false 0001393818 0001393818 2024-12-06 2024-12-06

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 6, 2024

 

 

Blackstone Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33551   20-8875684

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York

  10154
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(212) 583-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock   BX   New York Stock Exchange

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

Emerging growth company 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 6, 2024, Blackstone Inc. (“Blackstone”), Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P. and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., each indirect subsidiaries of Blackstone (collectively with Blackstone, the “Guarantors”), and Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., an indirect subsidiary of Blackstone (the “Issuer”), entered into (i) an indenture (the “Base Indenture”) with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), and (ii) a supplemental indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) to the Base Indenture with the Trustee, relating to the offering by the Issuer of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.000% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Notes”). The Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by an automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-283540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 2024 (the “Registration Statement”).

The Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.000% per annum, accruing from December 6, 2024. Interest on the Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on June 6 and December 6 of each year, commencing on June 6, 2025. The Notes will mature on December 6, 2034, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased. The Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), jointly and severally, by each of the Guarantors. The Guarantees are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantors.

The Indenture includes covenants, including limitations on the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ ability to, subject to exceptions, incur indebtedness secured by liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their subsidiaries or merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or lease assets. The Indenture also provides for events of default and further provides that the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the Notes immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default after expiration of any applicable grace period. In the case of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization, the principal amount of the Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes automatically become due and payable. Prior to September 6, 2034 (three months prior to the maturity date), the Notes may be redeemed at the Issuer’s option in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the make-whole redemption price set forth in the Notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed to, but not including, the date of redemption. On or after September 6, 2034 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes), the Notes may be redeemed at the Issuer’s option in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed to, but not including, the date of redemption. If a change of control repurchase event occurs, the Notes are subject to repurchase by the Issuer at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase.

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

 

Item 2.03

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

The information set forth above under Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

Underwriting Agreement

On December 2, 2024, the Issuer and the Guarantors entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors and BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., as representatives of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I thereto. A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


Press Release

On December 6, 2024, Blackstone issued a press release announcing the completion of its previously announced offering of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2034. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The notes were offered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

Opinions of Counsel

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

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
 No. 

  

Description

 1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated as of December 2, 2024 among Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors party thereto and BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., as representatives of the underwriters named therein.
 4.1    Indenture dated as of December 6, 2024 among Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., Blackstone Inc., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P. and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
 4.2    First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 6, 2024 among Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., Blackstone Inc., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P. and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
 4.3    Form of 5.000% Senior Note due 2034 (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereto).
 5.1    Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
 5.2    Opinion of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP.
23.1    Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).
23.2    Consent of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.2).
99.1    Press release of Blackstone, dated December 6, 2024, relating to the senior notes offering.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

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SIGNATURE

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

Date: December 6, 2024

 

Blackstone Inc.
By:  

/s/ Tabea Hsi

Name:   Tabea Hsi
Title:   Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

Exhibit 1.1

BLACKSTONE REG FINANCE CO. L.L.C.

$750,000,000 5.000% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2034

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

December 2, 2024


December 2, 2024

BofA Securities, Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10036

c/o RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Brookfield Place

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10281

c/o SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

277 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10172

As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I

hereto (the “Representatives”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.000% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Notes”) registered under the Registration Statement referred to in Section 1(a) below. The Notes are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of an indenture, dated as of December 2, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined below) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture thereto relating to the Notes, to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below) (the “First Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The Notes will be the Company’s direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of its existing and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness and senior to any of its subordinated indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to all of its secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing that indebtedness. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis as to the payment of principal and interest by Blackstone Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited

 

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partnership (“Blackstone Holdings I”), Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings II”), Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings III”), Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings IV”), Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings AI” and, together with Blackstone Holdings I, Blackstone Holdings II, Blackstone Holdings III and Blackstone Holdings IV, the “Blackstone Holdings Partnerships”) and Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation” and, together with the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships, the “Guarantors” and, together with the Company, the “Blackstone Parties”) (such guarantees, the “Guarantees” and, together with the Notes, the “Securities”).

The Blackstone Parties have prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined under Rule 405 (“Rule 405”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283540), covering the public offering and sale of certain securities of the Blackstone Parties, including the Securities, under the Securities Act, which automatic shelf registration statement became effective under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act. Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto at such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act (“Form S-3”) and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act (“Rule 430B”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; provided, however, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Securities, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of the Registration Statement with respect to the Securities within the meaning of Rule 430B(f)(2), including the exhibits and schedules thereto as of such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to the Rule 430B. Each preliminary prospectus supplement and the base prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 immediately prior to the Time of Sale (as defined below), are collectively referred to herein as a “Preliminary Prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Blackstone Parties will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”). The final prospectus supplement and the base prospectus, in the form first furnished or made available to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 immediately prior to the Time of Sale, are collectively referred to herein as the “Final Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system) (“EDGAR”).

 

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As used in this Agreement:

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (“Rule 433”), including, without limitation, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission or (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission.

Time of Sale Prospectus” means the most recent Preliminary Prospectus that is distributed to prospective investors prior to the Time of Sale, as amended and supplemented by the final term sheet or sheets relating to the Securities set forth in Schedule II (the “Final Term Sheet”) and any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule III hereto.

Time of Sale” means 3:10 P.M., New York City time, on December 2, 2024 or such other time as agreed by the Corporation and the Representatives.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the Time of Sale; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, at or after the Time of Sale.

1. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Blackstone Parties jointly and severally represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(a) The Blackstone Parties meet the requirements for use of Form S-3. The Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement under Rule 405, became effective upon the filing thereof with the Commission and remains effective as of the Date hereof. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act, no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement has been received by any of the Blackstone Parties, no order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to any of the Blackstone Parties’ knowledge, contemplated. The Blackstone Parties have complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. In addition, the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

 

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The Registration Statement, at the time of its effectiveness or the effectiveness of the most recent post-effective amendment thereto, each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2), the Time of Sale and the Closing Date complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Trust Indenture Act. Each Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, and, in each case, the Time of Sale and the Closing Date complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Trust Indenture Act, and each Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus are identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, when they became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(b) The Registration Statement, at the time of its effectiveness or the effectiveness of the most recent post-effective amendment thereto, each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) and the Time of Sale, did not, and on the Closing Date will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Time of Sale Prospectus at the Time of Sale did not, and on the Closing Date will not, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Final Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or on the Closing Date, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties in this subsection (b) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Blackstone Parties by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(c) No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, that has not been superseded or modified. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties in this subsection (c) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Blackstone Parties by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein.

 

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Any offer that is a written communication relating to the Securities made prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement by the Blackstone Parties or any person acting on their behalf (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of paragraph (c) of Rule 163 of the Securities Act (“Rule 163(c)”)) has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 163(c) and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163, including, without limitation, the legending requirement, to qualify such offer for the exemption from Section 5(c) of the Securities Act provided by Rule 163(c).

Except for the Final Term Sheet, identified in Schedule II hereto, and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule III hereto and furnished to you before first use, the Blackstone Parties have not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

(d) (A) At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Blackstone Parties or any person acting on their behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, (D) at the date of this Agreement and (E) at the Time of Sale, the Corporation was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

(e) (A) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, (B) at the earliest time thereafter that any of the Blackstone Parties or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act) of the Securities, (C) at the date of this Agreement and (D) at the Time of Sale, none of the Blackstone Parties was or is an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405

(f) The Company has been duly organized, is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the limited liability company power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (as defined below), taken as a whole (whether singly or in the aggregate, a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

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(g) The Corporation has been duly organized, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to have such power and authority or to be so qualified or be in good standing, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) Each of the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships has been duly organized, is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware or a Québec société en commandite in good standing under the laws of the Province of Quebec, as the case may be, has the limited partnership power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to have such power and authority or to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(i) Each subsidiary of the Corporation, including without limitation, each of Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., a Delaware corporation (“Blackstone Holdings I/II General Partner”), Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings III General Partner”), and Blackstone Holdings IV GP L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings IV General Partner” and, together with Blackstone Holdings I/II General Partner and Blackstone Holdings III General Partner, the “Blackstone Holdings General Partners”), and each of the subsidiaries of the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships, but not including the Blackstone Funds (as defined below) or their portfolio companies or investments (each a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) and each of the Blackstone Funds, has been duly organized, is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company, general or limited partnership, trust or other business entity, as applicable, in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the jurisdiction in question) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the corporate, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity power and authority, as applicable, to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the jurisdiction in question) in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to have such power and authority or to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. “Blackstone Funds” means, collectively, all Funds (as defined below) (excluding their portfolio companies and investments (and special purpose entities formed to acquire any such portfolio companies and investments)) (i) sponsored or promoted by any of the Subsidiaries, (ii) for which any of the Subsidiaries acts as a general partner or managing member (or in a similar capacity) or (iii) for which any of the Subsidiaries acts as an investment adviser or investment manager; and “Fund” means any collective investment vehicle (whether open-ended or closed-ended) including, without limitation, an investment company, a general and limited partnership, a trust, a company or other business entity organized in any jurisdiction that provides for management fees or “carried interest” (or other similar profits allocations) to be borne by investors therein.

 

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(j) All of the issued shares of capital stock, partnership interests, member interests or other equity interests of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid (in the case of any Subsidiaries that are organized as limited liability companies, limited partnerships or other business entities, to the extent required under the applicable limited liability company, limited partnership or other organizational agreement) and non-assessable (except in the case of interests held by general partners or similar entities under the applicable laws of other jurisdictions, in the case of any Subsidiaries that are organized as limited liability companies, as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 18-607 or Section 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or similar provisions under the applicable laws of other jurisdictions or the applicable limited liability company agreement and, in the case of any Subsidiaries that are organized as limited partnerships, as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 or Section 17-804 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act or similar provisions under the applicable laws of other jurisdictions or the applicable limited partnership agreement), and, to the extent owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation, are owned free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except in each case as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(k) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Blackstone Party.

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

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

 

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(n) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and each of the Guarantors and, when the First Supplemental Indenture is executed and delivered by the Company and each of the Guarantors, the Indenture will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and each of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles.

(o) The execution and delivery by each Blackstone Party of, and the performance by each Blackstone Party of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”), as applicable, does not and will not, as applicable, contravene (i) any provision of applicable law, (ii) any provision of the organizational documents of any Blackstone Party or any other Subsidiary, (iii) any agreement or other instrument binding upon any Blackstone Party, any other Subsidiary or any of the Blackstone Funds, or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over any Blackstone Party or any other Subsidiary, except in the case of clauses (i), (ii) (in the case of the Subsidiaries), (iii) and (iv) above, where such contravention would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the ability of any Blackstone Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the applicable Blackstone Party of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, except (i) such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states or foreign jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities and (ii) for any such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders or qualifications the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the ability of any Blackstone Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

(p) None of the Blackstone Parties is (i) in violation of its organizational documents, (ii) in violation of, or in default in the performance or observance of, any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or (iii) in violation of any provision of applicable law or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over it, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations, properties or partners’ capital of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

(r) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Blackstone Parties, threatened to which the Corporation, any of the Subsidiaries or any of the Blackstone Funds is a party or to which any of the properties of the Corporation, any of the Subsidiaries or any of the Blackstone Funds is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately disclosed in all material respects in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and proceedings that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the ability of

 

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any Blackstone Party to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or (ii) that would be required to be disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus that are not so disclosed; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that would be required to be disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus that are not so disclosed.

(s) Each of the Blackstone Parties and the Blackstone Holdings General Partners is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as disclosed in the Final Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

(t) The Corporation and each of the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; and none of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business, except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.

(u) The Corporation, the Subsidiaries and the Blackstone Funds possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the Corporation, any of the Subsidiaries or any of the Blackstone Funds has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which would reasonably be expected have a Material Adverse Effect, except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus; each of the Corporation, the Subsidiaries and the Blackstone Funds, and each of their respective directors, officers, partners and employees, is a member in good standing of each federal, state or foreign exchange, board of trade, clearing house, association, self-regulatory or similar organization, as applicable, in each case as are necessary to conduct the businesses of the Corporation, the Subsidiaries and the Blackstone Funds, except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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

 

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(w) The Corporation is in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith and with which the Corporation is required to comply.

(x) The historical consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) of the Corporation included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position, the consolidated results of operations and the consolidated changes in cash flows of the Corporation as of the dates and for the periods indicated in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”); the selected historical financial data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent in all material respects with that of the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus; and the financial statements of the Company in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial position, the results of operations and the changes in cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the period indicated in conformity with GAAP.

(y) Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose reports are filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference into the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, is and, during the periods covered by their reports, was an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

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

(aa) The statements set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, are accurate in all material respects.

 

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(bb) The statements made in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences,” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of certain provisions of United States federal tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of such matters in all material respects.

(cc) The statistical and market and industry-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Corporation reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

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

(ee) None of the Corporation, any of the Subsidiaries or any of the Blackstone Funds, nor, to the knowledge of the Blackstone Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Corporation, any of the Subsidiaries or any of the Blackstone Funds, has violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.

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

 

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(gg) None of the Corporation, the Subsidiaries, the Blackstone Funds or, to the knowledge of the Blackstone Parties, any of their respective directors, officers, agents, employees or affiliates, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department (“OFAC”), the European Union or His Majesty’s Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”); and the Company and the Corporation will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, Blackstone Funds or any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any Sanctions.

2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amounts of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite its name at a purchase price of 98.984% of the principal amount thereof (the “Purchase Price”) plus accrued interest, if any, from December 6, 2024 to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof).

3. Terms of Offering. You have advised the Company that the Underwriters will make an offering of the Securities purchased by the Underwriters hereunder as soon as practicable after this Agreement is entered into as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.

4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Securities shall be made to the Company in federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on December 6, 2024, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than five business days after such date, as shall be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”

It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Notes which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Notes to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Date, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

The Securities shall be in global form, as specified by the Representatives, and registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date. The Securities shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Securities to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor plus accrued interest, if any, to the date of payment and delivery. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

 

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5. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Blackstone Parties contained herein as of the date hereof and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Blackstone Parties made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Blackstone Parties of their respective obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

(i) Each Preliminary Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) and Rule 433, as applicable), within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by, and in compliance with, the rules and regulations under the Securities Act and in accordance with Section 6(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Corporation’s knowledge, contemplated; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives’ reasonable satisfaction;

(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Company, the Corporation or the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships or any of the securities of the Company, the Corporation or the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act; and

(iii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus as of the date of this Agreement that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

 

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(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date:

(i) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Corporation, on behalf of the Blackstone Parties, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Blackstone Parties contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Blackstone Parties have complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date; and

(ii) if required, a certificate dated on or before the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Corporation substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date the opinion and letter of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Blackstone Parties, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibits B-1 and B-2, respectively.

(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, special Québec counsel for the Blackstone Parties, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and letter of John G. Finley, Chief Legal Officer of the Corporation, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibits D-1 and D-2, respectively.

(f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, covering such matters as you may reasonably request, and the Blackstone Parties shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

The opinions of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, and John G. Finley described in Sections 5(c), 5(d) and 5(e) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Blackstone Parties and shall so state therein.

(g) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut off date” not earlier than the date hereof.

 

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(h) The Blackstone Parties shall have furnished the Underwriters such additional documents and certificates as the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters may reasonably request.

6. Covenants of the Blackstone Parties. Each of the Blackstone Parties covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) (i) To prepare the Final Prospectus in relation to the Securities in a form approved by the Representatives and to timely file such Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; (ii) to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, including the filing of any report or statement with the Commission that is incorporated by reference therein, after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date for the Securities unless the Representatives shall have had a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon any such amendment or supplement prior to any filing thereof; (iii) to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or supplement after the Closing Date and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; (iv) to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Corporation with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities, and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of (I) the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement or amendment to the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, (II) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, (III) the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or (IV) any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such order; and (v) to pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time periods required by Rule 456 of the Securities Act;

(b) To furnish to you, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the second business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 6(d) or (e), as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as you may reasonably request.

(c) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Blackstone Parties and not to use or refer to any proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which you reasonably object.

 

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(d) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(e) If, during such period after the date hereof and prior to the date on which all of the Securities shall have been sold by the Underwriters, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Final Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters, either amendments or supplements to the Final Prospectus so that the statements in the Final Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(f) To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request.

(g) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Blackstone Parties’ counsel and the Blackstone Parties’ accountants in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Blackstone Parties and any amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters, in the quantities herein above specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum and a Canadian “wrapper” in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state securities laws and the securities laws of Canada and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum and a Canadian “wrapper,” (iv) any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the Securities, (v) the fees and expenses, if any, incurred in

 

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connection with the admission of the Securities for trading in any appropriate market system, (vi) the costs and charges of the Trustee and any transfer agent, registrar, the paying agent or depositary, (vii) the cost of the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Securities, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Blackstone Parties relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Blackstone Parties, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Blackstone Parties and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, (x) the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities, and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Blackstone Parties hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8, and the last paragraph of Section 10, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

(h) To make generally available (which may be satisfied by the filing of such statement with the Commission on its EDGAR system) to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than twelve months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

(i) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriters that the Underwriters otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder;

(j) Not to take any action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act in connection with the distribution of the Securities contemplated hereby.

(k) Not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any unlawful stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

The Company also agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to and including the Closing Date, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of any of the Blackstone Parties or warrants to purchase debt securities of any of the Blackstone Parties substantially similar to the Securities (other than the sale of the Securities under this Agreement).

 

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7. Covenants of the Underwriters; Offering Restrictions. Each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, other than (x) the Final Term Sheet and (y) one or more term sheets relating to the Securities containing customary information and conveyed to purchasers of Securities and that would not constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a free writing prospectus. The Underwriters acknowledge and agree that, except for information consistent in all material respects with the Final Term Sheet and except as may be set forth in Schedule II or III, the Company has not authorized or approved any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act) for use in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriters.

8. Indemnity and Contribution.

(a) The Blackstone Parties, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) arising out of or caused by (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Blackstone Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each Blackstone Party, its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who controls any Blackstone Party within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Blackstone Parties to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Blackstone Parties in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Blackstone Parties, any free written prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

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(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Blackstone Parties, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include an admission of fault by the indemnified party.

(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Blackstone Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the

 

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Blackstone Parties on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Blackstone Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by any Blackstone Party and the total discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Blackstone Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by any Blackstone Party or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

(e) The Blackstone Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities resold by it in the initial placement of such Securities were offered to investors exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8, the provisions in Section 6(g), Section 10 (last paragraph) and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Blackstone Parties contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of any Blackstone Party, its officers or directors or any person controlling any Blackstone Party and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.

 

21


9. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, either of the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Global Market, (ii) trading of any securities of the Blackstone Parties shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States of America shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Final Prospectus.

10. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the principal amount of Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such principal amount of Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities which it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date and the aggregate principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or of the Company. In any such case either you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of any Blackstone Party to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason any Blackstone Party shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement (which, for the purposes of this Section 10, shall not include termination by the Underwriters under the items (i), (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 9), Blackstone Parties, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

 

22


11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Blackstone Parties and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities.

The Blackstone Parties acknowledge that in connection with the offering of the Securities: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm’s length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Blackstone Parties or any other person and none of the activities of the Underwriters constitutes a recommendation, investment advice or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to the Company, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Blackstone Parties only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Blackstone Parties. The Blackstone Parties (x) waive to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Securities and (y) agree that none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person. Each of the Blackstone Parties has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate.

12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

14. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

15. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to BofA Securities, Inc., 114 West 47th Street, NY8-114-07-01, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Grade Debt Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal, Facsimile: (212) 901-7881, Email: dg.hg_ua_notices@bofa.com; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel, Facsimile: (646) 291-1469; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Investment Banking Division; RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York,

 

23


New York 10281, Attention: DCM Transaction Management; Facsimile: (212) 428-6308; and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172, Attention: Debt Capital Markets – Transaction Management; and if to any Blackstone Party shall be delivered, mailed or sent to Blackstone Inc., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, Attention: Chief Legal Officer.

16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE COMPANY AND THE UNDERWRITERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

17. Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for suits, actions, or proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court in a Related Proceeding, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any Related Proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court. The parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

18. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

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

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

(c) For purposes of this Section 18, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered

 

24


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

[Signature pages follow.]

 

25


Very truly yours,
Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C.
By:   /s/ Eric Liaw
  Name: Eric Liaw
  Title: Senior Managing Director – Treasurer
Blackstone Holdings I L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Michael S. Chae
  Name: Michael S. Chae
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
Blackstone Holdings II L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Michael S. Chae
  Name: Michael S. Chae
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


Blackstone Holdings AI L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Michael S. Chae
  Name: Michael S. Chae
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
Blackstone Holdings III L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P., its general partner
By:   Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Michael S. Chae
  Name: Michael S. Chae
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


Blackstone Holdings IV L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings IV GP L.P., its general partner
By:   Blackstone Holdings IV GP Management (Delaware) L.P., its general partner
By:   Blackstone Holdings IV GP Management L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Michael S. Chae
  Name: Michael S. Chae
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
Blackstone Inc.
By:   /s/ Michael S. Chae
  Name: Michael S. Chae
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 


Accepted as of the date hereof
By:   BofA Securities, Inc.
By:   /s/ Zara Kwan
Name:   Zara Kwan
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 


Accepted as of the date hereof
By:   Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:   /s/ Adam D. Bordner
Name:   Adam D. Bordner
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 


Accepted as of the date hereof
By:   Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
By:   /s/ Hector Vazquez
Name:   Hector Vazquez
Title:   Executive Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 


Accepted as of the date hereof
By:   RBC Capital Markets, LLC
By:   /s/ Kapil Mehra
Name:   Kapil Mehra
Title:   Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 


Accepted as of the date hereof
By:   SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.
By:   /s/ Jonathan Anderson
Name:   Jonathan Anderson
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 


Schedule I

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount of Notes to be Purchased  

BofA Securities, Inc.

   $ 100,001,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   $ 100,001,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

   $ 100,001,000  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

   $ 100,001,000  

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

   $ 100,001,000  

Blackstone Securities Partners L.P.

   $ 100,000,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.

   $ 11,095,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $ 11,095,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   $ 11,095,000  

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

   $ 7,766,000  

CIBC World Markets Corp.

   $ 7,766,000  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

   $ 7,766,000  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

   $ 7,766,000  

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

   $ 7,766,000  

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

   $ 7,766,000  

SG Americas Securities, LLC

   $ 7,766,000  

TD Securities (USA) LLC

   $ 7,766,000  

Truist Securities, Inc.

   $ 7,766,000  

UBS Securities LLC

   $ 7,766,000  

Academy Securities, Inc.

   $ 3,550,000  

ANZ Securities, Inc.

   $ 3,550,000  

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

   $ 3,550,000  

BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC

   $ 3,550,000  

Loop Capital Markets LLC

   $ 3,550,000  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

   $ 3,550,000  

R. Seelaus & Co., LLC

   $ 3,550,000  

Santander US Capital Markets LLC

   $ 3,550,000  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

   $ 3,550,000  

Standard Chartered Bank

   $ 3,550,000  

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

   $ 3,550,000  
  

 

 

 

Total:

   $ 750,000,000  
  

 

 

 

 

I-1


Schedule II

Final Term Sheet

$750,000,000

Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C.

5.000% Senior Notes due 2034

Pricing Term Sheet

December 2, 2024

The information in this pricing term sheet relates to Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C.’s offering of its 5.000% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Offering”) and should be read together with the preliminary prospectus supplement dated December 2, 2024 relating to the Offering (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein, and the related base prospectus dated December 2, 2024, each filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with Registration Statement No. 333283540. The information in this pricing term sheet supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Terms not defined in this pricing term sheet have the meanings given to such terms in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. All references to dollar amounts are references to U.S. dollars.

 

Issuer:     Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C.
Guarantors:    Blackstone Inc.
   Blackstone Holdings I L.P.
   Blackstone Holdings AI L.P.
   Blackstone Holdings II L.P.
   Blackstone Holdings III L.P.
   Blackstone Holdings IV L.P.
Denominations:    $2,000 x $1,000
Expected Ratings (Outlook)*:    [Intentionally omitted]
Legal Format:    SEC Registered
Interest Accrual Date:    December 6, 2024
Settlement Date (T+4)**:    December 6, 2024
Pricing Date:    December 2, 2024
Title of Securities:    5.000% Senior Notes due 2034
Principal Amount Offered:    $750,000,000

 

II-1


Maturity Date:    December 6, 2034
Coupon:    5.000% per year
Interest Payment Dates:    June 6 and December 6, commencing on June 6, 2025
Benchmark Treasury:    4.250% due November 15, 2034
Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:    100-13+; 4.197%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:    T + 85 bps
Reoffer Yield:    5.047%
Issue Price:    99.634%
Proceeds (before expenses and underwriters’ discount):    $747,255,000
Make-Whole Call:    T + 15 bps prior to September 6, 2034
Par Call:    On or after September 6, 2034 (three months prior to maturity date)
CUSIP / ISIN:    092914AA8 / US092914AA83
Joint Book-Running Managers:    BofA Securities, Inc.
   Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
   Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
   RBC Capital Markets, LLC
   SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.
Co-Managers:    Academy Securities, Inc.
   ANZ Securities, Inc.
   Barclays Capital Inc.
   Blackstone Securities Partners L.P.
   BMO Capital Markets Corp.
   BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
   BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC
   CIBC World Markets Corp.
   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
   Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
   HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
   Loop Capital Markets LLC
   Mizuho Securities USA LLC
   MUFG Securities Americas Inc.
   R. Seelaus & Co., LLC
   Santander US Capital Markets LLC
   SG Americas Securities, LLC
   Standard Chartered Bank
   TD Securities (USA) LLC
   Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
   Truist Securities, Inc.
   UBS Securities LLC
   U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
   Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

II-2


Conflicts of Interest:    Blackstone Securities Partners L.P., as a subsidiary of Blackstone Inc., is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of Rule 5121 (Public Offerings of Securities with Conflicts of Interest) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“Rule 5121”). Rule 5121 imposes certain requirements on a FINRA member participating in the public offering of securities of an issuer if there is a conflict of interest and/or if that issuer controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the FINRA member. This offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of Rule 5121. In compliance with Rule 5121, Blackstone Securities Partners L.P. will not sell any of our securities to a discretionary account unless it has received specific written approval from the account holder in accordance with Rule 5121. The appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” is not necessary in connection with this offering.

 

*

Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

**

We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefore on or about the closing date, which will be on or about the fourth business day following the date of pricing of the notes (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+4”). Under Rule 15c6-l of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market are generally required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the date that is one business day preceding the settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+4, to specify alternate arrangements at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement and should consult their own advisor.

Blackstone Inc. has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus and related prospectus supplement) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement and prospectus for this offering in that registration statement, and the documents incorporated by reference therein that Blackstone Inc. has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Blackstone Inc., the issuer, the guarantors and this offering. You may get these documents for free by searching the SEC online database (EDGAR®) at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may obtain a copy of the prospectus by contacting BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322 or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-800-831-9146; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1-866-718-1649; RBC Capital Markets, LLC at 1-866375-6829 and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. toll-free at 1-212-224-5135.

Any disclaimers or notices that may appear on this Pricing Term Sheet below the text of this legend are not applicable to this Pricing Term Sheet and should be disregarded. Such disclaimers may have been electronically generated as a result of this Pricing Term Sheet being sent via, or posted on, Bloomberg or another electronic mail system.

 

II-3


Schedule III

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus

None.

 

III-1


Exhibit A

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

BLACKSTONE INC.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

[•], 20[•]

I, Michael S. Chae, Chief Financial Officer of Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), do hereby certify, on behalf of the Corporation, that:

1. I am providing this certificate in connection with the issuance and sale by Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C. (the “Company”) of $[•] principal amount of its [•]% Senior Notes due [•] (the “Transaction”), as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.

2. I am knowledgeable with respect to the accounting records and internal accounting practices, policies, procedures and controls of the Corporation, the Subsidiaries and the Blackstone Funds and have had responsibility for financial and accounting matters with respect to the Corporation, the Subsidiaries and the Blackstone Funds.

3. I have read and am familiar with the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and the financial statements and other financial and statistical information set forth therein.

4. I have reviewed the circled information contained on the attached Exhibit A (the “Exhibit A Circled Information”), which is included in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus. As of the date hereof, the Exhibit A Circled Information is consistent with or is accurately derived from the internal accounting and/or financial records of the Corporation, the Subsidiaries or the Blackstone Funds.

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings assigned to them in the Underwriting Agreement, dated [•], 20[•], among the Company, the Corporation, the other Blackstone Parties party thereto and the Underwriters named in Schedule I thereto.

This certificate is being furnished to the Underwriters solely to assist them in conducting their investigation of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in connection with the Transaction.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Officer’s Certificate on behalf of the Corporation as of the date first written above.

 

By:    
  Michael S. Chae
  Chief Financial Officer
  Blackstone Inc.

 

A-1


Exhibit B-1

FORM OF OPINION TO BE PROVIDED BY

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

December [•], 2024

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10036

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Brookfield Place

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10281

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

277 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10172

and the other several

Underwriters named in Schedule I

to the Underwriting Agreement

referred to below

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), in connection with the purchase by you of $[•] aggregate principal amount of [•]% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Notes”) issued by the Company, and unconditionally guaranteed by Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Blackstone Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings I”), Blackstone

 

B-1-1


Holdings AI L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings AI”), Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings II” and, together with the Corporation, Blackstone Holdings I and Blackstone Holdings AI, the “Delaware Guarantors”), Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings III”), and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings IV” and, together with Blackstone Holdings III, the “Québec Guarantors,” and, the Québec Guarantors together with the Delaware Guarantors, the “Guarantors”), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated December [•], 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, the Guarantors and you.

We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. [•]) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company and the Guarantors under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); the prospectus dated December [•], 2024 (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the preliminary prospectus supplement dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (as defined below) (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act and the prospectus supplement dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act, in each case, including the documents filed under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be; the pricing term sheet dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (the “Pricing Term Sheet” and,

 

B-1-2


together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors as a free writing prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; the Indenture, dated as of December [•], 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December [•], 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee; duplicates of the global notes representing the Notes; the guarantees whose terms are set forth in the Indenture (the “Guarantees”); and the Underwriting Agreement. We have relied as to matters of fact upon the representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement. In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, the documents delivered to you at the closing and upon originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

 

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In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have also assumed that (1) each of the Québec Guarantors is validly existing and in good standing under the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and its Guarantees, as applicable, in accordance with its organizational documents and the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (2) the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by each Québec Guarantor of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and its Guarantees, as applicable, do not constitute a breach or violation of its organizational documents or violate the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized or any other jurisdiction (except that no such assumption is made with respect to the federal law of the United States, the law of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”) or the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “DRULPA” and, together with the DGCL and the DLLCA, the “Delaware Entity Laws”)) and (3) the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by the Company and each Guarantor of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, as applicable, do not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company or any such Guarantor (except that no such assumption is made with respect to the agreements and instruments listed on Schedule I hereto).

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Company has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability company under the law of the State of Delaware. The Company has full limited liability company power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

2. Each of Blackstone Holdings I, Blackstone Holdings AI and Blackstone Holdings II has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited partnership under the law of the State of Delaware. Each of Blackstone Holdings I, Blackstone Holdings AI and Blackstone Holdings II has full limited partnership power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the law of the State of Delaware.

 

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3. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Delaware Guarantors and duly executed and delivered in accordance with the law of the State of New York by each of the Québec Guarantors and has also been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and, assuming that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee, the Indenture constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company and the Guarantors enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

4. The Notes have been duly authorized, executed and issued by the Company and, assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee, upon payment and delivery in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

5. The Guarantees have been duly authorized and issued by the Delaware Guarantors and duly issued in accordance with the law of the State of New York by each of the Québec Guarantors and, assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

6. The statements made in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees” (including, in the case of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the information contained in the Pricing Term Sheet), insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of certain terms of the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees referred to therein, constitute accurate summaries of such terms in all material respects.

7. The statements made in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of certain provisions of U.S. federal income tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of such matters in all material respects.

8. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Delaware Guarantors and duly executed and delivered in accordance with the law of the State of New York by the Québec Guarantors.

9. The issue and sale of the Notes and the Guarantees by the Company and the Guarantors, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Guarantors of the Underwriting Agreement and the execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Company and the Guarantors (i) will not breach or result in a default under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument identified on Schedule I hereto and (ii) will not violate the limited liability company agreement, certificate of incorporation or by-laws or the agreement of limited partnership, as the case may be, of any of the Company or the Delaware Guarantors or any federal or New York State statute or the Delaware Entity Laws or any rule or regulation that has been issued pursuant to any federal or New York State statute or the Delaware Entity Laws, except that it is understood that no opinion is given in this paragraph 9 with respect to any federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to any federal or state securities law.

 

B-1-5


10. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or registration or qualification with, any federal or New York State governmental agency or body or any Delaware State governmental agency or body acting pursuant to the Delaware Entity Laws or, to our knowledge, any federal or New York State court or any Delaware State court acting pursuant to the Delaware Entity Laws is required for the issue and sale of the Notes and the Guarantees by the Company and the Guarantors and the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Guarantors of the Underwriting Agreement and the execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Company and the Guarantors, except that it is understood that no opinion is given in this paragraph 10 with respect to any federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to any federal or state securities law.

11. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and the Prospectus was filed on December [•], 2024, pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act and, to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued or proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.

12. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor is, and after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes and the Guarantees and assuming the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus none of them would as of the date hereof be, an “investment company” within the meaning of and subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 above are subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and (iv) with respect to the Québec Guarantors, to the effects of the possible judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental or judicial action affecting creditors’ rights.

We express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision of Section 110 of the Base Indenture and Section 9.3 of the First Supplemental Indenture relating to the severability of provisions of such agreements.

 

B-1-6


Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 9 and 10 above are limited to our review of only the statutes, rules and regulations that, in our experience, are customarily applicable to transactions of the type provided for in the Underwriting Agreement and exclude statutes, rules and regulations that are part of a regulatory scheme applicable to any party or any of their affiliates due to the specific assets or business of such party or such affiliates. No opinion is expressed in paragraph 9 as to compliance with any financial or accounting test, or any limitation or restriction expressed as a dollar (or other currency) amount, or based, in whole or in part, on ratio or percentage in any of the agreements or instruments identified in Schedule I hereto. Insofar as our opinions relate to the valid existence and good standing of the Company and the Delaware Guarantors, such opinions are based solely on confirmation from public officials and certificates of officers of the Company and the Delaware Guarantors.

In connection with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement and Section 112 and Section 9.7 of the Base Indenture and First Supplemental Indenture, respectively, whereby the parties submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, we note the limitations of 28 U.S.C. Sections 1331 and 1332 on subject matter jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts. In connection with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement and Section 112 and Section 9.7 of the Base Indenture and First Supplemental Indenture, respectively, which relate to forum selection (including, without limitation, any waiver of any objection to venue or any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), we note that under N.Y.C.P.L.R. Section 510 a New York State court may have discretion to transfer the place of trial, and under 28 U.S.C. Section 1404(a) a U.S. District Court has discretion to transfer an action from one U.S. federal court to another.

 

B-1-7


We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York, the federal law of the United States and the Delaware Entity Laws. We expressly disclaim coverage of any other Delaware law, except judicial decisions interpreting the Delaware Entity Laws.

This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the above-described transaction. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm or corporation without our prior written consent.

 

Very truly yours,
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

 

B-1-8


SCHEDULE I

 

  1.

Sixth Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement dated as of February 7, 2022 among the Corporation, Blackstone Holdings I, Blackstone Holdings AI, Blackstone Holdings II, Blackstone Holdings III, Blackstone Holdings IV and the Blackstone Holdings Limited Partners from time to time party thereto

 

  2.

Amended and Restated Tax Receivable Agreement dated May 7, 2021 by and among Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., Blackstone Holdings I, Blackstone Holdings II, Blackstone Holdings AI and the Limited Partners party thereto

 

  3.

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated May 7, 2021 among the Corporation and the Covered Persons from time to time party thereto

 

  4.

Amended and Restated Founding Member Agreement of Stephen A. Schwarzman, dated as of March 1, 2018 between Blackstone Holdings I and Stephen A. Schwarzman

 

  5.

Letter Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2019, amending Amended and Restated Founding Member Agreement of Stephen A. Schwarzman, dated as of March 1, 2018, by and among Blackstone Holdings I and Stephen A. Schwarzman

 

  6.

Form of Senior Managing Director Agreement by and among Blackstone Holdings I and each of the Senior Managing Directors from time to time party thereto

 

  7.

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 23, 2010, as amended and restated as of May 29, 2014, as further amended and restated as of August 31, 2016, as further amended and restated as of September 21, 2018, as further amended and restated as of November 24, 2020, and as further amended and restated as of June 3, 2022, among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., as Borrower, the Guarantors, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the lenders party thereto

 

  8.

Indenture dated as of August 20, 2009 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  9.

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 20, 2009 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., The Blackstone Group L.P., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P., Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and the Trustee

 

  10.

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 20, 2009 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., The Blackstone Group L.P., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P., Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and the Trustee

 

  11.

Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 17, 2012 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., The Blackstone Group L.P., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P., Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and the Trustee

 

  12.

Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 17, 2012 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., The Blackstone Group L.P., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P., Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and the Trustee

 

Sch. I-1


  13.

Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 7, 2014 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., The Blackstone Group L.P., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P., Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and the Trustee

 

  14.

Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 27, 2015 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., The Blackstone Group L.P., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P., Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and the Trustee

 

  15.

Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 19, 2015 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., The Blackstone Group L.P., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P., Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. and the Trustee

 

  16.

Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2015 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  17.

Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 5, 2016 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  18.

Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 2, 2017 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  19.

Eleventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 2, 2017 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  20.

Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 10, 2019 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  21.

Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 10, 2019 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  22.

Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 10, 2019 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  23.

Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 29, 2020 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  24.

Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 29, 2020 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  25.

Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 5, 2021 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  26.

Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 5, 2021 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  27.

Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 5, 2021 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  28.

Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 10, 2022 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  29.

Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 10, 2022 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

Sch. I-2


  30.

Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 2022 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  31.

Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 3, 2022 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  32.

Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 3, 2022 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and the Trustee

 

  33.

Guarantor Joinder Agreement dated as of October 1, 2015 among Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., the Guarantors and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent

 

Sch. I-3


Exhibit B-2

FORM OF LETTER TO BE PROVIDED BY

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

December [•], 2024

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10036

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Brookfield Place

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10281

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

277 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10172

and the other several

Underwriters named in Schedule I

to the Underwriting Agreement

referred to below

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Blackstone Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings I”), Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings AI”), Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings II” and, together with the

 

B-2-1


Corporation, Blackstone Holdings I and Blackstone Holdings AI, the “Delaware Guarantors”), Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings III”), and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings IV” and, together with Blackstone Holdings III, the “Québec Guarantors” and, the Québec Guarantors together with the Delaware Guarantors, the “Guarantors”), in connection with the purchase by you of $[•] aggregate principal amount of [•]% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Notes”) issued by the Company, and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated December [•], 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, the Guarantors and you.

We have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements made or included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. [•]) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company and the Guarantors under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); the prospectus dated December [•], 2024 (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the preliminary prospectus supplement dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the guarantees (the “Guarantees”) of the Guarantors (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act and as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; the pricing term sheet dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (the “Pricing Term Sheet” and, together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), filed by the

 

B-2-2


Company and the Guarantors as a free writing prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; or the documents filed under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (the “Exchange Act Documents”), and we take no responsibility therefor, except as and to the extent set forth in numbered paragraphs 6 and 7 of our opinion letter to you dated the date hereof.

In connection with, and under the circumstances applicable to, the offering of the Notes and the Guarantees, we participated in conferences with certain officers and employees of the Company and the Guarantors, representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP and your representatives and your counsel in the course of the preparation by the Company and the Guarantors of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and also reviewed certain records and documents furnished to us, or publicly filed with the Commission, by the Company and the Guarantors, as well as the documents delivered to you at the closing. Certain of such records and documents were not in English and/or were governed by laws or relate to legal matters outside the scope of our opinion letter to you dated the date hereof and, accordingly, we necessarily relied upon directors, officers and employees of the Company and the Guarantors, counsel to the Company and the Guarantors in such jurisdictions and other persons in evaluating such records and documents. Based upon our review of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents, our participation in the conferences referred to above, our review of the records and documents as described above, as well as our understanding of the U.S. federal securities laws and the experience we have gained in our practice thereunder:

 

B-2-3


(i) we advise you that the Registration Statement as of the date it first became effective under the Securities Act, and the Prospectus, as of December [•], 2024, appeared, on its face, to be appropriately responsive, in all material respects, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, except that in each case we express no view with respect to the financial statements or other financial, accounting or statistical data contained in, incorporated by reference in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents; and

(ii) nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that (a) the Registration Statement (including the Exchange Act Documents and the Prospectus deemed to be a part thereof), as of December [•], 2024, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (b) the Pricing Disclosure Package (including the Exchange Act Documents), as of [•] pm (New York City time) on December [•], 2024, being the Applicable Time specified in the Underwriting Agreement, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (c) the Prospectus (including the Exchange Act Documents), as of December [•], 2024 or as of the date hereof, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that we express no belief in any of clauses (a), (b) or (c) above with respect to the financial statements or other financial, accounting or statistical data contained in, incorporated by reference in, or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents.

 

B-2-4


This letter is delivered to you in connection with the above-described transaction. This letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm or corporation.

 

Very truly yours,
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

 

B-2-5


Exhibit C

FORM OF OPINION TO BE PROVIDED BY

GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP

December [•], 2024

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10036

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Brookfield Place

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10281

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

277 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10172

And the other Underwriters listed in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement referred to below

 

Re:   

Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C.

$•,000,000 •% Senior Notes due • (the “• Notes”)

1.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as Québec counsel to Blackstone Holdings III L.P. (“Blackstone Holdings III”), Blackstone Holdings IV GP L.P. (“Blackstone Holdings IV GP”), Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub L.P. (“Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub”) and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. (“Blackstone Holdings IV” and, together with Blackstone Holdings III referred to herein as the “Québec Guarantors”), in connection with your purchase of Notes issued by Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C. (the “Issuer”), unconditionally guaranteed by various Blackstone entities, including the Québec Guarantors pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated •, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the Issuer, the Québec Guarantors and the other Guarantors (collectively the “Guarantors”) party thereto and you, as representatives of the underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”).

 

C-1


EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS

In rendering the opinions set forth in this letter, we have examined:

 

(i)

the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. [•]) (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act), the prospectus dated [•], 2024 (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated [•], 2024 relating to the sale of the Notes and the Guarantees (as defined below) (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), filed with the Commission under the Securities Act, the pricing term sheet dated [•], 2024 (the “Pricing Term Sheet” and, together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”, filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and the prospectus supplement dated [•], 2024 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”) filed with the Commission under the Securities Act;

 

(ii)

the Indenture dated as of [•], 2024, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated [•], 2024, entered into by the Issuer, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (“Trustee”) (collectively, the “Indenture”), which provides, inter alia, for the guarantees by the Québec Guarantors of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes (“Guarantees”) in accordance with the terms set forth in the Indenture;

 

(iii)

the Underwriting Agreement; and

 

(iv)

the limited partnership agreements, as amended and restated, of the Québec Guarantors (the “Partnership Agreements”), among the general partners and the limited partners party thereto.

For the purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have considered such questions of law as we have deemed necessary and have made such investigations and examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such certificates of public officials and such other certificates, documents and records as we have considered necessary or relevant and have relied, without independent verification or investigation, on all statements as to matters of fact contained in such documents, including:

 

a)

Certificates of Attestation issued by the Registraire des entreprises du Québec for each of the Québec Guarantors, Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub and Blackstone Holdings IV GP dated [•], 2024;

 

b)

as to certain matters of fact relevant to the opinions expressed below, a certificate of an officer of each of the Québec Guarantors, Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub and Blackstone Holdings IV GP (the “Secretary’s Certificate”); and

 

c)

the court records (plumitifs) of the judicial districts in Québec as of the close of business on [•], 2024.

 

Unless

otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms have the meaning given to them in the Indenture or the Underwriting Agreement.

 

C-2


ASSUMPTIONS AND RELIANCE

For the purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry, that:

 

(a)

with respect to all documents examined by us, the signatures are genuine, the individuals signing such documents had legal capacity at the time of signing, all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, and certified, conformed or photocopied copies, or copies transmitted electronically or by facsimile, conform to the authentic original documents;

 

b)

the indices and records in all filing systems maintained in all public offices where we have searched or inquired or have caused searches or inquiries to be conducted are accurate and current, and all certificates and information issued or provided pursuant thereto are and remain accurate and complete;

 

c)

the facts certified in the Secretary’s Certificate are accurate as of the date given and continue to be accurate as of the date hereof;

 

d)

the facts stated in the Certificates of Attestation continue to be true as of the date hereof; and

 

e)

the general partner of Blackstone Holdings III is validly constituted and existing and has all necessary power and capacity to execute and deliver the Indenture and Underwriting Agreement on behalf of Blackstone Holdings III and perform its obligations thereunder as general partner of Blackstone Holdings III.

LAWS ADDRESSED

The opinions expressed in this letter are limited to the laws of the Province of Québec and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.

OPINIONS

We are of the opinion, based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications stated in this letter, that:

Corporate Opinions

 

1.

Each of the Québec Guarantors, Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub and Blackstone Holdings IV GP has been duly formed and organized, is validly existing as a limited partnership under the laws of Québec, is duly registered under An Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises (Québec) (the “Publicity Act”), is not in default of its obligations to file annual declarations pursuant to the Publicity Act and has not failed to comply with any request made under Section 73 of the Publicity Act.

 

2.

Each of the Québec Guarantors, Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub and Blackstone Holdings IV GP L.P. has the partnership power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

C-3


3.

Each of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Guarantees has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Québec Guarantors and is a valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Québec Guarantors, Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub and Blackstone Holdings IV GP.

Regulatory Opinions

 

4.

No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any Québec governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Québec Guarantors of their obligations under the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture or the Guarantees or for the consummation of the sale and offer of the Notes except for any consents, approvals, authorizations, orders or qualifications the lack of which individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the ability of the Québec Guarantors to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Guarantees (the “Notes Transaction”).

No Conflict Opinion

 

5.

The execution and delivery by the Québec Guarantors of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Guarantees, and the performance by the Québec Guarantors of their obligations thereunder, and the consummation of the Notes Transaction, do not and will not, as applicable, contravene any provision of Québec law or the provisions of the Partnership Agreements and the declarations of registration, as amended, of either of the Québec Guarantors or any agreement or other instrument binding upon either of the Québec Guarantors, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over either of the Québec Guarantors, except in each case as individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the ability of either of the Québec Guarantors to consummate the Notes Transaction.

Litigation Opinion

 

6.

To our knowledge and based on our review of the court records (plumitifs) as of the close of business on [•], 2024, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened in the Province of Québec or to which any of the Québec Guarantors is a party or to which any of the properties of any of the Québec Guarantors is subject.

RELIANCE

This opinion is solely for the benefit of its addressees in connection with the above-described Notes Transaction. This opinion may not be relied upon in any manner by any other person and may not be disclosed, quoted, filed with a governmental agency or otherwise referred to without our prior written consent.

Yours very truly,

GOWLING WLG (Canada) LLP

 

C-4


Exhibit D-1

FORM OF OPINION TO BE PROVIDED BY

THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER OF BLACKSTONE INC.

December [•], 2024

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10036

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Brookfield Place

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10281

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

277 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10172

and the other several

Underwriters named in Schedule I

to the Underwriting Agreement

referred to below

 

D-1-1


Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the Chief Legal Officer of Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”). In such capacity, I have acted as counsel for Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), in connection with the purchase by you of $[•] aggregate principal amount of [•]% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Notes”), issued by the Company, unconditionally guaranteed by the Corporation, Blackstone Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings I”), Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings AI”), Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings II” and, together with the Corporation, Blackstone Holdings I and Blackstone Holdings AI, the “Delaware Guarantors”), Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings III”), and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings IV” and, together with Blackstone Holdings III, the “Québec Guarantors”; and the Québec Guarantors together with the Delaware Guarantors, the “Guarantors”), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated December [•], 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the Company, the Guarantors and you, as underwriters (the “Underwriters”). I refer to Blackstone Holdings I, Blackstone Holdings AI, Blackstone Holdings II, Blackstone Holdings III and Blackstone Holdings IV, collectively, as the “Blackstone Holdings Partnerships.”

I and/or other lawyers under my supervision have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. [•]) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company and the Guarantors under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); the prospectus dated December [•], 2024 (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the preliminary prospectus supplement dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (as defined below) (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act and the prospectus supplement dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (together with the

 

D-1-2


Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act, in each case, including the documents filed under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be; the pricing term sheet dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (the “Pricing Term Sheet” and, together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors as a free writing prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; the Indenture, dated as of December [•], 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December [•], 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee; duplicates of the global notes representing the Notes; the guarantees whose terms are set forth in the Indenture (the “Guarantees”); and the Underwriting Agreement. In addition, I and/or other lawyers under my supervision have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, the documents delivered to you at the closing and upon originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and have made such other investigations, as I have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.

 

D-1-3


In rendering the opinions set forth below, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, I am of the opinion that:

1. To my knowledge, there are no statutes or pending or threatened legal or governmental proceedings that are be required to be described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which are not described as required, or any contracts or documents of a character that are required to be described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not described as required, in each case assuming that no separate financial statements of any of the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships are required to be included in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

2. To my knowledge, neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors (A) is in violation of its certificate of limited partnership, incorporation or formation or limited partnership or limited liability company agreement or bylaws, as the case may be, (B) is in default, and no event has occurred, which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject or (C) is in violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or court decree to which it or its property or assets may be subject or has failed to obtain any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business except for those violations, defaults or failures that would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Effect”).

3. Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors is required to be registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), or registered as a broker-dealer under Section 15(b) of the Exchange Act and each of the Subsidiaries (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) that is required to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or registered as a broker-dealer under Section 15(b) of the Exchange Act is so registered, except where the failure to be so registered would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Insofar as my opinions relate to the valid existence and good standing of the Company and the Delaware Guarantors, such opinions are based solely on confirmation from public officials.

 

D-1-4


I do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York, the federal law of the United States, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”), the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “DRULPA”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). I expressly disclaim coverage of any other Delaware law, except judicial decisions interpreting the DLLCA, the DRULPA and the DGCL.

This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the above-described transaction. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm or corporation without my prior written consent.

 

Very truly yours,

 

John G. Finley

Chief Legal Officer

 

D-1-5


Exhibit D-2

FORM OF LETTER TO BE PROVIDED BY

THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER OF BLACKSTONE INC.

December [•], 2024

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10036

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Brookfield Place

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10281

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

277 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10172

and the other several

Underwriters named in Schedule I

to the Underwriting Agreement

referred to below

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the Chief Legal Officer of Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”). In such capacity, I have acted as counsel for Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), the Corporation, Blackstone Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings I”), Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings AI”), Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a

 

D-2-1


Delaware limited partnership (together with the Corporation, Blackstone Holdings I and Blackstone Holdings AI, the “Delaware Guarantors”), Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings III”), and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a Québec société en commandite (together with Blackstone Holdings III, the “Québec Guarantors” and, the Québec Guarantors together with the Delaware Guarantors, the “Guarantors”), in connection with the purchase by you of $[•] aggregate principal amount of [•]% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Notes”), issued by the Company, and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated December [•], 2024 among the Company, the Guarantors and you (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

I have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements made or included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. [•]) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company and the Guarantors under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); the prospectus dated December [•], 2024 (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the preliminary prospectus supplement dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the guarantees on the Notes (the “Guarantees”) (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act and as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; the pricing term sheet dated December [•], 2024 relating to the Notes and the Guarantees (the “Pricing Term Sheet” and, together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors as a free writing prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; or the documents filed under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (the “Exchange Act Documents”), and I take no responsibility therefor.

 

D-2-2


In connection with, and under the circumstances applicable to, the offering of the Notes and the Guarantees, I and/or other lawyers under my supervision participated in conferences with certain officers and employees of the Company and the Guarantors, representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP, counsel to the Company and the Guarantors and your representatives and your counsel in the course of the preparation by the Company and the Guarantors of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and also reviewed certain records and documents furnished to us, or publicly filed with the Commission, by the Company and the Guarantors, as well as the documents delivered to you at the closing. Certain of such corporate and other records and documents were not in English and/or were governed by laws or relate to legal matters outside the scope of my opinion letter to you dated the date hereof and, accordingly, I necessarily relied upon directors, officers and employees of the Company and the Guarantors, counsel to the Company and the Guarantors in such jurisdictions and other persons in evaluating such records and documents. Based upon our review of the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents, our participation in the conferences referred to above, our review of the records and documents as described above, as well as our understanding of the U.S. federal securities laws and the experience we have gained in our practice thereunder, nothing has come to my attention that causes me to believe that (a) the Registration Statement (including the Exchange Act Documents and the Prospectus deemed to be a part thereof), as of December [•], 2024, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (b) the Pricing Disclosure Package (including the Exchange Act

 

D-2-3


Documents), as of [•]:[•] p.m. (New York time) on December [•], 2024, being the Applicable Time specified in the Underwriting Agreement, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (c) the Prospectus (including the Exchange Act Documents), as of December [•], 2024 or as of the date hereof, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that I express no belief in any of clauses (a), (b) or (c) above with respect to the financial statements or other financial, accounting or statistical data contained in, incorporated by reference in, or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents.

This letter is delivered to you in connection with the above-described transaction. This letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm or corporation.

 

D-2-4


Very truly yours,

John G. Finley

Chief Legal Officer

 

D-2-5

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 6, 2024

Among

BLACKSTONE REG FINANCE CO. L.L.C.,

As Issuer,

THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN

and

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

as Trustee

 

 

 


CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE

RELATING TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318 INCLUSIVE,

OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

Section 310(a)(1)    Section 609
(a)(2)    Section 609
(a)(3)    Not Applicable
(a)(4)    Not Applicable
(b)    Section 608
   Section 610
Section 311(a)    Section 613
(b)    Section 613
Section 312(a)    Section 701
   Section 702
(b)    Section 702
(c)    Section 702
Section 313(a)    Section 703
(b)    Section 703
(c)    Section 703
(d)    Section 703
Section 314(a)    Section 704
(a)(4)    Section 1004
(b)    Not Applicable
(c)(1)    Section 102
(c)(2)    Section 102
(c)(3)    Not Applicable
(d)    Not Applicable
(e)    Section 102
Section 315(a)    Section 601
(b)    Section 602
(c)    Section 601
(d)    Section 601
(e)    Section 513
Section 316(a)    Section 101
(a)(1)(A)    Section 502
   Section 511
(a)(1)(B)    Section 512
(a)(2)    Not Applicable
(b)    Section 508
(c)    Section 104
Section 317(a)(1)    Section 504
(a)(2)    Section 504
(b)    Section 1003
Section 318(a)    Section 107

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

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION      1  

Section 101

 

Definitions

     1  

Section 102

 

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     8  

Section 103

 

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     8  

Section 104

 

Acts of Holders; Record Dates

     9  

Section 105

 

Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors

     11  

Section 106

 

Notice to Holders; Waiver

     11  

Section 107

 

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     12  

Section 108

 

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     12  

Section 109

 

Successors and Assigns

     12  

Section 110

 

Separability Clause

     12  

Section 111

 

Benefits of Indenture

     12  

Section 112

 

Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Venue

     13  

Section 113

 

Legal Holidays

     13  

Section 114

 

No Recourse Against Others

     13  

Section 115

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     13  

Section 116

 

Compliance with Applicable Law

     14  
ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS      14  

Section 201

 

Forms Generally

     14  

Section 202

 

Form of Legend for Global Securities

     14  

Section 203

 

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     15  
ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES      16  

Section 301

 

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

     16  

Section 302

 

Denominations

     19  

Section 303

 

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     19  

Section 304

 

Temporary Securities

     20  

Section 305

 

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     20  

Section 306

 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

     22  

Section 307

 

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     23  

Section 308

 

Persons Deemed Owners

     24  

Section 309

 

Cancellation

     24  

Section 310

 

Computation of Interest

     24  

Section 311

 

CUSIP or ISIN Numbers

     25  

Section 312

 

Original Issue Discount

     25  

Section 313

 

General Provisions Relating to Global Securities

     25  
ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE      26  

Section 401

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     26  

Section 402

 

Application of Trust Money

     27  
ARTICLE V REMEDIES      27  

Section 501

 

Events of Default

     27  

Section 502

 

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     29  

Section 503

 

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     30  

Section 504

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     30  

 

ii


Section 505

 

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

     31  

Section 506

 

Application of Money Collected

     31  

Section 507

 

Limitation on Suits

     31  

Section 508

 

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

     32  

Section 509

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     32  

Section 510

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     32  

Section 511

 

Control by Holders

     32  

Section 512

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     33  

Section 513

 

Undertaking for Costs

     33  

Section 514

 

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

     33  

Section 515

 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     33  
ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE      34  

Section 601

 

Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee

     34  

Section 602

 

Notice of Defaults

     35  

Section 603

 

Certain Rights of Trustee

     35  

Section 604

 

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

     37  

Section 605

 

May Hold Securities

     37  

Section 606

 

Money Held in Trust

     37  

Section 607

 

Compensation and Reimbursement

     37  

Section 608

 

Conflicting Interests

     38  

Section 609

 

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     38  

Section 610

 

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     38  

Section 611

 

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     40  

Section 612

 

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     41  

Section 613

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     41  

Section 614

 

Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company

     41  
ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE, THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS      41  

Section 701

 

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

     41  

Section 702

 

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

     42  

Section 703

 

Reports by Trustee

     42  

Section 704

 

Reports by the Company and the Guarantors

     42  
ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS      42  

Section 801

 

Company and Guarantors May Merge or Transfer Assets on Certain Terms

     42  

Section 802

 

Successor Person Substituted

     43  
ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      43  

Section 901

 

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

     43  

Section 902

 

Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders

     44  

Section 903

 

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     46  

Section 904

 

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     46  

Section 905

 

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

     46  

Section 906

 

Notice of Supplemental Indenture; Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

     46  

 

iii


ARTICLE X COVENANTS      47  

Section 1001

 

Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest

     47  

Section 1002

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     47  

Section 1003

 

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

     48  

Section 1004

 

Statement by Officers as to Default

     48  

Section 1005

 

Waiver of Certain Covenants

     49  
ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES      49  

Section 1101

 

Applicability of Article

     49  

Section 1102

 

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

     49  

Section 1103

 

Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

     49  

Section 1104

 

Notice of Redemption

     50  

Section 1105

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

     51  

Section 1106

 

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

     51  

Section 1107

 

Securities Redeemed in Part

     52  
ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS      52  

Section 1201

 

Applicability of Article

     52  

Section 1202

 

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

     52  

Section 1203

 

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

     53  
ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE      53  

Section 1301

 

Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     53  

Section 1302

 

Defeasance and Discharge

     53  

Section 1303

 

Covenant Defeasance

     54  

Section 1304

 

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     54  

Section 1305

 

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

     55  

Section 1306

 

Reinstatement

     56  
ARTICLE XIV GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES      56  

Section 1401

 

Guarantee

     56  

Section 1402

 

Additional Guarantors

     56  

Section 1403

 

Waiver

     57  

Section 1404

 

Guarantee of Payment

     57  

Section 1405

 

No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee

     57  

Section 1406

 

Defenses of Company Waived

     57  

Section 1407

 

Continued Effectiveness

     58  

Section 1408

 

Subrogation

     58  

Section 1409

 

Subordination

     58  

Section 1410

 

Release of Guarantor and Termination of Guarantee

     58  

Section 1411

 

Limitation of Guarantors’ Liability

     59  

Section 1412

 

No Obligation to Take Action Against the Company

     60  

Section 1413

 

Execution and Delivery

     60  

 

iv


INDENTURE, dated as of December 6, 2024, among Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), each of the Guarantors named herein (the “Guarantors”) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS

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

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

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of each of the Company and the Guarantors, 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 (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

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

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

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

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

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

(6) “including” means including without limitation;

(7) when used with respect to any Security, the words “convert,” “converted” and “conversion” are intended to refer to the right of the Holder, the Company or the Guarantors to convert or exchange such Security into or for securities or other property in accordance with such terms, if any, as may hereafter be specified for such Security as contemplated by Section 301, and these words are not


intended to refer to any right of the Holder, the Company or the Guarantors to exchange such Security for other Securities of the same series and of like tenor pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 or another similar provisions of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires; and references herein to the terms of any Security that may be converted mean such terms as may be specified for such Security as contemplated in Section 301; and

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

Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 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 Law” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

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

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

Business Day” means, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in that Place of Payment.

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

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

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

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

 

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Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be conducted (or any successor division or unit), which office is located as of the date of this Indenture at The Bank of New York Trust Company, 500 Ross Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15262, Attention: Corporate Trust, Email: [email address], or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company).

Corporation” means Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

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

Credit Parties” means the Company and the Guarantors.

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

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

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.

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

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

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

Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

FATCA Withholding Tax” shall mean any withholding or deduction required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code (or any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof) or any intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another jurisdiction facilitating the implementation thereof (or any law implementing such an intergovernmental agreement).

 

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

Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 202 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

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

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

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

Indenture” means this Indenture as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

Insignificant Guarantor” means a Guarantor (or a group of Guarantors taken together) that would not, on a combined and consolidated basis and taken as a whole together with all then-existing Non-Guarantor Entities designated pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of Non-Guarantor Entity set forth in Section 1410, constitute a Significant Subsidiary.

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

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

Internal Revenue Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

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

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

Non-Guarantor Entity” means any Person so designated by the Company pursuant to Section 1410.

Non-Guarantor Limitation” has the meaning specified in Section 1410.

 

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Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501.

Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 1401.

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

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

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Company or any Guarantor (or any sole or managing member or general partner of the Company or any Guarantor), as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be counsel for, including an employee of, the Company or for any Guarantor) and which opinion shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

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

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

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

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

(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1302;

(4) Securities which 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 shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

(5) Securities as to which any property deliverable upon conversion thereof has been delivered (or such delivery has been made available), or as to which any other particular conditions have been satisfied, in each case as may be provided for such Securities as contemplated in Section 301; 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,

 

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consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies, composite currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, any Guarantor or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding (except in the case where the Securities are 100% owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, any Guarantor or such other obligor.

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

Permitted Jurisdictions” has the meaning specified in Section 801(a)(1).

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

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

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.

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.

 

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Responsible Officer” means with respect to the Trustee, an officer of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and, for the purposes of Section 601(3)(B) and the second sentence of Section 602, shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

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

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

Registrar” has the meaning specified in Section 305.

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

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

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

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of a Person that is or would be consolidated with such Person in the preparation of segment information with respect to the combined financial statements of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, but shall not include (a) any private equity fund, real estate fund, hedge fund or other investment fund or vehicle or (b) any portfolio company of any such fund or vehicle.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Section 102 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

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

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 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, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

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

Section 103 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

 

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

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

Section 104 Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

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

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

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

The Company or any Guarantor may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series; provided that none of the Company or any Guarantor may set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect

 

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to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Guarantor from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company or any Guarantor, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 511, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company and the Guarantors in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.

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

 

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Section 105 Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors.

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

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company or a Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by mail, first-class postage prepaid, by courier or email) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office at the location specified in Section 101; or

(2) the Company or a Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company or any Guarantor addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company or such Guarantor at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in writing to the Trustee by the Company and, until further notice, at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, Attention: Eric Liaw [email address], Joseph Rocco [email address], and Tabea Hsi [email address], with a copy to [email address].

The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Company understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Company. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Company; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.

Section 106 Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice,

 

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nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

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

Section 107 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

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

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

Section 110 Separability Clause.

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

Section 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 and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

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Section 112 Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Venue.

This Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, and the Company, the Guarantors and holders of the Securities by purchase of their Security agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities, may be instituted, brought and enforced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, other than with respect to a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, if such court does not have jurisdiction over such action, suit or proceeding, the Supreme Court of New York County (Commercial Division) in the State of New York of the State of New York), which will be the exclusive forum for any such actions, suits or proceedings, except that any action, suit or proceeding asserting a cause of action arising under the Exchange Act may also be brought and enforced in any federal district court of the United States, which will be the exclusive forum for such actions, suits or proceedings. The Company, the Guarantors and the holders of the Securities by purchase of their Security will be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of such courts and have waived any objection that such courts represent an inconvenient forum for any such suit, action or proceeding.

Section 113 Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security, or any date on which a Holder has the right to convert such Holder’s Security, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 113)) payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest, or the Redemption Price or conversion of such Security, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, or on such conversion date. In the case, however, of Securities of a series bearing interest at a floating rate, if any Interest Payment Date (other than the Redemption Date or Stated Maturity) would otherwise be a date that is not a Business Day, then the Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the following date which is a Business Day, unless that Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. No interest shall accrue for the period from and after any such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated Maturity or conversion date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment.

Section 114 No Recourse Against Others.

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

Section 115 Waiver of Jury Trial.

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

 

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Section 116 Compliance with Applicable Law.

In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations, including FATCA, (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under the Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law (and shall timely pay the amounts so withheld or deducted to the applicable governmental authority) for which The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall not have any liability. Each of the Company and the Trustee agrees to reasonably cooperate and, at the reasonable request of the other, to provide the other with such information as each may have in its possession that is necessary to enable the determination of whether any payments hereunder are subject to FATCA Withholding Tax.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

Section 201 Forms Generally.

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

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

Section 202 Form of Legend for Global Securities.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

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

 

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

Section 203 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.

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

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

 

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

 

      Authorized Signatory

 

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ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

Section 301 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

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

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to (a) a Company Resolution or pursuant to authority granted by a Company Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company, or (b) one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(9) if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

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

(11) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

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

(13) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

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

(15) if other than by a Company Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease any Securities of the series pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 shall be evidenced; whether any Securities of the series other than Securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate are to be subject to Section 1302 or Section 1303; or, in the case of Securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall not be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections;

(16) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and any other provisions governing exchanges or transfers of such Global Security;

(17) any addition to, deletion from or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

 

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

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

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

(21) whether the Securities of the series and, if applicable, any guarantees of such Securities will be senior or subordinated obligations as specified in or pursuant to the applicable indenture and in the certificates evidencing such Securities and those made part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act;

(22) whether the Securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be secured and, if applicable, upon which such liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor;

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

(24) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(12)).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Company Resolution referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Company Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate of the Company referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at one time and, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to the Company Resolution referred to above and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate of the Company referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Company Resolutions or in any such indenture supplemental hereto with respect to a series of Securities, additional Securities of a series may be issued, at the option of the Company, without the consent of any Holder, at any time and from time to time.

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

 

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Section 302 Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Section 303 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, one of its Vice Chairmen, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Principal Accounting Officer, its Treasurer, its Secretary, one of its Corporate Vice Presidents, one of its Senior Managing Directors, one of its Managing Directors, one of its Assistant Treasurers or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature on the Securities may be manual, electronic or facsimile.

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

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Company Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Company Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, 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,

(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Company Resolution or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Company Resolutions as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Company Resolution or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Company Resolutions as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

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

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

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph of this Section 303, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, including in the event that the aggregate principal amount of a series of Outstanding Securities is increased as contemplated by Section 301, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate of the Company otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 303 at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual or electronic signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 304 Temporary Securities.

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

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

Section 305 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

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

 

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

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

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of such series (or of such series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

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

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

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

 

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(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable or no longer permitted under applicable law to continue as Depositary for such Global Security, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security, (C) the Company so directs the Trustee by a Company Order or (D) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

(3) Subject to clause (2) above and to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

(4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section 305, Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

Section 306 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

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

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

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

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 306, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel to the Company and the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its counsel) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 306 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company and the respective Guarantors, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series and Guarantees duly issued hereunder.

 

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The provisions of this Section 306 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.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

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

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest payable on Securities of a series to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to 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 (2).

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

 

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Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 307, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

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

Section 308 Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, a Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and, subject to Section 307, any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, a Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 309 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company or any Guarantor may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company or such Guarantor may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, 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 309, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures. The Trustee shall provide the Company or any Guarantor a list of all Securities that have been cancelled from time to time as requested by the Company or such Guarantor.

Section 310 Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 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.

 

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Section 311 CUSIP or ISIN Numbers.

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

Section 312 Original Issue Discount.

If any of the Securities is an Original Issue Discount Security, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (1) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on such Outstanding Original Issue Discount Securities as of the end of such year and (2) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 313 General Provisions Relating to Global Securities.

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

 

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ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 401 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

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

(1) either

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

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

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section 401, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

 

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Section 402 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable series of Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of Securities subsequently converted into other property shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request. The Company may direct by a Company Order the investment of any money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401, without distinction between principal and income, in (1) United States Treasury securities with a maturity of one year or less or (2) a money market fund that invests solely in short-term United States Treasury securities (including money market funds for which the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee serves as investment advisor, administrator, shareholder, servicing agent and/or custodian or sub-custodian, notwithstanding that (a) the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses from such funds for services rendered and (b) the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses for services rendered pursuant to this Indenture at any time) and from time to time the Company may direct the reinvestment of all or a portion of such money in other securities or funds meeting the criteria specified in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 402.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

Section 501 Events of Default.

Except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 for Securities of any series, an “Event of Default” means, whenever used herein or in a Security issued hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

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

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

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

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

 

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

(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

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

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

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

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

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

(G) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

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

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

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

(C) orders the winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) (or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws), and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days;

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

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

A Default with respect to Securities of any series under clause (4) of this Section 501 shall not be an Event of Default until the Trustee (by written notice to the Company and the Guarantors) or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series (by written notice to the Company and the Guarantors and the Trustee) gives notice of the Default and the Company and the Guarantors does not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (4) after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.”

 

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Section 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(5) or (6)) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of such series (or, if any Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantors (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration, such principal amount (or specified amount), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) with respect to the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of such series (or, in the case of any Security of such series which specifies an amount to be due and payable thereon upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, such amount as may be specified by the terms thereof), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal and interest of the Securities of such series shall terminate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities of such series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 512.

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

 

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Section 503 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

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

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

Section 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, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company, any Guarantor or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or any Guarantor for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(1) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and premium, if any, and interest 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 the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(2) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by the Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and for any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

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

 

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Section 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 reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee under Section 607, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 506 Application of Money Collected.

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

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee (including any predecessor Trustee) under Section 607;

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

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

Section 507 Limitation on Suits.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 508, no Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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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 and to Convert Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and, subject to Section 307, interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or date for repayment, as the case may be, and, if the terms of such Security so provide, to convert such Security in accordance with its terms) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and, if applicable, any such right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 509 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 510 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

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

Section 511 Control by Holders.

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

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

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

 

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

Section 512 Waiver of Past Defaults.

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

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

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

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

Section 513 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess reasonable costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section 513 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, a suit by a Holder under Section 508, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities.

Section 514 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

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

Section 515 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

 

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ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

Section 601 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

(1) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

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

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

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

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

(A) this Section 601(3) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Section 601(1) or Section 601(4);

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

(C) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided in Sections 101, 104 and 511, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.

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

 

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(5) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 601.

Section 602 Notice of Defaults.

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

Section 603 Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

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

(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the member or members of the Company or board of managers of the Company, as the case may be, shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Resolution thereof;

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

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

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

 

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(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company or the Guarantors, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company or the Guarantors and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

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

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

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

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

(11) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, pandemics or epidemics, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services (it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances);

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

(13) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded; and

(14) the permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking action hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.

 

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Section 604 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

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

Section 605 May Hold Securities.

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

Section 606 Money Held in Trust.

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

Section 607 Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company and each Guarantor jointly and severally agrees:

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

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and all Persons not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct, and the Trustee shall provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business; and

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part as determined in a final, non-appealable order by a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Securities and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section.

 

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In addition to, but without prejudice to its other rights under this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

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

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 607, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities for the payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest.

The provisions of this Section 607 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Securities, the termination for any reason of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Section 608 Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

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

Section 609 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate Trust Office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or any other major city in the United States that is acceptable to the Company. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 609 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent annual report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 609, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VI.

Section 610 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

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

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, upon written notice delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

If at any time:

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

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

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company or the Guarantors may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or (B) subject to Section 513, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of such Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company or the Guarantors shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 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 shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 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 or the Guarantors. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company, the Guarantors or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of Securities of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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The Company or the Guarantors shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 611 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantors and the retiring Trustee a written instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee, but, on the request of the Company, the Guarantors or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver a written instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder subject nonetheless to the lien provided for in Section 607.

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantors, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company, the Guarantors or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates subject nonetheless to the lien provided for in Section 607.

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

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

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

Section 612 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

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

Section 613 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company or any Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company or any Guarantor (or any such other obligor).

Section 614 Trustees Application for Instructions from the Company.

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed (to the extent not provided for in this Indenture) to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than 10 Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

ARTICLE VII

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

Section 701 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

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

Section 702 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Registrar. The Trustee may dispose of any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

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

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

Section 703 Reports by Trustee.

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. The Trustee shall, within 60 days after each May 15 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, pursuant to this Section 703.

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

Section 704 Reports by the Company and the Guarantors.

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

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS

Section 801 Company and Guarantors May Merge or Transfer Assets on Certain Terms.

 

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

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

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

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

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

Section 802 Successor Person Substituted.

Upon the consummation of a transaction contemplated by and consummated in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the applicable Credit Party under this Indenture, with the same effect as if such successor Person had been an original party to this Indenture, and, except in the case of a lease, the applicable Credit Party shall be released from all of its liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Securities (including the Guarantees).

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 901 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

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

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

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

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

 

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(4) to add new Guarantors;

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

(6) to secure the Securities;

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

(8) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;

(9) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301;

(10) to comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary;

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

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

(13) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of this Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein;

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

(15) to conform any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of any series to the description of such Securities contained in the Company’s prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or similar document with respect to the offering of the Securities of such series.

Section 902 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for Securities), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or

 

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changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected thereby:

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

(2) reduce the principal amount of any Security or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or reduce the rate of or extend the time of payment of interest on any Security;

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

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

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

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

(7) modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 512 or Section 1005, 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 902 and Section 1005, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611 and Section 901(7);

(8) if the Securities of any series are convertible into or for any other securities or property of the Company, make any change that adversely affects in any material respect the right to convert any Security of such series (except as permitted by Section 901) or decrease the conversion rate or increase the conversion price of any such Security of such series, unless such decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of such Security;

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

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

(11) modify clauses (1) through (10) above.

 

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

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

Section 903 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and, subject to Section 601, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent in this Indenture to the execution of such supplemental indenture, if any, have been complied with; provided, however, that no such Opinion of Counsel shall be required in the case of any supplemental indenture executed and delivered concurrently with the original execution and delivery of this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 904 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

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

Section 905 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 906 Notice of Supplemental Indenture; Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

After a supplemental indenture under Section 901 and 902 becomes effective, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture or a copy of such supplemental indenture and the Trustee shall on behalf of the Company and at the expense of the Company deliver such notice or supplemental indenture to Holders affected thereby. Any failure of the Trustee to deliver such notice, or any defect therein, or any failure of the Trustee to deliver such supplemental indenture, shall not in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

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

 

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ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

Section 1001 Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if, on or before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such date, the Trustee or the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any Subsidiary of the Corporation is the Paying Agent, the segregated account or separate trust fund maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 1003) holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful as provided in Section 307.

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

Section 1002 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where Securities may be surrendered for conversion but not for service of process on the Company or Guarantors. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders and notices (except for service of process on the Company or Guarantors). Notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served at The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801.

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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With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 301, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 1003 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

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

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

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment.

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

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

Section 1004 Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and one of the two Officers signing must be the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of such Officer, the Company

 

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is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture applicable to it (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such Officer may have knowledge.

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

Section 1005 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(18), Section 901(1) or Section 901(12) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Article VIII, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 1101 Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article XI.

Section 1102 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Company Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate of the Company or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the date any notice of a redemption is to be given to the Holders pursuant to Section 1104 (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that the conditions precedent for such redemption have been satisfied. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate of the Company evidencing compliance with such restriction.

Section 1103 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

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

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption.

Securities which have been converted during a selection of securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

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

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

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

Section 1104 Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be transmitted not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (or within such period as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of a series), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register.

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

(1) the Redemption Date;

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 1105 Deposit of Redemption Price.

By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if any of the Credit Parties is acting as Paying Agent, such Credit Party will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date or the Securities of the series provide otherwise) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date, other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption which are owned by any of the Credit Parties and have been delivered by such Credit Party to the Trustee for cancellation. All money, if any, earned on funds held by the Paying Agent shall be remitted to the Company. In addition, the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Securities to be redeemed.

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 307 or in the terms of such Security) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

Section 1106 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

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Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together, if applicable, with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 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 Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Securities registered on the relevant Regular Record Date.

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

Section 1107 Securities Redeemed in Part.

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

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

Section 1201 Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article XII shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any series of Securities is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any series of Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of the series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

Section 1202 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in

 

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satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 1203 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days (or such shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of the Company specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 1301 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, Sections 1302 and 1303 shall apply to all Securities and each series of Securities, denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII; and the Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1302 and Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, designated pursuant to Section 301 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 1302 or Section 1303, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Company Resolution, Officers’ Certificate of the Company or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

Section 1302 Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 1302 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, or if this Section 1302 shall otherwise apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations with respect to such Securities and related Guarantees as provided in this Section 1302 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that each of the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and Guarantees and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and Guarantees and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and Guarantees are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304

 

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and as more fully set forth in such Section 1305, payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities and the Guarantors’ obligations with respect to such Guarantees under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article XIII. Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Company or the Guarantors may exercise their option, if any, to have this Section 1302 applied to the Securities of any series and the related Guarantees notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option, if any, to have Section 1303 applied to such Securities and Guarantees.

Section 1303 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, or if this Section 1303 shall otherwise apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, (1) the Company and the Guarantors shall be released from their respective obligations under Section 801 and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(18), Section 901(1) or Section 901(12) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 501(4) and Section 501(8) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities and Guarantees as provided in this Section 1303 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities and Guarantees, each of the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 1304 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 1302 or 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article XIII applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities.

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

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(3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of the Company to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

(5) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, insofar as Section 501(5) or Section 501(6) are concerned, at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

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

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

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

Section 1305 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section 1305 and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and premium, if any, and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to charge any such tax, fee or other charge to such Holder’s account.

 

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Anything in this Article XIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with respect to any Securities which are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

Section 1306 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article XIII with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and Guarantees from which the Company and the Guarantors have been discharged or released pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIII with respect to such Securities and Guarantees, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities and Guarantees in accordance with this Article XIII; provided, however, that (a) if the Company or the Guarantors makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights, if any, of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall return all such money and U.S. Government Obligations to the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the obligations of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, has occurred and continues to be in effect.

ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

Section 1401 Guarantee.

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

Section 1402 Additional Guarantors.

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

 

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Section 1403 Waiver.

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

Section 1404 Guarantee of Payment.

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

Section 1405 No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee.

Subject to Section 1410, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional and not be subject to any reduction, limitation, termination or impairment for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Securities, this Indenture or the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture or any Security, any other guarantee or any other agreement, by any waiver, modification or indulgence of any provision thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, by any release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section 1410 or by any other act or omission or delay to do any other act that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantors, increase the principal amount of such Security, or increase the interest rate thereon, change any redemption provisions thereof (including any change to increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof) or change the Stated Maturity of any payment thereon, or increase the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration or the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 of this Indenture.

Section 1406 Defenses of Company Waived.

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

 

57


Section 1407 Continued Effectiveness.

Subject to Section 1410, each of the Guarantors further agrees that its Guarantee with respect to any Security hereunder shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be irrevocable notwithstanding any petition filed by or against the Company for liquidation or reorganization, the Company becoming insolvent or making an assignment for the benefit of creditors or a receiver or trustee being appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Trustee or any Holder of any Security, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” upon bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made, until the date upon which the entire Obligation, if any, and interest on such Security has been, or has been deemed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture to have been paid in full. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned on any Security, such Security shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed paid only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

Section 1408 Subrogation.

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

Section 1409 Subordination.

Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Holders, as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Company, arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise, shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all the Obligations to the Trustee; provided, however, that any right of subrogation that such Guarantor may have pursuant to this Indenture is subject to Section 1408.

Section 1410 Release of Guarantor and Termination of Guarantee.

 

58


A Guarantor shall, upon the occurrence of any of the following events, be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under this Indenture and its Guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder; provided that such Guarantor would not, immediately after such release and discharge, be required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 1402:

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

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

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

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

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

Section 1411 Limitation of Guarantors Liability.

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

 

59


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

Section 1412 No Obligation to Take Action Against the Company.

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

Section 1413 Execution and Delivery.

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

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

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

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

* * *

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

[Signature page follows]

 

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

 

Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., as Issuer
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name: Tabea Hsi
  Title: Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

 

Blackstone Inc., as Guarantor
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name: Tabea Hsi
  Title: Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

 

Blackstone Holdings I L.P., as Guarantor
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name: Tabea Hsi
  Title: Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

 

Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., as Guarantor
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name: Tabea Hsi
  Title: Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


Blackstone Holdings II L.P., as Guarantor
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name: Tabea Hsi
  Title: Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

 

Blackstone Holdings III L.P., as Guarantor
By:   Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P. , its general partner
By:   Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name: Tabea Hsi
  Title: Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

 

Blackstone Holdings IV L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings IV GP L.P., its general partner

By:

 

Blackstone Holdings IV GP Management (Delaware) L.P., its general partner

By:   Blackstone Holdings IV GP Management L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name: Tabea Hsi
  Title: Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

[Signature Page to Indenture]


The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee
By:   /s/ Marie A. Hattinger
  Name: Marie A. Hattinger
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


SCHEDULE I

GUARANTORS

Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation

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

Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

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

Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a Québec société en commandite

 

Schedule I-1

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of December 6, 2024

Supplementing that Certain

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 6, 2024

 

 

Among

BLACKSTONE REG FINANCE CO. L.L.C.,

THE GUARANTOR PARTIES HERETO

and

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

as Trustee

 

 

5.000% Senior Notes due 2034

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I Issuance of Securities      2  

SECTION 1.1.

 

Issuance of Notes; Principal Amount; Maturity; Title

     2  

SECTION 1.2.

 

Interest

     2  

SECTION 1.3.

 

Relationship with Base Indenture

     3  
ARTICLE II Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application      3  

SECTION 2.1.

 

Definitions

     3  
ARTICLE III Security Forms      9  

SECTION 3.1.

 

Form Generally

     9  

SECTION 3.2.

 

Form of Note

     9  
ARTICLE IV Remedies      20  

SECTION 4.1.

 

Events of Default

     20  

SECTION 4.2.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     20  
ARTICLE V Redemption of Securities      21  

SECTION 5.1.

 

Optional Redemption

     21  
ARTICLE VI Particular Covenants      21  

SECTION 6.1.

 

Liens

     21  

SECTION 6.2.

 

Obligation to Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event

     22  

SECTION 6.3.

 

Financial Reports

     23  
ARTICLE VII Supplemental Indentures      24  

SECTION 7.1.

 

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders of Notes

     24  

SECTION 7.2.

 

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders of Notes

     24  
ARTICLE VIII Defeasance      26  

SECTION 8.1.

 

Covenant Defeasance

     26  
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous      26  

SECTION 9.1.

 

Execution as Supplemental Indenture

     26  

 

i


SECTION 9.2.

 

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes

     26  

SECTION 9.3.

 

Separability Clause

     27  

SECTION 9.4.

 

Successors and Assigns

     27  

SECTION 9.5.

 

Execution and Counterparts

     27  

SECTION 9.6.

 

Electronic Signatures

     27  

SECTION 9.7.

 

Governing Law

     27  

SECTION 9.8.

 

FATCA

     28  

 

ii


This First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 6, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), among Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its principal office at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154 (the “Company”), the Guarantors party hereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee under the Base Indenture (as hereinafter defined) and hereunder (the “Trustee”), supplements that certain Indenture, dated as of December 6, 2024, among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture” and subject to Section 1.3 hereof, together with this First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company and the Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee the Base Indenture providing for the issuance from time to time of one or more series of the Company’s senior unsecured debt securities (herein and in the Base Indenture called the “Securities”), the forms and terms of which are to be determined as set forth in Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture, and the Guarantees thereof by the Guarantors;

Sections 901 (9) and 901 (12) of the Base Indenture provide, among other things, that the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture for, among other things, the purposes of (a) establishing the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture and (b) adding to or changing any of the provisions to the Base Indenture in certain circumstances;

The Company desires to create a series of Securities designated as its “5.000% Senior Notes due 2034” pursuant to the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture;

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

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

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

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

 

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ARTICLE I

Issuance of Securities

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

(1) On December 6, 2024, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate, the Initial Notes substantially in the form set forth in Section 3.2 below, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture, and with such letters, numbers, or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officer executing such Notes, as evidenced by the execution of such Notes.

(2) The Initial Notes to be issued pursuant to the Indenture shall be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000 and shall mature on December 6, 2034 (the “Stated Maturity”), unless the Notes are redeemed prior to that date as described in Section 5.1. The aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes Outstanding at any time may not exceed $750,000,000, except for Notes issued, authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes of the series pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Base Indenture and except for any Notes which, pursuant to Section 303 of the Base Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered. The Company may without the consent of the Holders, issue additional Notes as part of the same series and on the same terms and conditions (and having the same Guarantors) and with the same CUSIP numbers and ISIN numbers as the Initial Notes (“Additional Notes”), but such Additional Notes may be offered at a different offering price or have a different issue date, initial interest accrual or initial interest payment date; provided that if any Additional Notes are issued at a price that causes such Additional Notes to have “original issue discount” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations of the United States Department of Treasury thereunder (the “Code”), or if any Additional Notes are not otherwise fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes shall not have the same CUSIP or ISIN number as the Initial Notes.

(3) The Notes shall be issued only in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(4) Pursuant to the terms hereof and Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture, the Company hereby creates a series of Securities designated as the “5.000% Senior Notes due 2034” of the Company (as amended or supplemented from time to time, that are issued under the Indenture, including both the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, if any, the “Notes”), which Notes shall be deemed “Securities” for all purposes under the Base Indenture.

SECTION 1.2. Interest.

(1) Interest on a Note will accrue at the per annum rate of 5.000% (the “Note Interest Rate”), from and including the date specified on the face of such Note to, but excluding, the date on which the principal thereof is paid, deemed paid, or made available for payment and, in each case, will be paid on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

2


(2) The Company shall pay interest on the Notes semi-annually in arrears on June 6 and December 6 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing June 6, 2025.

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

(4) Amounts due on the Stated Maturity or earlier Redemption Date of the Notes will be payable at the Corporate Trust Office. The Company shall make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest or the Repurchase Price in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event in respect of the Notes in book-entry form to DTC in immediately available funds, while disbursement of such payments to owners of beneficial interests in Notes in book-entry form will be made in accordance with the procedures of DTC and its participants in effect from time to time. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that the Company shall be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for the Notes. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall impose any service charge for any transfer or exchange of a Note. However, the Company may require Holders of the Notes to pay any taxes or other governmental charges in connection with a transfer or exchange of Notes.

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

SECTION 1.3. Relationship with Base Indenture.

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

ARTICLE II

Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

SECTION 2.1. Definitions.

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

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

 

3


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

(3) “including” means including without limitation;

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

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

Additional Notes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(2).

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

Base Indenture” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes is lowered in respect of a Change of Control and the Notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended until the ratings are announced if during such 60 day period the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Company in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

 

4


Business Day” means any day that is not Saturday or Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the City of New York.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of the following:

 

  (1)

the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Credit Group to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision), other than to a Continuing Blackstone Entity; or

 

  (2)

the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision), other than a Continuing Blackstone Entity, becomes (A) the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of a controlling interest in (i) the Corporation or (ii) one or more Guarantors comprising all or substantially all of the assets of the Credit Group and (B) entitled to receive a Majority Economic Interest in connection with such transaction.

Change of Control Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 6.2(1).

Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

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

Company” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Continuing Blackstone Entity” means any entity that, immediately prior to and immediately following any relevant date of determination, is directly or indirectly controlled by one or more senior managing directors or other personnel of the Corporation who, as of any date of determination (i) each has devoted substantially all of his or her business and professional time to the activities of the Credit Parties and/or their Subsidiaries during the 12-month period immediately preceding such date and (ii) directly or indirectly controls a majority of the general partner interests (or other similar interests) in the Corporation or any successor entity.

 

5


Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be conducted (or any successor division or unit), which office is located as of the date of this First Supplemental Indenture at The Bank of New York Trust Company, 500 Ross Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15262, Attention: Corporate Trust, Email: [email address], or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company).

Corporation” means Blackstone Inc.

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 8.1.

Credit Parties” means the Company and the Guarantors.

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

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, SA/NV.

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

FATCA Withholding Tax” shall mean any tax withheld or deducted pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any amended or successor provisions that are substantively comparable), any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof, or any intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another jurisdiction facilitating the implementation thereof (or any law, regulation or other official guidance implementing such an intergovernmental agreement).

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Inc. or any successor thereto.

Indenture” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Initial Notes” means Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000, initially issued under this First Supplemental Indenture in accordance with Section 1.1(2).

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

Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch) and BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) (or, in each case, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency).

Majority Economic Interest” means any right or entitlement to receive more than 50% of the equity distributions or partner allocations (whether such right or entitlement results from the ownership of partner or other equity interests, securities, instruments or agreements of any kind) made to all holders of partner or other equity interests in the Credit Group (other than entities within the Credit Group).

 

6


Note Interest Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 1.2(1).

Notes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(4).

Par Call Date” means September 6, 2034.

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

Prospectus Supplement” means the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated as of December 2, 2024, relating to the Notes.

Rating Agency” means:

 

  (1)

each of Fitch and S&P; and

 

  (2)

if either of Fitch or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Fitch or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

Registrar” means the Registrar for the Notes, which shall initially be The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., or any successor entity thereof, subject to replacement as set forth in the Base Indenture.

Regular Record Date” for interest payable in respect of any Note on any Interest Payment Date means May 22 and November 21 prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day).

Repurchase Price” has the meaning specified in Section 6.2(1).

Repurchase Price Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 6.2(3)(iii).

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings a division of S&P Global Inc. and its successors.

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

 

7


The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date for the notes being redeemed (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date of the Notes being redeemed, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Trustee” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

First Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

 

8


ARTICLE III

Security Forms

SECTION 3.1. Form Generally.

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

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

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

SECTION 3.2. Form of Note.

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

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

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

 

9


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

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

 

10


BLACKSTONE REG FINANCE CO. L.L.C.

5.000% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2034

 

No.    Principal Amount (US)$

CUSIP NO.

ISIN.

Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the First Supplemental Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of United States Dollars (U.S.$    ), as increased or decreased by the Schedule of Increases or Decreases In the Global Note attached hereto, on December 6, 2034 and to pay interest thereon, from December 6, 2024, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for to but excluding the next Interest Payment Date, which shall be June 6 and December 6 of each year, commencing June 6, 2025, at the per annum rate of 5.000%, or as such rate may be adjusted pursuant to the terms hereof, per annum (the “Note Interest Rate”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the First Supplemental Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be May 22 and November 21 prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day). Except as otherwise provided in the First Supplemental Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to the Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Notes may be listed, all as more fully provided in the First Supplemental Indenture. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

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

 

11


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

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual, facsimile or electronic signature; provided, however, that any electronic signature is a true representation of such signatory’s actual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

12


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

 

BLACKSTONE REG FINANCE CO. L.L.C.

By:

   
  Name:
  Title:

Attest:

 

BLACKSTONE REG FINANCE CO. L.L.C.

By:

   
  Name:
  Title:

 

13


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Dated: December 6, 2024

 

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

as Trustee

By:

   
  Authorized Signatory

 

14


[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its “5.000% Senior Notes due 2034” (herein called the “Notes”), issued under a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 6, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), to an indenture, dated as of December 6, 2024 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Base Indenture” and herein with the First Supplemental Indenture, collectively, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes Outstanding at any time may not exceed $750,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, except for, or in lieu of, other Notes of the series pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Base Indenture and except for any Notes which, pursuant to Section 303 of the Base Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered. The First Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which this Note is issued provides that Additional Notes may be issued thereunder.

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

Optional Redemption. Prior to September 6, 2034, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not more than 60 nor less than 15 days prior notice, at a redemption price in cash equal to the greater of:

(1) 100% of the principal amount of any Notes being redeemed, and

(2) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

On or after September 6, 2034, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not more than 60 nor less than 15 days prior notice, at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of any Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

Any notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a securities offering or other corporate transaction.

 

15


Change of Control Repurchase Event. In the event of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part of that Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.2 of the First Supplemental Indenture.

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

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

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

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

 

16


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

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

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

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

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

 

17


Electronic Signatures. Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture or this Note to the contrary, the words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Note or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Note, including, without limitation, the Indenture, shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign), so long as any electronic signature is a true representation of such signatory’s actual signature. The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.

Governing Law. THE INDENTURE, THIS SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE AGREE THAT ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE, AND THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND HOLDERS OF THE SECURITIES BY PURCHASE OF THEIR SECURITY AGREE THAT ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SECURITIES, MAY BE INSTITUTED, BROUGHT AND ENFORCED IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (OR, OTHER THAN WITH RESPECT TO A CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF SUCH COURT DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING, THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK COUNTY (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK), WHICH WILL BE THE EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR ANY SUCH ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS, EXCEPT THAT ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ASSERTING A CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT MAY ALSO BE BROUGHT AND ENFORCED IN ANY FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WILL BE THE EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR SUCH ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS. THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE HOLDERS OF THE SECURITIES BY PURCHASE OF THEIR SECURITY WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE CONSENTED TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND HAVE WAIVED ANY OBJECTION THAT SUCH COURTS REPRESENT AN INCONVENIENT FORUM FOR ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

 

18


ABBREVIATIONS

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

 

TEN COM (= tenant in common)

TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties (Cust))

JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common)

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT (= under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act)

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

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN THE GLOBAL NOTE *

The following increases or decreases in the principal amount of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of

Increase or

Decrease

   Amount of
decrease in
Principal Amount
at maturity of
this Global Note
     Amount of
increase in
Principal Amount
at maturity of
this Global Note
     Principal Amount
at maturity of
this Global Note
following such
decrease  (or
increase)
     Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or
Custodian
 
           
           
           

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

19


ARTICLE IV

Remedies

SECTION 4.1. Events of Default.

Event of Default” means, wherever used herein with respect to the Notes, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) an Event of Default pursuant to Section 501 of the Base Indenture; or

(2) the Company’s failure to pay the Repurchase Price when due in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event.

SECTION 4.2. Waiver of Past Defaults.

Section 512 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and, with respect to the Notes, any reference to Section 512 in the Base Indenture shall instead be deemed to refer to this Section 4.2.

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

(1) in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note or the Repurchase Price in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event; or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof or of the Base Indenture which under Article VII hereof or under Article IX of the Base Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note 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 First Supplemental Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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ARTICLE V

Redemption of Securities

SECTION 5.1. Optional Redemption.

Prior to September 6, 2034, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not more than 60 nor less than 15 days prior notice, at a redemption price in cash equal to the greater of:

(1) 100% of the principal amount of any Notes being redeemed, and

(2) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

On or after September 6, 2034, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not more than 60 nor less than 15 days prior notice, at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of any Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

Any notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a securities offering or other corporate transaction.

ARTICLE VI

Particular Covenants

SECTION 6.1. Liens.

The Credit Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for money borrowed that is secured by a pledge, mortgage, lien or other encumbrance (other than Permitted Liens) on any voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their respective Subsidiaries (to the extent of their ownership of such voting stock or profit participating equity interests) or any entity that succeeds (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to all or any substantial part of the business of any of such Subsidiaries, without providing that the Notes (together with, if the Credit Parties shall so determine, any other indebtedness of, or guarantee by, the Credit Parties ranking equally with the Notes and existing as of the closing of the offering of the Notes or thereafter created) will be secured equally and ratably with or prior to all other indebtedness secured by such pledge, mortgage, lien or other encumbrance on the voting stock or profit participating equity interests of any such entities for so long as such other indebtedness is so secured. This Section 6.1 shall not limit the ability of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries to incur indebtedness or other obligations secured by liens on assets other than the voting stock or profit participating equity interests of the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries.

 

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SECTION 6.2. Obligation to Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.

(1) If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes pursuant to Article V, the Company shall make an offer to each Holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part of that Holder’s Notes (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the “Repurchase Price”).

(2) In connection with any Change of Control related to a Change of Control Repurchase Event and any particular reduction in the rating on the Notes, the Company shall request from the Rating Agencies each such Rating Agency’s written confirmation that such reduction in the rating on the Notes was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of any Below Investment Grade Rating Event). The Company shall promptly deliver an officers’ certificate to the Trustee certifying as to whether or not such confirmation has been received or denied.

(3) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company shall give notice to each Holder of Notes, with a written copy to the Trustee. Such notice shall state:

(i) a description of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event;

(ii) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 6.2;

(iii) the Repurchase Price and the date on which the Repurchase Price will be paid, which date shall be a Business Day that is no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the “Repurchase Price Payment Date”); and

(iv) if the notice is given prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, a statement that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.

(4) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes by virtue of such conflict.

 

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(5) On the Repurchase Price Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer on the Repurchase Price Payment Date;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Repurchase Price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased.

The Paying Agent shall promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Repurchase Price for such Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate (if applicable) and deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder of Notes properly tendered a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(6) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if (i) a third party makes such an offer in respect of the Notes in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all the Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer or (ii) the Company has given written notice of a redemption as provided under Section 1104 of the Base Indenture; provided that the Company has not failed to pay the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date.

SECTION 6.3. Financial Reports

Section 704 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the reports, information, and documents delivered under this Section 6.3.

(1) For so long as the Corporation is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall provide (or cause its Affiliates to provide) to the Trustee, unless available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (or successor system), within 15 days after the Corporation files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Corporation may file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Trustee may conclusively presume, and shall incur no liability in such presumption, that the Corporation has not filed any such reports, information, documents and other reports with the Commission that are not available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (or successor system) unless and until it shall have received written notice from the Company to the contrary.

 

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(2) For so long as any of the Notes remain Outstanding, the Company shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to, furnish to the Holders of the Notes and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act and, unless available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (or successor system), such information for the Corporation (as if such rule applied to it); provided, however, that if any time the Corporation no longer directly or indirectly controls the Credit Parties or guarantees the Notes, such information shall be provided for either (i) the Credit Parties on a combined and consolidated basis and taken as a whole or (ii) any Person that directly or indirectly controls the Credit Parties and guarantees the Notes (in each case, as if such rule applied to such Person). The Company shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to, make the above information and reports available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request.

ARTICLE VII

Supplemental Indentures

SECTION 7.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders of Notes.

For the purposes of the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture, no amendment to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in this First Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture or the Notes made solely to conform this First Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture or the Notes to the Description of the Notes contained in the Company’s Prospectus Supplement, to the extent that such provision in the Description of the Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture or the Notes, shall be deemed to adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Notes.

SECTION 7.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders of Notes.

Section 902 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and, with respect to the Notes, any reference to Section 902 in the Base Indenture shall instead be deemed to refer to this Section 7.2.

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

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Note;

 

24


(2) reduce the principal amount of any Note which would be due and payable at or upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 and 503 of the Base Indenture, or reduce the rate of or extend the time of payment of interest on any Note;

(3) reduce the Repurchase Price in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event;

(4) reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of or change the date on which any Note may or must be redeemed;

(5) change the coin or currency in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note is payable;

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

(7) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of this First Supplemental Indenture or the Base Indenture or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Base Indenture or this First Supplemental Indenture or certain defaults thereunder and hereunder and their consequences) provided for in the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture;

(8) modify any of the provisions of this Section 7.2 or Section 512 or Section 1005 of the Base Indenture, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note 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 Section 902 and Section 1005 of the Base Indenture, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(7) of the Base Indenture;

(9) subordinate the Notes or any Guarantee of a Guarantor in respect thereof to any other obligation of the Company or such Guarantor;

(10) modify the terms of any Guarantee in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes; or

(11) modify clauses (1) through (10) above.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 7.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

25


In addition, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, waive compliance with the Credit Parties’ covenants described under Sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 of this First Supplemental Indenture and Article VIII of the Base Indenture.

ARTICLE VIII

Defeasance

SECTION 8.1. Covenant Defeasance.

Section 1303 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and, with respect to the Notes, any reference to Section 1303 in the Base Indenture shall instead be deemed to refer to this Section 8.1.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 8.1 applied to the Notes, or if this Section 8.1 shall otherwise apply to the Notes, (1) the Company and the Guarantors shall be released from their respective obligations and any covenants provided pursuant to Article VI of this First Supplemental Indenture and Section 301(18), Section 801, Section 901(1) or Section 901(12) and Article XIV of the Base Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of such Notes and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 501(4) and Section 501(8) of the Base Indenture shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Notes and the related Guarantees as provided in this Section 8.1 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 of the Base Indenture are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Notes and Guarantees, each of the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of the Base Indenture, this First Supplemental Indenture and such Notes and Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby.

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.1. Execution as Supplemental Indenture.

This First Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture and, as provided in the Base Indenture, this First Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof.

SECTION 9.2. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes.

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

 

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SECTION 9.3. Separability Clause.

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

SECTION 9.4. Successors and Assigns.

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

SECTION 9.5. Execution and Counterparts.

This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 9.6. Electronic Signatures.

Section 303 of the Base Indenture is hereby waived. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this First Supplemental Indenture or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this First Supplemental Indenture, including, without limitation, any Global Security, shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign), so long as any electronic signature is a true representation of such signatory’s actual signature. The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.

SECTION 9.7. Governing Law.

This First Supplemental Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture, and the Company, the Guarantors and Holders of the Notes by purchase of their Note agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to

 

27


the Notes, may be instituted, brought and enforced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, other than with respect to a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, if such court does not have jurisdiction over such action, suit or proceeding, the Supreme Court of New York County (Commercial Division) in the State of New York of the State of New York), which will be the exclusive forum for any such actions, suits or proceedings, except that any action, suit or proceeding asserting a cause of action arising under the Exchange Act may also be brought and enforced in any federal district court of the United States, which will be the exclusive forum for such actions, suits or proceedings. The Company, the Guarantors and the Holders of the Notes by purchase of their Note will be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of such courts and have waived any objection that such courts represent an inconvenient forum for any such suit, action or proceeding.

SECTION 9.8. FATCA

In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations, including FATCA, (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under the Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law (and shall timely pay the amounts so withheld or deducted to the applicable governmental authority) for which The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall not have any liability, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Each of the Company and the Trustee agrees to reasonably cooperate and, at the reasonable request of the other, to provide the other with such information as each may have in its possession that is necessary to enable the determination of whether any payments hereunder are subject to FATCA Withholding Tax.

[Signature page to follow.]

 

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

 

Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C.
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name:   Tabea Hsi
  Title:   Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary
Blackstone Holdings I L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name:   Tabea Hsi
  Title:   Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary
Blackstone Holdings AI L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name:   Tabea Hsi
  Title:   Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

 

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]


Blackstone Holdings II L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name:   Tabea Hsi
  Title:   Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary
Blackstone Holdings III L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P. , its general partner
By:   Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., its general partner
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name:   Tabea Hsi
  Title:   Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

 

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]


Blackstone Holdings IV L.P.
By:   Blackstone Holdings IV GP L.P., its general partner
By:   Blackstone Holdings IV GP Management (Delaware) L.P., its general partner
By:   Blackstone Holdings IV GP Management L.L.C.,

its general partner

By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name:   Tabea Hsi
  Title:   Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary
Blackstone Inc.
By:   /s/ Tabea Hsi
  Name:   Tabea Hsi
  Title:   Senior Managing Director – Assistant Secretary

 

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]


The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,

as Trustee

By:   /s/ Marie A. Hattinger
  Name: Marie A. Hattinger
  Title:  Vice President

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

Exhibit 5.1

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

900 G STREET NW

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

 

 

TELEPHONE: +1-202-636-5500

FACSIMILE: +1-202-636-5502

December 6, 2024

Blackstone Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Blackstone Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Blackstone Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings I”), Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings AI”), Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blackstone Holdings II” and, together with the Corporation, Blackstone Holdings I and Blackstone Holdings AI, the “Delaware Guarantors”), Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings III”), and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Blackstone Holdings IV” and, together with Blackstone Holdings III, the “Québec Guarantors”; and the Québec Guarantors together with the Delaware Guarantors, the “Guarantors”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company and the Guarantors with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance by the Company from time to time for an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price of, among other things, debt securities, which may be either senior or subordinated (collectively, the “Securities”) and the issuance by the Guarantors of Guarantees (as defined below) with respect to the Securities.


We have examined the Registration Statement; the Underwriting Agreement dated December 2, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the underwriters named therein, pursuant to which such underwriters have agreed to purchase $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Notes”) issued by the Company and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors; the Indenture, dated as of December 6, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 6, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”); a duplicate of the global note representing the Notes; and the guarantees whose terms are set forth in the Indenture (the “Guarantees”). In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.

 

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In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed further that (1) the Québec Guarantors are validly existing and in good standing under the law of Québec and have duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and their Guarantees, as applicable, in accordance with their organizational documents and the law of Québec, (2) the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by the Québec Guarantors of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and their Guarantees, as applicable, do not constitute a breach or violation of their organizational documents or violate the law of Québec or any other applicable jurisdiction (except that no such assumption is made with respect to the federal law of the United States, the law of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”) or the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “DRULPA”)) and (3) the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by the Company and each Guarantor of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, as applicable, do not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company or any such Guarantor.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. Assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee and upon payment and delivery in accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

2. Assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms.

 

3


Our opinions set forth above are subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and (iv) the effects of the possible judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental or judicial action affecting creditors’ rights. In addition, we express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of (i) the waiver of rights and defenses contained in Section 1406 of the Base Indenture or (ii) Section 110 and Section 9.3, of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, respectively, relating to the separability of the provisions of such agreements.

In connection with Section 112 and Section 9.7 of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, respectively, whereby the parties submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, we note the limitations of 28 U.S.C. Sections 1331 and 1332 on subject matter jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts. In connection with the provisions of Section 112 and Section 9.7 of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, respectively, which relate to forum selection (including, without limitation, any waiver of any objection to venue or any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), we note that under N.Y.C.P.L.R. Section 510 a New York State court may have discretion to transfer the place of trial, and under 28 U.S.C. Section 1404(a) a United States District Court has discretion to transfer an action from one U.S. federal court to another.

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York, the federal law of the United States, the DGCL, the DLLCA and the DRULPA. We expressly disclaim coverage of any other Delaware law, except judicial decisions interpreting the DGCL, the DLLCA and the DRULPA.

 

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We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

 

5

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO

December 6, 2024

Blackstone Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

 

Re:

Blackstone Inc. (the “Company”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Québec counsel to Blackstone Holdings III L.P. (“Blackstone Holdings III”), Blackstone Holdings IV GP L.P. (“Blackstone Holdings IV GP”), Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub L.P. (“Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub”) and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. (“Blackstone Holdings IV” and, together with Blackstone Holdings III referred to herein as the “Québec Guarantors”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3,Registration Statement”), including the prospectus contained therein, as supplemented by the preliminary prospectus supplement and the prospectus supplement dated December 2, 2024 (as so supplemented, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company, certain other Company subsidiaries and the Québec Guarantors with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) relating to among other things (i) debt securities that are unsubordinated and unsecured obligations (collectively, the Debt Securities of the Company and/or other Company subsidiaries, including Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C. (the “Issuer”), to include the Québec Guarantors and (ii) guarantees of the Company and/or other Company subsidiaries to include the Québec Guarantors. Such Debt Securities are referred to herein as the “Notes”.”.

EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS

In rendering the opinions set forth in this letter, we have examined:

 

(i)

the Registration Statement;

 

(ii)

the Underwriting Agreement dated December 2, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the Issuer, the Guarantors named therein and the underwriters named therein;

 

(iii)

the Base Indenture dated as of December 6, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, to include the Québec Guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 6, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) among the Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, to include the Québec Guarantors, and the Trustee, which provides, inter alia for the guarantees by the Québec Guarantors and the other Guarantors of the Notes (the “Guarantees”);


(iv)

a duplicate of the global note representing the Notes; and

 

(v)

the limited partnership agreements, as amended and restated, of the Québec Guarantors (the “Partnership Agreements”), among the general partners and the limited partners party thereto.

For the purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have considered such questions of law as we have deemed necessary and have made such investigations and examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such certificates of public officials and such other certificates, documents and records as we have considered necessary or relevant and have relied, without independent verification or investigation, on all statements as to matters of fact contained in such documents, including Certificates of Attestation issued by the Registraire des entreprises du Québec for each of the Québec Guarantors , Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub and Blackstone Holdings IV GP dated December 5,, 2024.

This opinion is being provided at the request of the Company.

Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms have the meaning given to them in the Indenture.

ASSUMPTIONS AND RELIANCE

For the purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry, that:

 

(a)

with respect to all documents examined by us, the signatures are genuine, the individuals signing such documents had legal capacity at the time of signing, all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, and certified, conformed or photocopied copies, or copies transmitted electronically or by facsimile, conform to the authentic original documents;

 

(b)

the indices and records in all filing systems maintained in all public offices where we have searched or inquired or have caused searches or inquiries to be conducted are accurate and current, and all certificates and information issued or provided pursuant thereto are and remain accurate and complete;

 

(c)

the facts stated in the Certificates of Attestation are accurate as of the date given and continue to be true as of the date hereof; and

 

(d)

at the time of execution, delivery and performance of the Notes and the Guarantees, the Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligation of each party thereto other than the Québec Guarantors.

LAWS ADDRESSED

The opinions expressed in this letter are limited exclusively to the laws of the Province of Québec and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.

 

Page 2


OPINIONS

We are of the opinion, based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications stated in this letter, that:

Corporate Opinions

 

1.

Each of the Québec Guarantors , Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub and Blackstone Holdings IV GP has been duly formed and organized, is validly existing as a limited partnership under the laws of Québec, is duly registered under An Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises (Québec) (the “Publicity Act”), is not in default of its obligations to file annual declarations pursuant to the Publicity Act and is not in noncompliance with any request made under Section 73 of the Publicity Act.

 

2.

Each of the Québec Guarantors , Blackstone Holdings IV GP Sub and Blackstone Holdings IV GP has the partnership power and authority to own or lease its property and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Québec Guarantors of its obligation under the Indenture and the Guarantees.

 

3.

Assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Québec Guarantors enforceable against the Québec Guarantors in accordance with their terms.

 

4.

Assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the execution and delivery by the Québec Guarantors of the Indenture and the Guarantees, and the performance by the Québec Guarantor of its obligations thereunder, and the consummation of the Notes Offering will not, as applicable, contravene any provision of Québec law or the provisions of the Partnership Agreements and the declaration of registration, as amended, of the Québec Guarantors or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Québec Guarantors.

This opinion is for the benefit of its addressees in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, and we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our name in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving the consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required by the Securities Act or by the rules and regulations promulgated under it. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated herein.

 

Yours very truly,

/s/ GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP

GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP

 

Page 3

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Blackstone Completes Senior Notes Offering

New York, December 6, 2024—Blackstone (NYSE: BX) announced the completion of the previously announced offering of $750 million of 5.000% senior notes due 2034 of Blackstone Reg Finance Co. L.L.C., its indirect subsidiary. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Blackstone Inc. and its indirect subsidiaries, Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P. and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. Blackstone intends to use the proceeds from the notes offering for general corporate purposes.

The notes were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and only by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement. An electronic copy of the prospectus supplement, together with the accompanying prospectus, is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained from: BofA Securities, Inc., telephone: 1-800-294-1322; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., telephone: 1-800-831-9146; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, telephone: 1-866-718-1649; RBC Capital Markets, LLC, telephone: 1-866-375-6829; or SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., telephone: 1-212-224-5135.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase the notes or any other securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Investor and Media Relations Contacts

 

For Investors    For Media
Weston Tucker    Matthew Anderson
Blackstone    Blackstone
Tel: +1 (212) 583-5231    Tel: +1 (212) 390-2472
tucker@blackstone.com    Matthew.Anderson@blackstone.com
v3.24.3
Document and Entity Information
Dec. 06, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Amendment Flag false
Entity Central Index Key 0001393818
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Dec. 06, 2024
Entity Registrant Name Blackstone Inc.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code DE
Entity File Number 001-33551
Entity Tax Identification Number 20-8875684
Entity Address, Address Line One 345 Park Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town New York
Entity Address, State or Province NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 10154
City Area Code (212)
Local Phone Number 583-5000
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Security 12b Title Common Stock
Trading Symbol BX
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company false

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