Form S-3 - Registration statement under Securities Act of 1933

Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 2024

Registration No. 333-     

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		5940		46-0599018
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

120 Mountain View Blvd

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

[phone]

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Jonathan Shar

Chief Executive Officer

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

120 Mountain View Blvd

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

[phone]

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

James J. Masetti

Christina F. Pearson

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

[phone]

 

 

From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective, as determined by market conditions and other factors.

(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public)

 

 

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer		☐		Accelerated filer		☐
Non-accelerated filer		☒		Smaller reporting company		☒
Emerging growth company		☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated December 11, 2024

PROSPECTUS

$40,000,000

 

 

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Units

Rights

 

 

We may, from time to time, offer and sell the securities identified above in one or more offerings. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $40,000,000.

This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will also describe the manner in which these securities will be offered and may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the information incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus, before you invest.

We may offer and sell the securities separately or together in any combination for sale directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or agents. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of these securities we will set forth their names and describe their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “BNED.” On December 10, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $11.95 per share.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus and any similar section included in or incorporated by reference into any applicable accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference herein and therein.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The securities are not being offered in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is    , 2024.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
RISK FACTORS			2
BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.			3
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			4
USE OF PROCEEDS			5
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			6
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			12
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES			15
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			17
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS			18
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS			19
FORMS OF SECURITIES			20
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			22
LEGAL MATTERS			24
EXPERTS			25
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			26
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE			27

 

 

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any free-writing prospectus contain and incorporate by reference information that you should consider when making your investment decision. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any applicable free writing prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, is accurate only as of the dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration, or continuous offering, process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell separately or together in any combination the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $40,000,000.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the offered securities. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. Any prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or information incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement that is of a more recent date, may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC, any prospectus supplement, and any applicable free writing prospectus, together with additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information,” and “Incorporation by Reference,” before making your investment decision.

Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “BNED,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar references refer to Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. and, unless the context requires otherwise, its subsidiaries.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering will contain or incorporate by reference a discussion of risks applicable to an investment in the securities offered. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” included in or incorporated by reference herein and in any applicable prospectus supplement together with all of the other information contained in the prospectus supplement or appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2024 (as updated through our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2024) and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” The risks and uncertainties described in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

 

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BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.

We are one of the largest contract operators of physical and virtual bookstores for college and university campuses and K-12 institutions across the United States. We are also a textbook wholesaler, and bookstore management hardware and software provider. We operate 1,162 physical, virtual, and custom bookstores and serve more than 5.7 million students, delivering essential educational content, tools and general merchandise within a dynamic omnichannel retail environment.

The strengths of our business include our ability to compete by developing new products and solutions to meet market needs, our large operating footprint with direct access to students and faculty, our well-established, deep relationships with academic partners and stable, long-term contracts and our well-recognized brands. We provide product and service offerings designed to address the most pressing issues in higher education, including equitable access, enhanced convenience and improved affordability through innovative course material delivery models designed to drive improved student experiences and outcomes.

The Barnes & Noble brand (licensed from our former parent) along with our subsidiary brands, BNC and MBS, are synonymous with innovation in bookselling and campus retailing, and are widely recognized and respected brands in the United States. Our large college footprint, reputation, and credibility in the marketplace not only support our marketing efforts to universities, students, and faculty, but are also important to our relationship with leading publishers who rely on us as one of their primary distribution channels.

Our principal executive offices are located at 120 Mountain View Blvd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, and our telephone number at that location is [phone]. Our Internet address is www.bned.com. Except for the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making an investment decision.

For a complete description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information, we refer you to our filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For instructions on how to find copies of these documents, see the sections entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference.”

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

When used in this prospectus, words such as “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “may,” “designed,” “potential,” and similar expressions, or the negative of such expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will discuss many of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in any prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors.” Additional cautionary statements or discussions of risks and uncertainties that could affect our results or the achievement of the expectations described in forward-looking statements may also be contained in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. You should, however, review additional disclosures we make in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include additions to working capital, financing of capital expenditures, repayment or redemption of existing indebtedness, repurchases of stock and future acquisitions and strategic investment opportunities. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, pending the application of net proceeds, we expect to invest the net proceeds in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities that we may issue under this prospectus. We will file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a related prospectus supplement, together with any pricing supplement or term sheet, will be a description of the material terms of the debt securities.

We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series. These debt securities that we may issue include senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities, convertible debt securities and exchangeable debt securities. The debt securities we offer will be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee named in the indenture. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the form of indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture. For each series of debt securities, the applicable prospectus supplement for the series may change and supplement the summary below.

As used in this section only, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. excluding our subsidiaries, unless expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

General Terms of the Indenture

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities for any series of debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us. For each series of debt securities, any restrictive covenants for those debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for those debt securities.

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may, for United States federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities for a description of the following terms of the debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement and by this prospectus:

 

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the title of those debt securities;

 

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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of that series of debt securities;

 

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the date or dates on which principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities of that series is payable;

 

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the interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) or the method used to determine the rate or rates, and the date or dates from which interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable and related record dates;

 

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the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions;

 

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if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;

 

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•

the place or places where and the manner in which principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will be payable and the place or places where those debt securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion or exchange;

 

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the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and other terms and conditions upon which those debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or the option of a holder of those securities, if we or a holder is to have that option;

 

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our obligation or right, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase those debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder of those securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to that obligation;

 

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the terms, if any, on which the debt securities of that series will be subordinate in right and priority of payment to our other debt;

 

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the denominations in which those debt securities will be issuable;

 

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if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations;

 

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whether any securities of that series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and the depositary for those global securities;

 

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if the principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities of that series is to be payable, or is to be payable at our election or the election of a holder of those securities, in securities or other property, the type and amount of those securities or other property, or the manner of determining that amount, and the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made;

 

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the events of default and covenants relating to the debt securities that are in addition to, modify or delete those described in this prospectus;

 

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conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto;

 

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whether and upon what terms the debt securities may be defeased, if different from the provisions set forth in the indenture;

 

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the nature and terms of any security for any secured debt securities;

 

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the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount; and

 

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any other specific terms of any debt securities.

The applicable prospectus supplement will present material United States federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are to be listed or quoted.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our equity securities or other securities. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

 

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the conversion or exchange price;

 

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the conversion or exchange period;

 

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provisions regarding our ability or the ability of any holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;

 

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events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and

 

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provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We cannot consolidate with or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to, any person, unless we are the surviving corporation or the successor person is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture. In addition, we cannot complete such a transaction unless immediately after completing the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, has occurred and is continuing. When the successor person has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we will be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control affecting us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.

Events of Default

The indenture provides that the following will be “events of default” with respect to any series of debt securities:

 

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failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable;

 

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failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise and, in the case of technical or administrative difficulties, only if such default persists for a period of more than three business days;

 

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failure to make sinking fund payments when due and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

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failure to perform other covenants for 60 days after notice that performance was required;

 

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certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us; or

 

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any other event of default provided in the applicable officer’s certificate, resolution of our board of directors or the supplemental indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities.

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. For each series of debt securities, any modifications to the above events of default will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for those debt securities.

The indenture provides that if an event of default specified in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullets above occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the fifth bullet above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) will be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder. In certain cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of holders of all those debt securities, rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration.

 

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The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:

 

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the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of default and continuance of such default;

 

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the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series have requested that the trustee institute the action;

 

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the requesting holders have offered the trustee indemnity for the reasonable expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;

 

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the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request and offer of indemnity; and

 

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the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series.

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We can discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as stated below.

We may discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are scheduled for redemption, within one year. We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time, which we refer to as defeasance. We may also be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration, which we refer to as covenant defeasance. We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

 

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we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or government obligations denominated in the currency of the debt securities, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and any premium and interest on, all outstanding debt securities of the series; and

 

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we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and that defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ United States federal income tax treatment of principal, and any premium and interest payments on, the series of debt securities.

In the case of a defeasance by us, the opinion we deliver must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in United States federal income tax law occurring, after the date of the indenture, since such a result would not occur under the United States federal income tax laws in effect on that date.

Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any

 

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series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.

Modification of the Indenture

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to, among other things:

 

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evidence the assumption by a successor entity of our obligations;

 

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add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities, or to surrender any rights or power conferred upon us;

 

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add any additional events of default;

 

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add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture in a manner that will become effective only when there is no outstanding debt security which is entitled to the benefit of the provision as to which the modification would apply;

 

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add guarantees with respect to or secure any debt securities;

 

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establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series;

 

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evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as is necessary for the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee;

 

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cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency or defect in the indenture;

 

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modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or under any similar federal statute later enacted, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required by the Trust Indenture Act; and

 

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make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture that will not be inconsistent with any provision of the indenture as long as the new provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any outstanding debt securities of any series created prior to the modification.

The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of each series of debt securities affected by such supplemental indenture then outstanding, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or any supplemental indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

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extend the final maturity of any debt security;

 

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reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;

 

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reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest;

 

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reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration;

 

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change the currency in which the principal, and any premium or interest, is payable;

 

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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due;

 

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if applicable, adversely affect the right of a holder to convert or exchange a debt security; or

 

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reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture or for waivers of compliance with or defaults under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series.

 

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The indenture provides that the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series, by notice to the relevant trustee, may on behalf of the holders of the debt securities of that series waive any default and its consequences under the indenture except:

 

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a default in the payment of, any premium and any interest on, or principal of, any such debt security held by a nonconsenting holder; or

 

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a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of each series affected.

Concerning the Trustee

The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under that indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only on the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed from one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee for that series at an office designated by the trustee in New York, New York.

The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise those rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

If the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture places limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

The indenture provides that no past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee of ours, any of our affiliates, or any successor corporation, in their capacity as such, shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary description of the material terms of our securities as of the date of this prospectus, as provided in our (i) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our “Certificate of Incorporation”) and (ii) By-Laws, as amended (our “By-laws”), which have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For a more detailed description of these securities, you should read the applicable provisions of Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation, and our By-laws.

Authorized Capital Stock

The Company’s authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Common Stock

Dividend Rights. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as and when may be declared at such times and in such amounts as our Board of Directors (our “Board”) in its discretion shall determine.

Voting Rights. Each holder of common stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of preferred stock) or pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Holders of shares of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.

Rights upon Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-up. Subject to the preferential liquidation rights of any preferred stock that may be outstanding, upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of our common stock, as such, are entitled to share ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held by them, in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders.

Preemptive and Conversion Rights. The holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights, conversion rights, or preferential rights to subscribe for shares of our capital stock.

Fully Paid. The issued and outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Any additional shares of common stock that we may issue in the future will also be fully paid and non-assessable.

Listing. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BNED.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Preferred Stock

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our Board to designate and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred stock without stockholder approval. Our Board may fix and determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of each series of preferred stock.

 

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Certain Provisions of Delaware Law, Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certain provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interests, including attempts that might result in a premium being paid over the market price for the shares held by stockholders. These provisions are intended to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control.

Blank Check Preferred Stock. Our Certificate of Incorporation permits us to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to five million shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of the series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series. The ability to issue such preferred stock could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control.

Board Size. Except as otherwise fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, the number of the directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors and any vacancies shall only be filled by the Board, and not by the stockholders.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Our Certificate of Incorporation expressly excludes the right of our stockholders to act by written consent. Stockholder action must take place at an annual meeting or at a special meeting of our stockholders.

Special Stockholder Meetings. Under our By-laws, only the chairman of our Board or a majority of the members of our Board are able to call a special meeting of stockholders.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Under our By-laws, stockholders of record are able to nominate persons for election to our Board or bring other business constituting a proper matter for stockholder action only by providing proper notice to our secretary. Proper notice must be timely, generally between 90 and 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting, and must include, among other information, the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, certain information regarding such stockholder’s beneficial ownership of our securities and any derivative instruments or other agreements the value of or return on which is based on or linked to the value of or return on our securities as of the date of the notice, certain information relating to each person whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director, including any arrangements or understandings between the nominating stockholder and the nominee, in the case of a director nomination, a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of our common stock as of the date of the notice and a brief description of any other business such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting and the reason for conducting such business, and, if such stockholder intends to solicit proxies, a representation to that effect.

Delaware Takeover Statute

We are subject to the provision of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“Section 203”), subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” (as defined below) with any “interested stockholder” (as defined below) for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (1) prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; (2) on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder

 

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becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (x) by persons who are directors and also officers and (y) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (3) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 defines “business combination” to include: (1) any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (2) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; (3) subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; (4) any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or (5) the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

The following description of the depositary shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the relevant deposit agreement and the depositary receipts with respect to the depositary shares relating to any particular series of preferred stock. You should read these documents as they, and not this description, will define your rights as a holder of depositary shares. Forms of these documents will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of depositary shares.

General

If we elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent fractional interests of preferred stock. We will deposit the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us. The bank or trust company must have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. The depositary receipts will evidence the depositary shares issued under the deposit agreement.

The deposit agreement will contain terms applicable to the holders of depositary shares in addition to the terms stated in the depositary receipts. Each owner of depositary shares will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in the underlying shares of preferred stock. The depositary will issue the depositary receipts to individuals purchasing the fractional interests in shares of the related preferred stock according to the terms of the offering described in a prospectus supplement.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received for the preferred stock to the entitled record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares that the holder owns on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only an amount that can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent. The depositary will add the undistributed balance to and treat it as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to holders of depositary shares.

If there is a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the entitled record holders of depositary shares, in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines, after consultation with us, that it is not feasible to make such distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders. The deposit agreement also will contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights that we may offer to holders of the preferred stock will be available to the holders of the depositary shares.

Conversion, Exchange, Redemption and Liquidation

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares may be converted or exchanged, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares represented by the depositary receipts.

The terms on which the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock of any series may be redeemed, and any amounts distributable upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

Voting

When the depositary receives notice of a meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the particulars of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares. Each

 

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record holder of depositary shares on the record date may instruct the depositary on how to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will try, if practical, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions. We will agree to take all reasonable action requested by the depositary to enable it to vote as instructed.

Amendments

We and the depositary may agree to amend the deposit agreement and the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares. Any amendment that (a) imposes or increases certain fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of the depositary shares as described in the deposit agreement or that (b) otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of depositary shares, will not take effect until 30 days after the depositary has mailed notice of the amendment to the record holders of depositary shares. Any holder of depositary shares that continues to hold its shares at the end of the 30-day period will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment.

Termination

We may direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to holders of depositary shares at least 30 days prior to termination. In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

 

•

the depositary has redeemed all related outstanding depositary shares, or

 

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we have liquidated, terminated or wound up our business and the depositary has distributed the preferred stock of the relevant series to the holders of the related depositary shares.

Payment of Fees and Expenses

We will pay all fees, charges and expenses of the depositary, including the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are stated in the deposit agreement for their accounts.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

At any time, the depositary may resign by delivering notice to us, and we may remove the depositary. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

Reports

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required by law, the rules of an applicable securities exchange or our Certificate of Incorporation to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary’s obligations to performance in good faith of the duties stated in the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or preferred stock unless the holders of depositary shares requesting us to do so furnish us with satisfactory indemnity. In performing our obligations, we and the depositary may rely upon the written advice of our counsel or accountants, on any information that competent people provide to us and on documents that we believe are genuine.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the other offered securities. Each series of warrants may be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into by us with a warrant agent. The applicable warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreements will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants, including, as applicable, the following:

 

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the title of the warrants;

 

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the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

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the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

 

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the designation, terms and number of shares of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

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the designation and terms of the offered securities, if any, with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued with each offered security;

 

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the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, preferred stock or common stock will be separately transferable;

 

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the price at which each share of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

 

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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which that right shall expire;

 

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the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

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any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

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a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations; and

 

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any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

We and the applicable warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may, from time to time, issue units consisting of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, or rights or any combination of the securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in one or more series. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. We may enter into one or more unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time, or at any time before a specified date.

You should read any prospectus supplement related to the units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

Any applicable prospectus supplement may describe, among other things:

 

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the material terms of the units and of the securities composing the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

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any material provisions relating to the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;

 

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the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities composing the units will be separately transferable;

 

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any special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

 

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any other terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

We may issue rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, units or any combination of those securities. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each right. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the rights as described in this prospectus.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions of the issue of rights being offered, the rights agreement relating to the rights and any rights certificates representing the rights, including, as applicable:

 

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the title and aggregate number of the rights;

 

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the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution;

 

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the title, aggregate number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or, as applicable, aggregate principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;

 

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if applicable, the designation and terms of the preferred stock or debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the rights;

 

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the exercise price;

 

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the number or formula for the determination of the number of rights to be issued to each stockholder;

 

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the extent to which the rights are transferable;

 

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the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

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any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights;

 

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the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to the extent securities are fully subscribed; and

 

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if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting, backstop or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the rights offering.

Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the specified number of shares or principal amount, as applicable, of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities or a combination of those securities, at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and, where applicable, the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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FORMS OF SECURITIES

Each debt security, depositary share, warrant, unit and right will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, certificated securities will be issued in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, units or rights represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Registered Global Securities

We may issue the registered debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, units and rights in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, unit agreement or rights agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

 

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will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names;

 

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will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form; and

 

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will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, unit agreement or rights agreement.

 

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Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, unit agreement or rights agreement.

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement, unit agreement or rights agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

We will make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to depositary shares, warrants, units or rights, represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of us, the trustees, the depositaries for depositary shares, the warrant agents, the units agents, the rights agents or any other agent of ours, agent of the trustees, agent of such depositaries, agent of the warrant agents, agent of the units agents, or agent of the rights agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent, rights agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them or to investors directly or through agents, including in underwritten public offerings, at-the-market offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

 

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the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

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the respective amounts of securities allotted to each underwriter;

 

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the nature of the underwriters’ obligations;

 

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the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale;

 

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any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

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any indemnification provisions in the underwriting agreement;

 

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any public offering price;

 

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any estimated offering expenses;

 

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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;

 

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any underwriters’ stabilization activities that may affects the market price of the offered securities; and

 

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any securities exchange or market on which the securities offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed.

Only those underwriters identified in such prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the applicable prospectus supplement specifies. The securities may be sold through an at the market offering, a rights offering, forward contracts or similar arrangements. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

 

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We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any underwriting discounts or other compensation that we pay to underwriters or agents in connection with the securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions that underwriters allow to dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts, commissions or concessions they receive and any profit they realize on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. Underwriters and their controlling persons, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward specific civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the securities distribution may engage in other transactions with, and perform other services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Our common stock is currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated, the validity of any securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Palo Alto, California.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. appearing in the Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K for the year ended April 27, 2024 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information pertaining to us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the exhibits to such registration statement. The descriptions in this prospectus of the provisions of documents filed as exhibits to this prospectus are only summaries of those documents’ material terms. You can read copies of such documents, along with copies of reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Any information we file with the SEC, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Unless specifically listed under “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” below, the information contained on the SEC website is not intended to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and you should not consider that information a part of this prospectus. We also make these documents publicly available, free of charge, on our website at www.bned.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such documents with the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC permits us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus. Later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus from the date those documents are filed.

We have filed with the SEC, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus:

 

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2024, filed with the SEC on July 1, 2024 (as updated through our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2024);

 

•

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended July  27, 2024 and October 26, 2024;

 

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on May  3, 2024, May 29, 2024,  June  6, 2024, June 11,  2024, June  12, 2024, July  3, 2024, July 17, 2024, September  20, 2024 (Item 5.03 and Item 5.07), September  20, 2024 (Item 1.01 and Item 9.01), September  24, 2024, December 6, 2024 and December 11, 2024; and

 

•

the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit  4.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2024, filed with the SEC on July 1, 2024 (as updated through our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2024), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are filed after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, as well as between the date of this prospectus and the termination of any offering of securities offered by this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.

The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus are also available on our corporate website at www.bned.com under the heading “Investors.” Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this report unless specifically incorporated herein by reference You may obtain copies of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from us free of charge by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:

Chief Financial Officer

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

120 Mountain View Blvd. Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Telephone: [phone]

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following is a statement of estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

SEC registration fee		$	6,124
NYSE listing fees			(1	)
Transfer agent and registrar, trustee and depositary fees			(1	)
Printing expenses			(1	)
Legal fees and expenses			(1	)
Accounting fees and expenses			(1	)
Miscellaneous			(1	)
		$	(1	)

 

(1)	These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement for expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Article IX of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 20, 2024) and Article VI of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 12, 2023) each provide for indemnification of the Registrant’s directors, officers, employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers whereby it has agreed to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law, including indemnification against expenses and liabilities incurred in legal proceedings to which the director or officer was, or is threatened to be made, a party by reason of the fact that such director or officer is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, provided that such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner that the director or officer reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the Registrant. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director or officer of the Registrant regarding which indemnification is sought, nor is the Registrant aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

The Registrant maintains insurance policies that indemnify its directors and officers against various liabilities arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might be incurred by any director or officer in his or her capacity as such.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.		Description
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement.
4.1		Form of Indenture relating to debt securities.
4.2*		Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of debt securities (including the form of such debt security).
4.3*		Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate.
4.4*		Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.5*		Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.4).
4.6*		Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate.
4.7*		Form of Rights Agreement and Rights Certificate.
5.1		Opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
23.1		Consent of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof).
25.1+		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the trustee for the debt securities.
107		Filing Fee Table.

 

*	To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable, and incorporated herein by reference.

+	To be filed by amendment or pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable.

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fees Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as applicable, in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities

 

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and Exchange Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

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(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(7) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to any charter provision, by law or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Basking Ridge, State of New Jersey, on December 11, 2024.

 

BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.
By:		/s/ Jonathan Shar
		Jonathan Shar
		Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jonathan Shar as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement, and any registration statement relating to the offering covered by this Registration Statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Jonathan Shar Jonathan Shar		Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)		December 11, 2024
/s/ Kevin F. Watson Kevin F. Watson		Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)		December 11, 2024
/s/ Seema C. Paul Seema C. Paul		Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)		December 11, 2024
/s/ William C. Martin William C. Martin		Chairman and Director		December 11, 2024
/s/ Emily S. Hoffman Emily S. Hoffman		Director		December 11, 2024
/s/ Sean Madnani Sean Madnani		Director		December 11, 2024

 

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Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Elias Nader Elias Nader		Director		December 11, 2024
/s/ Eric Singer Eric Singer		Director		December 11, 2024
/s/ Kathryn Eberle Walker Kathryn Eberle Walker		Director		December 11, 2024
/s/ Denise Warren Denise Warren		Director		December 11, 2024

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.

TO

[    ]

Trustee

 

 

Indenture

Dated as of    , 20

 

 

 

 

 

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BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of     , 20

 

Trust Indenture Act Section		Indenture Sections
§ 310(a)(1)		609
(a)(2)		609
(a)(3)		Not Applicable
(a)(4)		Not Applicable
(a)(5)		609
(b)		608
		610
§ 311(a)		613(a)
(b)		613(b)
(b)(2)		703(a)(2)
		703(b)
§ 312(a)		701
		702(a)
(b)		702(b)
(c)		702(c)
§ 313(a)		703(a)
(b)		703(b)
(c)		703(a), 703(b)
(d)		703(c)
§ 314(a)		704, 1004
(b)		Not Applicable
(c)(1)		102
(c)(2)		102
(c)(3)		Not Applicable
(d)		Not Applicable
(e)		102
§ 315(a)		601(a)
(b)		602
		703(a)(7)
(c)		601(b)
(d)		601(c)
(d)(l)		601(a)(1)
(d)(2)		601(c)(2)
(d)(3)		601(c)(3)
(e)		514
§ 316(a)		101
(a)(1)(A)		502
		512
(a)(1)(B)		513
(a)(2)		Not Applicable
(b)		508
(c)		104(e)
§ 317(a)(l)		503
(a)(2)		504
(b)		1003
§ 318(a)		107

 

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

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

				Page
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 101.		Definitions			1
SECTION 102.		Compliance Certificates and Opinions			6
SECTION 103.		Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee			7
SECTION 104.		Acts of Holders			7
SECTION 105.		Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company			8
SECTION 106.		Notice to Holders; Waiver			8
SECTION 107.		Conflict With Trust Indenture Act			9
SECTION 108.		Effect of Headings and Table of Contents			9
SECTION 109.		Successors and Assigns			9
SECTION 110.		Separability Clause			9
SECTION 111.		Benefits of Indenture			9
SECTION 112.		Governing Law			9
SECTION 113.		Legal Holidays			9
SECTION 114.		Rules by Trustee and Agents			9
SECTION 115.		No Recourse Against Others			9
SECTION 116.		Counterparts			9
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS
SECTION 201.		Forms Generally			10
SECTION 202.		Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication			10
ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 301.		Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series			10
SECTION 302.		Denominations			13
SECTION 303.		Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating			13
SECTION 304.		Temporary Securities			14
SECTION 305.		Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange			14
SECTION 306.		Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities			15
SECTION 307.		Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved			15
SECTION 308.		Persons Deemed Owners			16
SECTION 309.		Cancellation			16
SECTION 310.		Computation of Interest			17
SECTION 311.		Global Securities; Exchanges; Registration and Registration of Transfer			17
SECTION 312.		Extension of Interest Payment			17

 

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ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 401.		Termination of Company’s Obligations			18
SECTION 402.		Defeasance and Discharge of Indenture			19
SECTION 403.		Defeasance of Certain Obligations			19
SECTION 404.		Conditions to Defeasance			19
SECTION 405.		Application of Trust Money			20
SECTION 406.		Reinstatement			21
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
SECTION 501.		Events of Default			21
SECTION 502.		Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment			22
SECTION 503.		Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee			23
SECTION 504.		Trustee May File Proofs of Claim			23
SECTION 505.		Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities			23
SECTION 506.		Application of Money Collected			24
SECTION 507.		Limitation on Suits			24
SECTION 508.		Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest			24
SECTION 509.		Restoration of Rights and Remedies			24
SECTION 510.		Rights and Remedies Cumulative			25
SECTION 511.		Delay or Omission Not Waiver			25
SECTION 512.		Control by Holders			25
SECTION 513.		Waiver of Past Defaults			25
SECTION 514.		Undertaking for Costs			25
SECTION 515.		Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws			26
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 601.		Certain Duties and Responsibilities			26
SECTION 602.		Notice of Defaults			27
SECTION 603.		Certain Rights of Trustee			27
SECTION 604.		Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities			28
SECTION 605.		May Hold Securities			28
SECTION 606.		Money Held in Trust			28
SECTION 607.		Compensation and Reimbursement			28
SECTION 608.		Disqualification; Conflicting Interests			28

 

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SECTION 609.		Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility			29
SECTION 610.		Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor			29
SECTION 611.		Acceptance of Appointment by Successor			30
SECTION 612.		Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business			31
SECTION 613.		Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company			31
SECTION 614.		Appointment of Authenticating Agent			31
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
SECTION 701.		Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders			32
SECTION 702.		Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders			33
SECTION 703.		Reports by Trustee			34
SECTION 704.		Reports by Company			34
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
SECTION 801.		Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms			34
SECTION 802.		Successor Substituted for the Company			35
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 901.		Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders			35
SECTION 902.		Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders			37
SECTION 903.		Execution of Supplemental Indentures			38
SECTION 904.		Effect of Supplemental Indentures			38
SECTION 905.		Conformity With Trust Indenture Act			38
SECTION 906.		Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures			38
SECTION 907.		Revocation and Effect of Consents			38
SECTION 908.		Modification Without Supplemental Indenture			38
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
SECTION 1001.		Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest			39
SECTION 1002.		Maintenance of Office or Agency			39
SECTION 1003.		Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust			40
SECTION 1004.		Statement as to Compliance			40
SECTION 1005.		Corporate Existence			41
SECTION 1006.		Waiver of Certain Covenants			42

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1101.		Applicability of Article			41
SECTION 1102.		Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee			41
SECTION 1103.		Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed			41
SECTION 1104.		Notice of Redemption			41
SECTION 1105.		Securities Payable on Redemption Date			42
SECTION 1106.		Securities Redeemed in Part			43
ARTICLE TWELVE
REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS
SECTION 1201.		Applicability of Article			43
SECTION 1202.		Notice of Repayment Date			43
SECTION 1203.		Securities Payable on Repayment Date			44
SECTION 1204.		Securities Repaid in Part			44

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of      , 20 , between BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [TRUSTEE] (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debt securities (each, a “Security” or, collectively, the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires;

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

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

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

(4) the word “or” is not exclusive; and

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

Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that Article.

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

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

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

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

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“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, either the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.

“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location specified in the Securities or this Indenture, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment, such other location or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, except as may be otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b).

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

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

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be principally administered and which at the date hereof is located at [●].

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company in Section 301(b) until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America that is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts at the time of payment.

“Eligible Obligations” means U.S. Government Obligations.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

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

 

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“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States at the date of any computation required or permitted hereunder or, at the election of the Company with respect to Securities of a series, at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture

“Global Security” means a Security, if any, evidencing all or a part of a series of Securities established in accordance with Section 301.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates.

“Holder” means, with respect to a Security, a Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

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

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

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

“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company.

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of, or counsel for, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

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

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

(b) Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption money or Eligible Obligations (or any combination of money and Eligible Obligations) in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company or any other obligor on such Security) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company or any other obligor on such Security (if the Company or any other obligor on such Security acts as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided, however, that if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

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(c) Securities as to which the Company has effected defeasance as provided in Section 402;

(d) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it and the Company that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date,

(i) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor (unless the Company, such Affiliate or such obligor owns (x) all Securities Outstanding under this Indenture or (y) except for the purposes of actions to be taken by Holders of more than one series or Tranche voting as a class, all Outstanding Securities of each such series and each such Tranche, as the case may be, determined without regard to this clause) shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities that the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor;

(ii) in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of any series or Tranche have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, the principal amount of Original Issue Discount Securities that shall be deemed to be outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502; and

(iii) in the case of any Security the principal of that is payable from time to time without presentment or surrender, the principal amount of such Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding at any time for all purposes of this Indenture shall be the original principal amount thereof less the aggregate amount of principal thereof theretofore paid.

“Paying Agent” means any Person, including the Company, authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time any or all of the specific terms of which Securities, including without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents from time to time subsequent to the initial request for the authentication and delivery of such Securities by the Trustee, all as contemplated in Sections 301 and 303.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series or Tranche are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301(b).

 

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“Predecessor Security” means, with respect to any particular Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

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

“Redemption Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture, exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

“Regular Record Date” means, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series, the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301(b).

“Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security of any series to be repaid or repurchased, the date, if any, fixed for such repayment or for such repurchase (whether at the option of the Holders or otherwise) pursuant to this Indenture.

“Repayment Price” means, when used with respect to any Security of any series to be repaid, the price, if any, at which it is to be repaid pursuant to Section 301(b).

“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee having responsibility for administration of this Indenture, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

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

“Security” or “Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

“series” or “series of Securities” means a series of Securities issued under this Indenture as determined by Board Resolution or as otherwise determined under this Indenture.

“Special Record Date” means, for the payment of any Defaulted Interest, a date fixed by the Company pursuant to Section 307.

“Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to a Security of a particular series or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding total voting power ordinarily entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or other voting members of the governing body thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries or (b) any partnership the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or the only general partners of which are the Company or of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company (or any combination thereof).

 

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“Tranche” means a group of Securities which (a) are of the same series and (b) have identical terms to other Tranches of such series except as to principal amount, date of issuance or first interest payment date, each of which may vary among Tranches of any one series.

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

“Trust Indenture Act” means the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means (x) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America are pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and in either case is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof at any time prior to the stated maturity of the applicable series of Securities, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation that is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

“Vice President” means, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall, if requested by the Trustee, furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

(b) Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:

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

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

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

 

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

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. (a) In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

(b) Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Officer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, or representations by counsel. Any such certificate, statement or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company. Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Officer or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company. Any certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, any independent firm of public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

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

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner acceptable to the Trustee.

(c) The principal amount (except as otherwise contemplated in clause (ii) of the proviso to the definition of “Outstanding”) and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

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

(e) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of any Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted by Section 512 or 513. Such record date shall be not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of such Securities furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 701 prior to such solicitation.

 

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(f) If the Company solicits from Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of the record date.

SECTION 105. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company. Except as otherwise provided herein, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

(a) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by delivery in person, first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or electronic delivery with receipt confirmed, or overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office at the location specified in Section 101, or

(b) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if given in writing (which may be by delivery in person, first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or electronic delivery with receipt confirmed, or overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery) to the Company addressed to it at • , Attention: • or at such other address furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company prior to such mailing.

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event or reports to Holders, such notice or report shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid or electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Securities, to each Holder of Securities affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register and to addresses filed with the Trustee or preserved on the Trustee’s list pursuant to Section 702(a) for other Holders (and to such other addressees as may be required in the case of such notice or report under Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act), not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice or report.

(b) In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

(c) Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary.

 

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SECTION 107. 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 the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 110. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto (including any Paying Agent appointed pursuant to Section 1002 and Authenticating Agent appointed pursuant to Section 614 to the extent provided herein) and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 112. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York in the United States, but without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity of any Security is not a Business Day at any Place of Payment or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities, other than a provision in Securities of any series, or in the Board Resolution, Supplemental Indenture or Officer’s Certificate that establishes the terms of such Securities, that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, Repayment Date, or at the Stated Maturity, and such extension of time shall in such case be (1) excluded in the computation of interest, if any, accruing on such Security at a fixed rate and (2) included in the computation of interest, if any, accruing on such Security at a floating rate; provided, however, that if such extension would cause payment of interest at a floating rate to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.

SECTION 114. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders of one or more series. The Paying Agent or Security Registrar may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

SECTION 115. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee, as such, of the Company or any of its Affiliates or any successor entity shall have any liability for any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company under this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, or in the Securities, or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations, covenants or agreements or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

SECTION 116. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

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ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201. Forms Generally. (a) The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with any rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or to conform with general usage, all as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officer or Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. If all of the Securities of any series established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver a record of such action at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

(b) The definitive Securities shall be produced in such manner or combination of manners, all as determined by the Officer or Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

 

[      ]   as Trustee
By
Authorized Officer

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. (a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

(b) The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

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

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1204 and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, is payable or any formula or other method or other means by which such date or dates shall be determined, by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or otherwise (without regard to any provisions for redemption, prepayment, acceleration, purchase or extension);

(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall bear interest, if any (including the rate or rates at which overdue principal shall bear interest, if different from the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest prior to Maturity, and, if applicable, the rate or rates at which overdue premium or interest shall bear interest, if any), or any formula or other method or other means by which such rate or rates shall be determined, by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or otherwise; the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on such Securities on any Interest Payment Date; the right of the Company, if any, to extend or defer the interest payment periods and the duration of any such extension or deferral as contemplated by Section 312; and the basis of computation of interest, if other than as provided in Section 310;

(5) the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, where the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration of transferor for exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served and notices to Holders pursuant to Section 106 will be published; the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent or Agents for such series or Tranche; and if such is the case, that the principal of such Securities shall be payable without presentment or surrender thereof;

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

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

(8) the terms, if any, on which the Securities of such series will be subordinate in right and priority of payment to other debt of the Company;

(9) the denominations in which any Securities of such series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

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(11) if the principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities of such series is to be payable, or is to be payable at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in securities or other property, the type and amount of such securities or other property, or the manner of determining such amount shall be determined, and the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made;

(12) the Person to whom any interest on any Security of such series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary or permanent Global Security on an interest payment date will be paid;

(13) any addition to or change in the Events of Default, with respect to the Securities of such series, and any addition to or change in the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series in addition to those set forth in Article Ten;

(14) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of such series may be converted into or exchanged for securities or other property of the Company or any other Person;

(15) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Company’s obligations under this Indenture may be terminated through the deposit of money or Eligible Instruments as provided in Article Four;

(16) any exceptions to Section 113, or variation in the definition of Business Day, with respect to the Securities of such series;

(17) any collateral security, assurance or guaranty for the Securities of such series;

(18) the non-applicability of Section 608 to the Securities of such series or any exceptions or modifications of Section 608 with respect to the Securities of such series;

(19) any rights or duties of another Person to assume the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities of such series (whether as joint obligor, primary obligor, secondary obligor or substitute obligor) and any rights or duties to discharge and release any obligor with respect to the Securities of such series or this Indenture to the extent related to such series; and

(20) any other terms, conditions and rights of such series (which terms, conditions and rights shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(a)(4)).

(c) All Securities of any one series (other than Securities offered in a Periodic Offering) shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officer’s Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto and as reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Securities of different series may differ in any respect.

(d) If the terms and form or forms of any series of Securities are established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver a copy of such Board Resolution to the Trustee at or prior to the issuance of such series with (1) the form or forms of Security that have been approved attached thereto, or (2) if such Board Resolution authorizes a specific officer or officers to approve the terms and form or forms of the Securities, a certificate of such officer or officers approving the terms and form or forms of Security with such form or forms of Securities attached thereto. Such Board Resolution or certificate may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of any series and may provide that the specific terms of particular Securities of a series may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to the Company Order referred to in Section 303.

(e) With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the indenture supplemental hereto or the Board Resolution that establishes such series, or the Officer’s Certificate pursuant to such supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, as the case may be, may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company or its agents in accordance with procedures specified in a Company Order as contemplated by Section 303(c).

 

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(f) Unless otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to paragraph (2) of Section 301(b), such series of Securities may be issued in one or more Tranches with various principal amounts without the consent of any Holders and additional Tranches of such series may be authenticated and delivered pursuant to Section 303.

SECTION 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301(b). In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. (a) The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by an Officer by manual or facsimile signature. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

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

(c) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series (or any Tranche thereof) executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities (or such Tranche), and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities (or such Tranche); provided, however, that with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (i) such Company Order may be delivered by the Company to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (ii) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, all pursuant to a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order, (iii) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by Company Order or pursuant to such procedures and (iv) if provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.

(d) In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

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

(ii) that the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(iii) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraphs of Sections 303(c) and 303(d) in connection with a Periodic Offering, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officer’s Certificate or execute a supplemental indenture otherwise required pursuant to Section 301(b) or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraphs at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

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

(g) No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual or facsimile signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities. (a) Until definitive Securities of any series (including Global Securities) are ready for delivery, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more temporary Securities that are produced in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

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

SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

(b) Except in the case of Securities issued in the form of a Global Security, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

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

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

 

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(e) Unless otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in an indenture supplemental hereto, with respect to Securities of any series, no service charge shall be made to the Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1106 or 1204 not involving any transfer.

(f) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. (a) If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

(b) If there has been delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such bond, security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of actual notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a replacement Security of the same series (and Tranche, if applicable) and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

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

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

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

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

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. (a) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301(b) with respect to the Securities of any series, interest on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest; provided, however, that interest payable at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.

 

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

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii).

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

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

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and any premium) and (subject to Section 301 and Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Ownership of Securities of a series shall be proved by the computerized book-entry system of the Depositary in the case of Securities issued in the form of a Global Security.

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

SECTION 309. Cancellation. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not theretofore cancelled, shall be promptly cancelled by it. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, the Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever or that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall provide it with a certificate of cancellation.

 

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SECTION 310. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 311. Global Securities; Exchanges; Registration and Registration of Transfer. If specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, the Securities of such series may be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, which shall be deposited with the Depositary, and, unless otherwise specified in the form of Global Security adopted pursuant to Section 301, be registered in the name of the Depository’s nominee.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, any permanent Global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of interests in a permanent Global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for Securities of such series of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301(b), then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent Global Security shall be surrendered from time to time in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depositary (which instructions shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) by the Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent Global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent Global Security to be exchanged, as shall be specified by the Depositary; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during the periods specified by Section 305.

The Global Security may be transferred to another nominee of the Depositary, or to a successor Depositary selected by the Company, and upon surrender for registration of transfer of the Global Security to the Trustee, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, a new Global Security in the same aggregate principal amount. If at any time the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and a successor Depositary satisfactory to the Company is not appointed within 90 days after the Company receives such notice, the Company will execute, and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive form to the Depositary in exchange for the Global Security. In addition, if at any time the Company determines that it is not in the best interest of the Company or the beneficial owners of Securities to continue to have a Global Security representing all of the Securities held by a Depositary, the Company may, at its option, execute, and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive form to the Depositary in exchange for all or a portion of the Global Security.

SECTION 312. Extension of Interest Payment. The Company shall have the right at any time, so long as the Company is not in default in the payment of interest on the Securities of any series hereunder, to extend or defer interest payment periods on all Securities of one or more series, if so specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) with respect to such Securities and upon such terms as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) with respect to such Securities. If the Company ever so extends or defers any such interest payment period, the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 401. Termination of Company’s Obligations. (a) This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company acknowledging termination of the Company’s obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture, when

(1) either

(A) all Securities of such series previously authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities of such series that are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 402) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities of such series not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

(i) have become due and payable (whether at Stated Maturity, early redemption or otherwise), or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

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

and the Company in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series an amount in cash in Dollars, Eligible Obligations or any combination thereof, together (if necessary in the case of a series of Securities not bearing interest at a fixed rate) with any Hedging Obligation, so that such funds in each case are sufficient to pay principal of, and any premium and interest on, all Outstanding Securities of such series;

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

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

(b) Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 405 and Section 1003(e) shall survive.

(c) Upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in this Section 401, the Trustee shall assign, transfer and turn over to the Company, subject to the claim provided by Section 607, any and all money, securities and other property then held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities.

 

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The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 402 or Section 403 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any series in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for such Securities.

SECTION 402. Defeasance and Discharge of Indenture. Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to all the Outstanding Securities of any series or Tranche, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 404 being satisfied, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on such Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche, shall be satisfied and discharged and shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall at Company Request execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust funds described in Section 405, (x) payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series, or portions thereof, on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest to but excluding the Redemption Date designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (viii) of Section 404 and (y) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series or Tranche on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series or Tranche;

(b) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities of such series or Tranche under Sections 304, 305, 306, 614, 1002 and 1003 and, if the Company shall have designated a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (x) of Section 404, Sections 1104 and 1106; and

(c) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Trustee under Section 607.

SECTION 403. Defeasance of Certain Obligations. The Company may omit to comply with its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 801, 1006 and 1007 with respect to any Security or Securities of any series (and in respect of any term, provision or condition set forth in the covenants or restrictions specified for such Securities pursuant to Section 301(b), in any supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing such Security), and the failure to comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 501(4), provided that the conditions set forth in Section 404 have been satisfied.

SECTION 404. Conditions to Defeasance. The following conditions shall be the conditions to the application of Section 402 and Section 403:

(i) the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, (x) cash in Dollars in an amount sufficient, or (y) Eligible Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the due date of any payment referred to in clause (1) or (2) of this subparagraph (i) money in an amount sufficient or (z) a combination of such cash and Eligible Obligations, together (if necessary in the case of a series of Securities not bearing interest at a fixed rate) with any Hedging Obligation so that such funds are sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge (1) the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or to but excluding the Redemption Date designated by the Company in accordance with Section 404(a)(1)(B)(iii) and (2) any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series;

 

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(ii) in the event of an election to have Section 402 apply, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) there has been a change in law or regulation occurring after the date hereof, to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

(iii) in the event of an election to have Section 403 apply, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

(iv) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(v) such provision would not cause any Outstanding Securities of such series then listed on a securities exchange to be delisted as a result thereof;

(vi) no Event of Default or event that with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit;

(vii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the holders of the Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;

(viii) such deposit shall not, as specified in an Opinion of Counsel, cause the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 608 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of such series;

(ix) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with; and

(x) if the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited money or Eligible Obligations to pay or discharge the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of a series to but excluding a Redemption Date pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 404, such Redemption Date shall be irrevocably designated by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee on or prior to the date of deposit of such money or Eligible Obligations, and such Board Resolution shall be accompanied by an irrevocable Company Request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption in the name and at the expense of the Company not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to such Redemption Date in accordance with Section 1104.

SECTION 405. Application of Trust Money. (a) Neither the Eligible Obligations nor the funds deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 401, 402 or 403, nor the principal or interest payments on any such Eligible Obligations, shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities or portions of principal amount thereof in respect of which such deposit was made, all subject, however, to the provisions of Section 606; provided, however, that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any cash received from such principal or interest payments on such Eligible Obligations deposited with the Trustee, if not then needed for such

 

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purpose, shall, to the extent practicable, be invested in Eligible Obligations of the type described in Sections 401 and 402(d)(2)(A) maturing at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient to pay when due the principal of and any premium and interest due and to become due on such Securities or portions thereof on and prior to the Maturity thereof, and interest earned from such reinvestment shall be paid over to the Company as received by the Trustee, free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the claim provided by Section 607; and provided, further, that, so long as there shall not have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, any moneys held by the Trustee in accordance with this Section on the Maturity of all such Securities in excess of the amount required to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, then due on such Securities shall be paid over to the Company free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the claim provided by Section 607.

(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against Eligible Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401, 402 or 403 or the principal and any premium and interest received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any Eligible Obligations or money held by it as provided in Section 401, 402 or 403 that, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof that then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such Eligible Obligations or money was deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any Eligible Obligations held under this Indenture.

SECTION 406. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 402 or Section 403 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 405 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events, unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued, as the case may be, as contemplated by Section 301:

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company as contemplated in Section 312 shall not constitute a failure to pay interest for this purpose; or

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity and, in the case of technical or administrative difficulties, only if such default persists for a period of more than three Business Days; or

 

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(3) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, or adjudicates the Company insolvent or bankrupt, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or

(6) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of such series pursuant to Section 301(b).

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or (5) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or (5) occurs, the principal of all the Securities then Outstanding (or if any such Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall automatically become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act or notice on the part of the Trustee or any Holders of the Securities.

Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities of one or more series has been made 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 Event or Events of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if

(1) the Company has paid or deposited irrevocably with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of any such series,

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

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates borne by such Securities, unless another rate is provided in such Securities, and

(D) all amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607;

and

 

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(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. If an Event of Default described in clause (1) or (2) of Section 501 has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of the series with respect to which such Event of Default has occurred, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium or interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates borne by such Securities, unless another rate is provided in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607.

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

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and premium or interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 607.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

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SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee, and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal and any premium and interest, upon presentation of the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money shall have been collected and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

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

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any such payment to Holders of Securities.

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or such Security, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

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

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity against the reasonable costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

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

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

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

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on the Repayment Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and such Holder shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

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SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 512. Control by Holders. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing in respect of a series of Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series or Tranche; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series of Securities of equal ranking, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series of equal ranking, considered as one class, shall have the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of the Securities of any one of such series of equal ranking; provided, further that

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and

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

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences; provided that if any such past default has occurred with respect to more than one series of Securities of equal ranking, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series of equal ranking, considered as one class, may make such waiver, and not the Holders of the Securities of any one of such series of equal ranking, in each case, except a default

(1) in the payment of the principal of or premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Section 902 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

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

SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including

 

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reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of which such suit may be brought, considered as one class, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Repayment Date).

SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series,

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

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

(b) If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise, with respect to Securities of such series, such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

(1) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of sub-section (a) of this Section;

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any one or more series, as provided herein, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it has reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3) notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 75 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 601 and to the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:

(a) the Trustee may 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 reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, or as otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate and such Officer’s Certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof;

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

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

 

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(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, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; and

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

SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities of any series. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 605. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee or by any Paying Agent (other than the Company if the Company shall act as Paying Agent) in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as expressly provided herein or otherwise agreed with the Company.

SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except property and funds held in trust for the payment of principal of and any premium and interest on particular Securities.

SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series, it shall either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign to the extent, in the manner and with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. For purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and to the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect of the equally ranked and unsecured Securities of any series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the equally ranked and unsecured Securities of any other series under this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and qualified and eligible under this Article, provided that, neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company or any obligor on the Securities may serve as Trustee of any Securities. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. (a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 has not been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c) The Company may at any time by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any or all series.

(d) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(e) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 608 with respect to the Securities of any series, after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee ceases to be eligible under Section 609 and fails to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

(3) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting or becomes adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property is appointed or any public officer takes charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(f) If the Trustee resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of

 

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any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series is appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series has been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to Section 514, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(g) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3). Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

(h) All provisions of this Section except subparagraph (d) and Section 611(b) (except for the last clause, after omitting the words “after deducting all amounts owed to the retiring Trustee pursuant to Section 607,” which shall apply) shall apply also to any Paying Agent located outside the United States and its possessions.

SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of all series, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

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(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

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

SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. (a) At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents (which may include any Person that owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock of the Trustee or a corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trustee or of such other Person) with respect to one or more series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series or Tranche issued upon original issuance, exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority in the United States. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

(b) Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

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(c) An Authenticating Agent may resign with respect to one or more series of Securities at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent with respect to one or more series of Securities by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that is acceptable to the Company and shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series or Tranche with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section. An Authenticating Agent appointed pursuant to this Section shall be entitled to rely on Sections 111, 308, 604 and 605 hereunder.

(d) The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607.

(e) If an appointment with respect to the Securities of one or more series, or any Tranche thereof, is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series or Tranche may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated pursuant to and issued under the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[       ]
As Trustee
By
		As Authenticating Agent on behalf of the Trustee
By
		Authorized Officer of Authenticating Agent

 

Dated:

(f) If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint, in accordance with this Section and in accordance with such procedures as shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Authenticating Agent (which, if so requested by the Company, may be an Affiliate of the Company) having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

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(a) semi-annually, not later than the 5th day after each Regular Record Date for each series of Securities at the time Outstanding or on June 30 and December 31 of each year with respect to each series of Securities for which there are no Regular Record Dates, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, containing all the information in the possession or control of the Company, or any of its Paying Agents other than the Trustee, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series, including Holders of interests in Global Securities, as of such preceding Regular Record Date or on June 15 or December 15, as the case may be, or, in the case of a series of non-interest bearing Securities, on a date to be determined as contemplated pursuant to Section 301(b), and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar or Paying Agent. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five business days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either

(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), or

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

If the Trustee elects not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee by the applicants of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, enters an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and enters an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender by such applicants; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 702(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 702(b).

 

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SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee. (a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

(b) Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than July 1 in each calendar year, commencing with the first July 1 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture.

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing when any Securities are listed on any securities exchange.

SECTION 704. Reports by Company. The Company shall:

(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations; and provided, however, that so long as such filings by the Company are available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR) or any successor system, such filings shall be deemed to have been filed with the Trustee for purposes hereof without any further action required by the Company;

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(3) transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, and to each Holder whose name and address is then preserved on the Trustee’s list pursuant to the first sentence of Section 702(a), within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any other Person, unless:

 

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(1) either (x) the Company shall be the continuing entity or the successor Person (if other than the Company) or (y) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Outstanding Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction and such supplemental indenture, if any, complies with this Indenture (except that such Opinion of Counsel need not opine as to clause (2) above).

Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company and neither an Officer’s Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.

SECTION 802. Successor Substituted for the Company. Upon any consolidation or merger or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein and thereafter, in the case of a conveyance, transfer or lease of properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety, such conveyance, transfer or lease shall have the effect of releasing the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument or any successor Person that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article from its liability as obligor and maker on any of the Securities.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

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

(3) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities Outstanding hereunder; or

(4) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, or to add any new provision to this Indenture, in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided, however, that any such change, elimination or addition (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security Outstanding with respect to such provision in effect prior to the date of such indenture supplemental hereto or (B) shall become effective only when no Security of such series remains Outstanding; or

 

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(5) to add guarantees or collateral security with respect to the Securities of any series; or

(6) to establish for the issuance of and establish the form or terms and conditions of Securities of any series or Tranche thereof as permitted by Section 301(b), and to establish the form of any certificates required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities; or

(7) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of all, or any series or Tranche of, certificated Securities; or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a separate or successor Trustee or co-trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611(b); or

(9) to change any place or places where (a) the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, (b) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration or transfer, (c) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for exchange and (d) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served;

(10) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, pursuant to Article Four, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or Tranche or any other series of Securities in any material respect;

(11) to comply with the Applicable Procedures of any applicable Depositary;

(12) to comply with the rules or regulations of any applicable securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may be listed or traded;

(13) subject to any limitations established pursuant to Section 301, to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;

(14) (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or (ii) to conform the terms of any series of Securities, or Tranche thereof, to the description thereof in the prospectus and prospectus supplement (or similar offering document) offering such series of Securities, or Tranche thereof; or

(15) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Securities of any series or Tranche Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust Indenture Act as in effect at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture or at any time thereafter becomes amended and

(x) if any such amendment requires one or more changes to any provisions hereof or the inclusion herein of any additional provisions, or by operation of law is deemed to effect such changes or incorporate such provisions by reference or otherwise, this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment to the Trust Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect or evidence such changes or additional provisions; or

 

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(y) if any such amendment permits one or more changes to, or the elimination of, any provisions hereof that, at the date hereof or at any time thereafter, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein (or if it is no longer required by the Trust Indenture Act for the Indenture to contain one or more provisions), this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended to effect such changes or elimination, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to evidence such amendment hereof; or

(z) if, by reason of any such amendment, it shall be no longer necessary for this Indenture to contain one or more provisions that, at the date of the execution and delivery hereof, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein, the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect the elimination of such provisions.

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (b) below, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected (voting as one class) by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such series), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that if there are Securities of more than one series of equal ranking Outstanding hereunder and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required.

(b) No such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of the series affected thereby,

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount or premium, if any, thereof or the rate of interest thereon (or the amount of any installment of interest thereon) or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest thereon, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change the coin or currency (or other property) in which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holders, on or after the Repayment Date), or modify any provisions of this Indenture with respect to the conversion or exchange of the Securities into Securities of another series or into any other debt or equity securities in a manner adverse to the Holders, or

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

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1008, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1008, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611(b) and 901(8).

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

 

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It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. A waiver by a Holder of such Holder’s rights to consent under this Section shall be deemed to be a consent of such Holder.

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby. Any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article may restate this Indenture in its entirety, and, upon the execution and delivery thereof, any such restatement shall supersede this Indenture as theretofore in effect for all purposes.

SECTION 905. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company so determines, new Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche.

SECTION 907. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have consented to the amendment or waiver. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or waiver.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

After an amendment or waiver becomes effective it shall bind every Holder, unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (1) through (3) of Section 902(c). In such case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

SECTION 908. Modification Without Supplemental Indenture. If the terms of any particular series of Securities have been established in a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate as contemplated by Section 301, and not in an indenture supplemental hereto, additions to, changes in or the elimination of any of such terms may be effected by means of a supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate, as the case may be, delivered to, and accepted by, the Trustee; provided, however, that such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall not be accepted by the Trustee or otherwise be effective unless all conditions set forth in this Indenture that would be required to be satisfied if such additions, changes or elimination were contained in a supplemental indenture shall have been appropriately satisfied. Upon the acceptance thereof by the Trustee, any such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall be deemed to be a “supplemental indenture” for purposes of Sections 904 and 906.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. (a) Subject to the following provisions, the Company will pay to the Trustee the amounts, in such coin or currency as is at the time legal tender for the payment of public or private debt, in the manner, at the times and for the purposes set forth herein and in the text of the Securities for each series, and the Company hereby authorizes and directs the Trustee from funds so paid to it to make or cause to be made payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of each series as set forth herein and in the text of such Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, the Trustee will arrange directly with any Paying Agents for the payment, or the Trustee will make payment, from funds furnished by the Company, of the principal of and any premium and interest, on the Securities of each series by check or draft.

(b) Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, interest, if any, on Securities of a series shall be paid by check or draft on each Interest Payment Date for such series to the Holder thereof at the close of business on the Regular Record Date specified in the Securities of such series; provided, however, that interest payable at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable. The Company may pay such interest by check or draft mailed to such Holder’s address as it appears on the register for Securities of such series. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, principal of Securities shall be payable by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of such Securities at the office of the Paying Agent, unless the Company shall have otherwise instructed the Trustee in writing.

(c) At the election of the Company, any payments by the Company provided for in this Indenture or in any of the Securities may be made by electronic funds transfer.

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. (a) The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, an office or agency where Securities, or any Tranche thereof, of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and a Place of Payment where (subject to Sections 305 and 307) Securities may be presented for payment or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Security Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-Security Registrars acceptable to the Trustee and one or more additional Paying Agents for each series of Securities, and the Company may terminate the appointment of any co-Security Registrar or Paying Agent at any time upon written notice. The term “Security Registrar” includes any co-Security Registrar. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional Paying Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. Subject to Section 305, if the Company fails to maintain a Security Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

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

 

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(c) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any office or agency required by this Section may be maintained at any office of the Company in which event the Company shall perform all functions to be performed at such office or agency.

SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. (a) If the Company at any time acts as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of such Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums are paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(b) Whenever the Company has one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to (and if on, then before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time)) each due date of the principal of and any premium or interest on such Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient (in immediately available funds, if payment is made on the due date) to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest as provided in the Trust Indenture Act and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(c) The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

(i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and

(ii) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series

(d) The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

(e) Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or received by the Trustee in respect of Eligible Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 or 404, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of and any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years (or such shorter period for the return of such funds to the Company under applicable abandoned property laws) after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

SECTION 1004. Statement as to Compliance. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, a written statement, which need not comply with Section 102, signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company stating, as to each signer thereof stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions, and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

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SECTION 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in (i) any additional covenants or restrictions specified with respect to the Securities of any series as contemplated by Section 301 if before the time for such compliance the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount (or such larger proportion as may be required in respect of waiving a past default of any such additional covenant or restriction) of the Outstanding Securities of all series of equal ranking with respect to which such covenant or restriction was so specified, considered as one class, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition and (ii) Sections 1002 and 1004 and Article Eight if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of Securities of all series of equal ranking Outstanding under this Indenture by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition; but, in the case of clause (i) or (ii) of this Section, no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver becomes effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity (or, if the principal of the Securities of any series is payable in installments, the Stated Maturity of the final installment of the principal thereof) shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice is satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, unless the procedures of the Depositary provide otherwise, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as is provided for any particular series, or, in the absence of any such provision, pro rata, by lot, or by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and the method it has chosen for the selection of such Securities.

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

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, notice of redemption shall be given by electronic transmission or first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register.

 

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All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price, or the formula pursuant to which the Redemption Price is to be determined if the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time notice is given,

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed, and the portion of the principal amount of any Security to be redeemed in part and, in the case of any such Security of such series to be redeemed in part, that, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the remaining unpaid principal amount thereof will be issued as provided in Section 1106,

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

(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,

(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

(7) the CUSIP, “ISIN” or similar number(s), if any, assigned to such Securities; provided however, that such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of CUSIP, “ISIN” or similar number(s), and the redemption of such Securities shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such number(s), and

(8) such other matters as the Company shall deem desirable or appropriate.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities in accordance with Section 301, with respect to any notice of redemption of Securities at the election of the Company, unless, upon the giving of such notice, such Securities are deemed to have been paid in accordance with Section 401, such notice may state that such redemption shall be conditional upon the receipt by the Paying Agent or Agents for such Securities, on or prior to the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Securities and that if such money has not been so received such notice shall be of no force or effect and the Company shall not be required to redeem such Securities. In the event that such notice of redemption contains such a condition and such money is not so received, the redemption shall not be made and within a reasonable time thereafter notice shall be given, in the manner in which the notice of redemption was given, that such money was not so received and such redemption was not required to be made, and the Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities otherwise to have been redeemed shall promptly return to the Holders thereof any of such Securities that had been surrendered for payment upon such redemption.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company, and any notice of non-satisfaction of a condition for redemption as aforesaid, shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company. Notice of mandatory redemption of Securities shall be given by the Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company.

SECTION 1105. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. (a) Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, and the conditions, if any, set forth in such notice having been satisfied, the Securities or portions thereof so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and

 

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accrued interest, if any) such Securities, or portions thereof, if interest-bearing, shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security or portion thereof, if any, shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307; provided, further, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Securities registered on the relevant Regular Record Date.

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

SECTION 1106. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any physical Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, and of like tenor and in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series that are repayable before their Stated Maturity at the option of the Holders shall be repayable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1202. Notice of Repayment Date. Notice of any Repayment Date with respect to Securities of any series shall be given by the Company not less than 30 nor more than 45 days prior to such Repayment Date (or at such other times as may be specified for such repayment or repurchase pursuant to Section 301) to each Holder of Securities of such series in accordance with Section 106 (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series).

The notice as to the Repayment Date shall state (unless otherwise specified for such repayment or repurchase pursuant to Section 301):

(1) the Repayment Date;

(2) the principal amount of the Securities required to be repaid or repurchased and the Repayment Price (or the formula pursuant to which the Repayment Price is to be determined if the Repayment Price cannot be determined at the time the notice is given);

(3) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Repayment Price, and accrued interest, if any, and the date by which Securities must be so surrendered in order to be repaid or repurchased;

(4) that any Security not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(5) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, Securities accepted for payment pursuant to any such offer of repayment or repurchase shall cease to accrue interest after the Repayment Date;

 

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(6) that Holders electing to have a Security repaid or purchased pursuant to such offer may elect to have all or any portion of such Security purchased;

(7) that Holders electing to have a Security repaid or repurchased pursuant to any such offer shall be required to surrender the Security, with such customary documents of surrender and transfer as the Company may reasonably request, duly completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company or the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least two Business Days prior to the Repayment Date;

(8) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the offer to repay or repurchase, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Security purchased;

(9) that, in the case of a repayment or repurchase of less than all Outstanding Securities of a series, the method of selection of Securities to be repaid or repurchased to be applied by the Trustee if the principal amount of properly tendered Securities exceeds the principal amount of the Securities to be repaid or repurchased;

(10) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities of the same series equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer); and

(11) the CUSIP or other identification number, if any, printed on the Securities being repurchased and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or other identification number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

SECTION 1203. Securities Payable on Repayment Date. The form of option to elect repurchase or repayment having been delivered as specified in the form of Security for such series, the Securities of such series so to be repaid (after application of the method of selection described pursuant to clause (9) of Section 1202, if the principal amount of properly tendered Securities exceeds the principal amount of the Securities to be repaid or repurchased) shall, on the Repayment Date, become due and payable at the Repayment Price applicable thereto and from and after such date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Repayment Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Repayment Price together with accrued interest, if any, to but excluding the Repayment Date; provided, however, that if a Security is repaid or repurchased on or after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the Stated Maturity of any installments of interest, then any accrued and unpaid interest due on such Stated Maturity shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Security is not paid upon surrender thereof for repayment, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate prescribed therefor in such Security.

SECTION 1204. Securities Repaid in Part. Any Security that by its terms may be repaid in part at the option of the Holder and that is to be repaid only in part shall be surrendered at any office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose pursuant to Section 1002 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, as provided in Section 305, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepaid portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

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

 

BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
[TRUSTEE]
By
Name:
Title:

 

45

Exhibit 5.1

PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

December 11, 2024

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

120 Mountain View Blvd.

Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel for Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) relating to the registration of the following securities of the Company having an aggregate initial public offering price of up to $40,000,000: (a) debt securities (“Debt Securities”), (b) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), (c) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), (d) depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing fractional interests in Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”), (e) warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Depositary Shares or any combination thereof (“Warrants”), (f) units consisting of Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants, or Rights or any combination thereof (“Units”), and (g) rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Units or any combination thereof (“Rights”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Units and Rights are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities shall include any additional amounts of such securities the offer and sale of which are registered pursuant to a registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act in connection with one or more offerings contemplated by such Registration Statement. Such Registration Statement, as amended, and including any registration statement related thereto and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, is herein referred to as the “Registration Statement.”

The Debt Securities will be issued under an Indenture in substantially the form of Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be identified in such Indenture, together with the board resolutions, an Officer’s Certificate or a Supplemental Indenture in the form to be filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement setting forth the terms of a specific series of the Debt Securities (such Indenture, as so modified or supplemented, the “Indenture”).

We have reviewed the Registration Statement and such other documents, records, certificates and other materials, and have reviewed and are familiar with such corporate proceedings and satisfied ourselves as to such other matters, as we have considered relevant or necessary as a basis for our opinions set forth in this letter. In such review, we have assumed the accuracy and completeness of all agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials submitted to us, the conformity with the originals of all such materials submitted to us as copies (whether or not certified and including facsimiles), the authenticity of the originals of such materials and all materials submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all natural persons.

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Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

December 11, 2024

Page 2

 

On the basis of the assumptions and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.

With respect to any of the Debt Securities, when (a) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, (b) the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee of such Board (such Board of Directors or committee being referred to herein as the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering and related matters, (c) such Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and (d) such Debt Securities have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Indenture, such Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

2.

With respect to the Common Stock, when the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of the offering of shares of the Common Stock and related matters and when such shares have been issued and sold by the Company in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action, such shares of Common Stock (including any shares of Common Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

3.

With respect to the Preferred Stock, when the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of any particular series of Preferred Stock, the offering thereof and related matters, including the filing of a certificate of designations conforming to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regarding such series of Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and when shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been issued and sold by the Company in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action, such shares of such series of Preferred Stock (including any shares of such series of Preferred Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

December 11, 2024

Page 3

 

4.

With respect to any of the Depositary Shares, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of the series of Preferred Stock to be issued in connection therewith, the offering of such Depositary Shares in such series of Preferred Stock, and related matters, including the filing of a certificate of designations conforming to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regarding the Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (b) a deposit agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and a bank or trust company to be selected by the Company, as depositary (a “Deposit Agreement”), which Deposit Agreement establishes the terms of the Depositary Shares and their issuance and sale, (c) the shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been deposited with such depositary in accordance with such Deposit Agreement, (d) such shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action, and (e) receipts (“Receipts”) evidencing Depositary Shares are duly issued against the deposit of such series of Preferred Stock in accordance with such Deposit Agreement, such Depositary Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and such Receipts will be duly authorized and validly issued and entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such Deposit Agreement.

 

5.

With respect to any of the Units, when (a) one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions thereof has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and a unit agent (a “Unit Agreement”), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Units, the terms of the offering of such Units, and related matters, (c) such Units have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the appropriate Unit Agreement, and (d) such Units have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Unit Agreement, such Units will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

6.

With respect to any of the Warrants, when (a) as applicable, one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions thereof has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and a warrant agent (a “Warrant Agreement”), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Warrants, the terms of the offering of such Warrants, and related matters, (c) such Warrants or, as applicable, Warrant certificates have been duly executed and, as applicable, authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the terms of such Warrant Agreement, and (d) such Warrants have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and, as applicable, in accordance with such Warrant Agreement, such Warrants will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

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Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

December 11, 2024

Page 4

 

7.

With respect to any of the Rights, when (a) one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions thereof has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and a rights agent (a “Rights Agreement”), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Rights, the terms of the offering of such Rights, and related matters, (c) such Rights have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of such Rights Agreement, and (d) such Rights have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Rights Agreement, such Rights will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

Our opinions set forth above are subject to and limited by the effect of (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance and transfer, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium and other similar laws affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally, (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (c) requirements of reasonableness, good faith, materiality and fair dealing and the discretion of the court before which any matter may be brought.

In connection with our opinions set forth above, we have assumed that (a) at or prior to the time of the delivery of any of the Securities, the Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, will have been declared effective under the Act, and a supplement to the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement applicable to the offer and sale of such Securities will have been prepared and filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, (b) at or prior to the time of the issuance of any of the Securities, the Board shall not have rescinded or otherwise modified the authorization of such Securities, (c) in the case of the issuance of shares of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock, the Company will have a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares thereof under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company at the time of such issuance, and (d) neither the establishment of any terms of any of the Securities after the date hereof nor the issuance and delivery of, or the performance of the Company’s obligations under, such Securities will (i) require any authorization, consent, approval or license of or exemption from, or registration or filing with, or report or notice to, any governmental unit, agency, commission, department or other authority (a “Governmental Approval”) or (ii) violate or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, (A) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its affiliates is a party or by which the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties may be bound, (B) any Governmental Approval that may be applicable to the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties, (C) any order, decision, judgment or decree that may be applicable to the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties or (D) any applicable law (other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the law of the State of New York in each case as in effect on the date hereof).

Our opinions set forth in this letter are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the law of the State of New York, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.

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Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

December 11, 2024

Page 5

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus forming a part thereof and any supplement thereto. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the reference of our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 and related Prospectus of Barnes & Noble, Education, Inc. for the registration of the issuance and sale of securities from time to time to the public by the Corporation, including the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Depositary Shares, Warrants, Units, and Rights, and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated July 1, 2024, except for Note 4, as to which the date is December 11, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. and subsidiaries included in its Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 11, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Iselin, New Jersey

December 11, 2024

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

S-3

(Form Type)

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

Security Type

Security Class Title

Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule

Amount Registered

Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit

Maximum Aggregate Offering Price

Fee Rate

Amount of Registration Fee

Fees to be Paid

Debt

Debt Securities

457(o)

Debt Convertible into Equity

Debt Securities

457(o)

Non-Convertible Debt

Debt Securities

457(o)

Equity

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

457(o)

Equity

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

457(o)

Other

Depositary Shares

457(o)

Other

Warrants

457(o)

Other

Units

457(o)

Other

Rights

457(o)

Unallocated (Universal) Shelf

457(o)

$40,000,000

0.0001531

$6,124

Total Offering Amounts

$40,000,000

$6,124

Total Fees Previously Paid

—

Total Fee Offsets

—

Net Fee Due

$6,124

This Registration Statement registers such indeterminate number or amount of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, units and rights, as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices, with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $40,000,000. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Registration Statement also registers an indeterminate principal amount or number of shares of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock that may be issued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, debt securities or preferred stock registered hereunder or upon exercise of warrants or rights registered hereunder, as the case may be, and an indeterminate number of depositary shares to be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement. If the Registrant elects to offer to the public fractional or aggregated share interests in shares of preferred stock registered hereunder, depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests, and the shares of preferred stock will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement.

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