continued, “We firmly believe that we are well positioned to capture rising demand in end markets, such as AI, EVs, industrial and energy, that are rapidly growing and recognizing silicon carbide’s potential. We remain committed to our mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions to our customers to ensure Wolfspeed remains at the forefront of the industry. I am deeply grateful to our valued employees, who are the key drivers of our success, as well as to our customers, vendors and lenders for their unwavering support and confidence throughout this process. I look forward to unleashing the full potential of the platform that we have built with a much stronger financial foundation to support us.”

In connection with emergence and in a separate press release available on the Company’s Investor Relations page, Wolfspeed announced five new director appointments.

Advisors

Latham & Watkins LLP and Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP are serving as legal counsel to Wolfspeed, Perella Weinberg Partners is serving as financial advisor to Wolfspeed and FTI Consulting is serving as restructuring advisor to Wolfspeed. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the senior secured noteholders and Moelis & Company is serving as the senior secured noteholders’ financial advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel to Renesas Electronics Corporation, PJT Partners is serving as its financial advisor, and BofA Securities is serving as its structuring advisor. Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal counsel to the convertible debtholders and Ducera Partners is serving as financial advisor to the convertible debtholders.

 

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About Wolfspeed, Inc.

Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) leads the market in the worldwide adoption of silicon carbide technologies that power the world’s most disruptive innovations. As the pioneers of silicon carbide, and creators of the most advanced semiconductor technology on earth, we are committed to powering a better world for everyone. Through silicon carbide material, Power Modules, Discrete Power Devices and Power Die Products targeted for various applications, we will bring you The Power to Make It Real.TM Learn more at www.wolfspeed.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause Wolfspeed’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, including estimates, forecasts, and projections about possible or assumed future results of Wolfspeed’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives and Wolfspeed’s industry and market growth. Words such as “could,” “will,” “may,” “assume,” “forecast,” “position,” “predict,” “strategy,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “budget,” “potential,” “forward” or “continue” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential benefits of the transactions contemplated by Wolfspeed’s chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) and the potential effects of such transactions on Wolfspeed’s financial position, capital structure, outstanding debt, interest expense, profitability, and growth. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with the emergence by the Wolfspeed from the voluntary petitions filed by Wolfspeed under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom on Wolfspeed and Wolfspeed’s relationship with its various stakeholders, including vendors and customers; Wolfspeed’s ability to develop and implement the transactions contemplated by the Plan; the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom on Wolfspeed’s liquidity and results of operations; the timing or amount of recovery, if any, to Wolfspeed’s stakeholders; uncertainty regarding Wolfspeed’s ability to retain key personnel; the diversion of management’s attention as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom; increased administrative and legal costs related to the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom; changes in Wolfspeed’s ability to meet its financial obligations as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom and to maintain contracts that are critical to its operations; the effectiveness of the overall restructuring activities pursuant to the Chapter 11 Cases and any additional strategies that Wolfspeed may employ to address its liquidity and capital resources and achieve its stated goals; the actions and decisions of equity holders, creditors, regulators, and other third parties that have an interest in the Chapter 11 Cases and the Company’s emergence therefrom; ongoing uncertainty in global economic and geopolitical conditions, such as the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East; changes in progress on infrastructure development or changes in customer or industrial demand that could negatively affect product demand, including as a result of an economic slowdown or recession, collectability of receivables and other related matters if consumers and businesses defer purchases or payments, or default on payments; risks associated with Wolfspeed’s expansion plans, including design and construction delays, cost overruns, the timing and amount of government incentives actually received, including, among other things, any direct grants and tax credits, issues in installing and qualifying new equipment and ramping production, poor production process yields and quality control, and potential increases to Wolfspeed’s restructuring costs; Wolfspeed’s ability to obtain additional funding, including, among other things, from government funding, public or private equity offerings, or debt financings, on favorable terms and on a timely basis, if at all; Wolfspeed’s ability to take certain actions with respect to its capital and debt structure; the risk that Wolfspeed does not meet its production commitments to those customers who provide Wolfspeed with capacity reservation deposits or similar payments; the risk that Wolfspeed may experience production difficulties that preclude it from shipping sufficient quantities to meet customer orders or that result in higher production costs, lower yields and lower margins; Wolfspeed’s ability to lower costs; the risk that Wolfspeed’s results will suffer if it is unable to balance fluctuations in customer demand and capacity, including bringing on additional capacity on a timely basis to meet customer demand or scaling back its

 

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manufacturing expenses or overhead costs quickly enough to correspond to lower than expected demand; the risk that longer manufacturing lead times may cause customers to fulfill their orders with a competitor’s products instead; product mix; risks associated with the ramp-up of production of Wolfspeed’s new products, and Wolfspeed’s entry into new business channels different from those in which it has historically operated; Wolfspeed’s ability to convert customer design-ins to design-wins and sales of significant volume, and, if customer design-in activity does result in such sales, when such sales will ultimately occur and what the amount of such sales will be; the risk that the markets for Wolfspeed’s products will not develop as it expects, including the adoption of Wolfspeed’s products by electric vehicle manufacturers and the overall adoption of electric vehicles; the risk that the economic and political uncertainty caused by the tariffs imposed or announced by the United States on imported goods, and corresponding tariffs and other retaliatory measures imposed by other countries (including China) in response, may continue to negatively impact demand for Wolfspeed’s products; the risk that Wolfspeed or its channel partners are not able to develop and expand customer bases and accurately anticipate demand from end customers, including production and product mix, which can result in increased inventory and reduced orders as Wolfspeed experiences wide fluctuations in supply and demand; risks related to international sales and purchases; risks resulting from the concentration of Wolfspeed’s business among few customers, including the risk that customers may reduce or cancel orders or fail to honor purchase commitments; the risk that Wolfspeed’s investments may experience periods of significant market value and interest rate volatility causing it to recognize fair value losses on Wolfspeed’s investment; the risk posed by managing an increasingly complex supply chain (including managing the impacts of supply constraints in the semiconductor industry and meeting purchase commitments under take-or-pay arrangements with certain suppliers) that has the ability to supply a sufficient quantity of raw materials, subsystems and finished products with the required specifications and quality; risks relating to outbreaks of infectious diseases or similar public health events, including the risk of disruptions to Wolfspeed’s operations, supply chain, including its contract manufacturers, or customer demand; the risk Wolfspeed may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if its remaining goodwill or amortizable assets become impaired; risks relating to confidential information theft or misuse, including through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusion; Wolfspeed’s ability to complete development and commercialization of products under development; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Wolfspeed’s products obsolete; the potential lack of customer acceptance for Wolfspeed’s products; risks associated with ongoing litigation; the risk that customers do not maintain their favorable perception of Wolfspeed’s brand and products, resulting in lower demand for its products; the risk that Wolfspeed’s products fail to perform or fail to meet customer requirements or expectations, resulting in significant additional costs; risks associated with strategic transactions; the risk that Wolfspeed is not able to successfully execute or achieve the potential benefits of Wolfspeed’s efforts to enhance its value; the substantial doubt about Wolfspeed’s ability to continue as a going concern; and other factors discussed in Wolfspeed’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Wolfspeed’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2025, and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements represent Wolfspeed’s judgment as of the date of this press release. Except as required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, Wolfspeed disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Investor Contact:

Wolfspeed Investor Relations

investorrelations@wolfspeed.com

Media Contact:

Rachel Chesley / Rose Temple

wolfspeedforward@fticonsulting.com

# # #

 

3

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO

Wolfspeed Appoints Five Experienced Directors to its Board

New Board Appointments Have Strong Track Record of Operational Performance and High-Tech Expertise

DURHAM, N.C. September 29, 2025 — Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF), a global leader in silicon carbide technologies, today announced that in connection with its emergence from the Chapter 11 process, it has appointed Anthony M. Abate, Mike Bokan, Eric Musser, Hong Q. Hou, and, pending certain regulatory approvals, Aris Bolisay, to its Board of Directors (the “Board”). Anthony M. Abate will succeed Tom Werner as Chairman of the Board. The new Board members will join current Board members, Mark Jensen and Paul Walsh, who will continue in their roles as directors.

“We are pleased to welcome these new members to our Board. They bring extensive semiconductor and industry knowledge, deep accounting and finance expertise, and experience guiding companies towards profitability. Their insight and leadership will be instrumental as we build on the current momentum underway, oversee the execution of Wolfspeed’s strategic priorities, and strengthen our position in the global silicon carbide market,” commented Wolfspeed CEO Robert Feurle.

Wolfspeed also today announced that in connection with these appointments Tom Werner, Glenda Dorchak, John Hodge, Darren Jackson, Duy-Loan Le, Stacy Smith, and Marvin Riley have stepped down from the Board.

Feurle concluded, “I would like to thank our former Board members for their service and dedication to Wolfspeed, particularly over the last few months as we have navigated our financial restructuring. Their leadership, input, and expertise have been vital throughout this process. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”

About Anthony M. Abate

Mr. Abate is an experienced board director, entrepreneur, and executive with more than four decades of leadership in technology, telecom, and consumer sectors.

Mr. Abate currently serves as chairperson of GTT Communications, a leading global Tier-1 IP network operator, Mitel, a business communications and collaboration service provider, and Tacora Resources, a specialty iron-ore mining company. Previously he served as chairperson & lead director of Southeastern Grocers, independent director and audit committee chair of Denbury, Inc (DEN), and independent director of TOPS (now Northeastern Grocers), Broadview Networks, Looking Glass Networks, and Cbeyond Communications.

Mr. Abate spent 16 years in operating roles, most recently as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Echo360, Inc., a global SaaS education and corporate training platform (sold in 2021). Prior to his operating roles, he spent more than a decade as an investor at Battery Ventures and Whitney & Co, serving on the boards of several private equity-backed businesses and also served as a strategy consultant in the TMT sector for McKinsey & Co. Mr. Abate began his career as an U.S. Air Force officer developing advanced radar and analytics systems for stealth aircraft. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

 

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About Mike Bokan

Mr. Bokan has held a range of leadership roles at Micron Technology, Inc., a global leader in memory and storage solutions. He joined Micron in 1996 and held progressively senior roles including General Manager of the Crucial division, Director of Sales (2003), Senior Director of Sales (2007), Vice President of Worldwide OEM Sales (2008), Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Sales (2017) and then Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales from 2018 until retiring in May 2025. Over the decades, he built and sustained deep relationships with OEM, hyperscale, and distribution partners, helping drive record-setting revenue for the company. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Colorado State University.

About Eric Musser

Mr. Musser recently completed a 39-year career with Corning Incorporated, serving in progressively responsible leadership positions culminating as President and Chief Operating Officer. In 2005, Mr. Musser was appointed General Manager of Corning Optical Fiber where he restored stability and growth to the business following the telecommunications industry downturn of the early-2000s. In 2007, Mr. Musser became General Manager, Corning Greater China, and President of Corning International. In 2014, he led multiple Corning Technologies & International businesses encompassing the automotive and life sciences businesses, and international business development. In 2020, Mr. Musser was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer, driving growth, performance and profitability. During this period, Mr. Musser also served on the U.S.-China Business Council Board of Directors. Prior to joining Corning, he served five years in the U.S. Army. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (B.S.) and George Washington University (M.S.).

About Hong Q. Hou

Dr. Hou has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Semtech since June 2024 and as a member of the Semtech Board of Directors since July 2023. Dr. Hou is an accomplished multinational technology executive, recognized as a global enterprise leader with a strong technical and business transformation record in dynamic ultra-competitive markets. Dr. Hou most recently served as President of the Semiconductor Group at Brooks Automation, a leading provider of automated wafer handling and contamination control solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Prior to that, Dr. Hou was Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the cloud and edge networking group of Intel Corporation. Previously, Dr. Hou held executive leadership positions at Fabrinet, AXT and Emcore. He also held technical roles at Bell Laboratories and Sandia National Laboratories. Dr. Hou holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at San Diego.

About Aris Bolisay

Mr. Bolisay currently serves as the Vice President of Finance at Renesas Electronics Corporation, a Tokyo-based global leader in advanced semiconductor solutions that designs, manufactures, and sells a wide range of products in the semiconductor space. Prior to his current position, Mr. Bolisay served in a senior role in the Accounting and Control Division of Renesas from March 2019 through June 2021. Mr. Bolisay additionally served as a Senior Director and Corporate Controller as well as a Director and Assistant Controller at Integrated Device Technology, Inc., a U.S.-based semiconductor company that was acquired by Renesas, between June 2014 and March 2019. Before transitioning to the semiconductor industry, Mr. Bolisay started his career at a Big 4 accounting firm where he developed a strong foundation in financial reporting, auditing and compliance. Mr. Bolisay holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Business Administration with a major in Accountancy from the University of the City of Manila.

Advisors

Latham & Watkins LLP and Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP are serving as legal counsel to Wolfspeed, Perella Weinberg Partners is serving as financial advisor to Wolfspeed and FTI Consulting is serving as restructuring advisor to Wolfspeed. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the senior secured noteholders and Moelis & Company is serving as the senior secured noteholders’ financial advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel to Renesas Electronics Corporation, PJT Partners is serving as its financial advisor, and BofA Securities is serving as its structuring advisor. Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal counsel to the convertible debtholders and Ducera Partners is serving as financial advisor to the convertible debtholders.

 

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About Wolfspeed, Inc.

Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) leads the market in the worldwide adoption of silicon carbide technologies that power the world’s most disruptive innovations. As the pioneers of silicon carbide, and creators of the most advanced semiconductor technology on earth, we are committed to powering a better world for everyone. Through silicon carbide material, Power Modules, Discrete Power Devices and Power Die Products targeted for various applications, we will bring you The Power to Make It Real.TM Learn more at www.wolfspeed.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause Wolfspeed’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, including estimates, forecasts, and projections about possible or assumed future results of Wolfspeed’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives and Wolfspeed’s industry and market growth. Words such as “could,” “will,” “may,” “assume,” “forecast,” “position,” “predict,” “strategy,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “budget,” “potential,” “forward” or “continue” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential benefits of the transactions contemplated by Wolfspeed’s chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) and the potential effects of such transactions on Wolfspeed’s financial position, capital structure, outstanding debt, interest expense, profitability, and growth. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with the emergence by the Wolfspeed from the voluntary petitions filed by Wolfspeed under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom on Wolfspeed and Wolfspeed’s relationship with its various stakeholders, including vendors and customers; Wolfspeed’s ability to develop and implement the transactions contemplated by the Plan; the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom on Wolfspeed’s liquidity and results of operations; the timing or amount of recovery, if any, to Wolfspeed’s stakeholders; uncertainty regarding Wolfspeed’s ability to retain key personnel; the diversion of management’s attention as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom; increased administrative and legal costs related to the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom; changes in Wolfspeed’s ability to meet its financial obligations as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and emergence therefrom and to maintain contracts that are critical to its operations; the effectiveness of the overall restructuring activities pursuant to the Chapter 11 Cases and any additional strategies that Wolfspeed may employ to address its liquidity and capital resources and achieve its stated goals; the actions and decisions of equity holders, creditors, regulators, and other third parties that have an interest in the Chapter 11 Cases and the Company’s emergence therefrom; ongoing uncertainty in global economic and geopolitical conditions, such as the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East; changes in progress on infrastructure development or changes in customer or industrial demand that could negatively affect product demand, including as a result of an economic slowdown or recession, collectability of receivables and other related matters if consumers and businesses defer purchases or payments, or default on payments; risks associated with Wolfspeed’s expansion plans, including design and construction delays, cost overruns, the timing and amount of government incentives actually received, including, among other things, any direct grants and tax credits, issues in installing and qualifying new equipment and ramping production, poor production process yields and quality control, and potential increases to Wolfspeed’s restructuring costs; Wolfspeed’s ability to obtain additional funding, including, among other things, from government funding, public or private equity offerings, or debt financings, on favorable terms and on a timely basis, if at all; Wolfspeed’s ability to take certain actions with respect to its capital and debt structure; the risk that Wolfspeed does not meet its production commitments to those customers who provide Wolfspeed with capacity reservation deposits or

 

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similar payments; the risk that Wolfspeed may experience production difficulties that preclude it from shipping sufficient quantities to meet customer orders or that result in higher production costs, lower yields and lower margins; Wolfspeed’s ability to lower costs; the risk that Wolfspeed’s results will suffer if it is unable to balance fluctuations in customer demand and capacity, including bringing on additional capacity on a timely basis to meet customer demand or scaling back its manufacturing expenses or overhead costs quickly enough to correspond to lower than expected demand; the risk that longer manufacturing lead times may cause customers to fulfill their orders with a competitor’s products instead; product mix; risks associated with the ramp-up of production of Wolfspeed’s new products, and Wolfspeed’s entry into new business channels different from those in which it has historically operated; Wolfspeed’s ability to convert customer design-ins to design-wins and sales of significant volume, and, if customer design-in activity does result in such sales, when such sales will ultimately occur and what the amount of such sales will be; the risk that the markets for Wolfspeed’s products will not develop as it expects, including the adoption of Wolfspeed’s products by electric vehicle manufacturers and the overall adoption of electric vehicles; the risk that the economic and political uncertainty caused by the tariffs imposed or announced by the United States on imported goods, and corresponding tariffs and other retaliatory measures imposed by other countries (including China) in response, may continue to negatively impact demand for Wolfspeed’s products; the risk that Wolfspeed or its channel partners are not able to develop and expand customer bases and accurately anticipate demand from end customers, including production and product mix, which can result in increased inventory and reduced orders as Wolfspeed experiences wide fluctuations in supply and demand; risks related to international sales and purchases; risks resulting from the concentration of Wolfspeed’s business among few customers, including the risk that customers may reduce or cancel orders or fail to honor purchase commitments; the risk that Wolfspeed’s investments may experience periods of significant market value and interest rate volatility causing it to recognize fair value losses on Wolfspeed’s investment; the risk posed by managing an increasingly complex supply chain (including managing the impacts of supply constraints in the semiconductor industry and meeting purchase commitments under take-or-pay arrangements with certain suppliers) that has the ability to supply a sufficient quantity of raw materials, subsystems and finished products with the required specifications and quality; risks relating to outbreaks of infectious diseases or similar public health events, including the risk of disruptions to Wolfspeed’s operations, supply chain, including its contract manufacturers, or customer demand; the risk Wolfspeed may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if its remaining goodwill or amortizable assets become impaired; risks relating to confidential information theft or misuse, including through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusion; Wolfspeed’s ability to complete development and commercialization of products under development; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Wolfspeed’s products obsolete; the potential lack of customer acceptance for Wolfspeed’s products; risks associated with ongoing litigation; the risk that customers do not maintain their favorable perception of Wolfspeed’s brand and products, resulting in lower demand for its products; the risk that Wolfspeed’s products fail to perform or fail to meet customer requirements or expectations, resulting in significant additional costs; risks associated with strategic transactions; the risk that Wolfspeed is not able to successfully execute or achieve the potential benefits of Wolfspeed’s efforts to enhance its value; the substantial doubt about Wolfspeed’s ability to continue as a going concern; and other factors discussed in Wolfspeed’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Wolfspeed’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2025, and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements represent Wolfspeed’s judgment as of the date of this press release. Except as required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, Wolfspeed disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Investor Contact:

Wolfspeed Investor Relations

investorrelations@wolfspeed.com

 

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Media Contact:

Rachel Chesley / Rose Temple

wolfspeedforward@fticonsulting.com

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