FORM 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 27, 2012

 

 

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   000-26489   48-1090909

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300, San Diego, California   92108
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(877) 445-4581

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On November 27, 2012, Encore Capital Group, Inc. (the “Company”) sold $100,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”) in a private placement transaction. The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated November 27, 2012 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee. The Indenture includes customary terms and covenants, including certain events of default after which the Notes may be due and payable immediately.

The Notes will mature on November 27, 2017; provided, however, that if there is a “market disruption event” (as defined in the Indenture) during the period beginning on, and including, the 52nd scheduled trading day immediately preceding November 27, 2017 to, but excluding, November 27, 2017, the maturity date will be delayed, effective as of the close of business on November 26, 2017, by one scheduled trading day for each trading day on which there was such a market disruption event. The Notes will pay 3.00% annual cash interest, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 27 and November 27 of each year, beginning on May 27, 2013; provided, however, that the interest payment date that would otherwise occur on November 27, 2017 will be delayed until the maturity date, if later. The Notes will be convertible into cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be converted and the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of the Company’s conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being converted. The Notes will be convertible at an initial conversion rate of 31.6832 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment upon certain events, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $31.56 per share of the Company’s common stock. The Notes are the Company’s general unsecured obligations.

A copy of the Indenture (including the form of the Note) is attached as an exhibit to this report and is incorporated herein by reference (and this description is qualified in its entirety by reference to such document).

In connection with the pricing of the Notes on November 20, 2012, the Company entered into privately negotiated convertible note hedge transactions (together, the “Convertible Note Hedge Transactions”) with each of Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Société Générale (together, the “Option Counterparties”). The Convertible Note Hedge Transactions, collectively, cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the Notes, the number of shares of the Company’s common stock underlying the Notes, as described below. Concurrently with entering into the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions, the Company also entered into separate, privately negotiated warrant transactions (together, the “Warrant Transactions”) with each of the Option Counterparties, whereby the Company sold to the Option Counterparties warrants to purchase, collectively, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, up to the same number of shares of the Company’s common stock as in the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions. Subject to certain conditions, the Company may settle the warrants in cash or on a net-share basis.

The Convertible Note Hedge Transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution and/or offset the potential cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount upon conversion of the Notes in the event that the market price per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured under the terms of the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions, is greater than the strike price of the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions, which initially corresponds to the conversion price of the Notes and is subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the conversion rate of the Notes. If, however, the market price per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured under the terms of the Warrant Transactions, exceeds the strike price of the warrants, there would nevertheless be dilution to the extent that such market price exceeds the strike price of the warrants, unless the Company elects, subject to certain conditions, to settle the Warrant Transactions in cash. The strike price of the Warrant Transactions will initially be $44.1875 per share of the Company’s common stock and is subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the Warrant Transactions.

The Convertible Note Hedge Transactions and the Warrant Transactions are separate transactions, in each case, entered into by the Company with the Option Counterparties, and are not part of the terms of the Notes and will not affect any holder’s rights under the Notes. Holders of the Notes will not have any rights with respect to the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions or the Warrant Transactions.

Copies of the confirmations relating to the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions and Warrant Transactions are attached as exhibits to this report and are incorporated by reference (and this description is qualified in its entirety by reference to such documents).

The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes were approximately $96.5 million, after deducting estimated fees and expenses and the Initial Purchasers’ discounts and commissions. The Company used approximately $10.0 million of the net proceeds to pay the cost of the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions, taking into account the proceeds to the Company of the Warrant Transactions; approximately $25.0 million of the net proceeds to repurchase shares of the


Company’s common stock; approximately $61.5 million of the net proceeds to repay borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility; and the balance of the net proceeds for general corporate purposes.

 

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 under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company offered and sold the Notes to the Initial Purchasers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and for resale by the Initial Purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Company relied on these exemptions from registration based in part on representations made by the Initial Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement.

The Company entered into the Warrant Transactions with the Option Counterparties in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

To the extent that any shares of common stock are issued upon conversion of the Notes or exercise of the warrants by the Options Counterparties pursuant to the Warrant Transactions, they will be issued in transactions anticipated to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 3(a)(9) thereof, because no commission or other remuneration is expected to be paid in connection with conversion of the Notes and any resulting issuance of shares of common stock.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of November 27, 2012, by and between Encore Capital Group, Inc. and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee
10.1    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Call Option Transaction
10.2    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Call Option Transaction
10.3    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between Société Générale and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Call Option Transaction
10.4    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Warrant Transaction
10.5    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Warrant Transaction
10.6    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between Société Générale and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Warrant Transaction


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.

 

      ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Date: December 3, 2012      

/s/ Paul Grinberg

      Paul Grinberg
      Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of November 27, 2012, by and between Encore Capital Group, Inc. and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee
10.1    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Call Option Transaction
10.2    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Call Option Transaction
10.3    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between Société Générale and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Call Option Transaction
10.4    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Warrant Transaction
10.5    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Warrant Transaction
10.6    Letter Agreement, dated November 20, 2012, between Société Générale and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base Warrant Transaction
INDENTURE

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

and

UNION BANK, N.A.,

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of November 27, 2012

3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         PAGE  
ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS   

Section 1.01

 

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.02

 

References to Interest

     12   
ARTICLE II   
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES   

Section 2.01

 

Designation and Amount

     12   

Section 2.02

 

Form of Notes

     12   

Section 2.03

 

Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts

     13   

Section 2.04

 

Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes

     14   

Section 2.05

 

Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary

     15   

Section 2.06

 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes

     21   

Section 2.07

 

Temporary Notes

     22   

Section 2.08

 

Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc.

     22   

Section 2.09

 

CUSIP Numbers

     22   

Section 2.10

 

Additional Notes; Repurchases

     22   
ARTICLE III   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   

Section 3.01

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

     23   
ARTICLE IV   
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY   

Section 4.01

 

Payment of Principal and Interest

     23   

Section 4.02

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     24   

Section 4.03

 

Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office

     24   

Section 4.04

 

Provisions as to Paying Agent

     24   

Section 4.05

 

Existence

     25   

Section 4.06

 

Rule 144A Information Requirement and Annual Reports

     26   

Section 4.07

 

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     27   

Section 4.08

 

Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults

     28   

Section 4.09

 

Notice of Maturity Date

     28   
ARTICLE V   
LISTS OF HOLDERS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE   

Section 5.01

 

Lists of Holders

     28   

 

i


Section 5.02

 

Preservation and Disclosure of Lists

     28   
ARTICLE VI   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

Section 6.01

 

Events of Default

     28   

Section 6.02

 

Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment

     30   

Section 6.03

 

Additional Interest in Lieu of Reporting Default

     31   

Section 6.04

 

Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor

     31   

Section 6.05

 

Application of Monies Collected by Trustee

     33   

Section 6.06

 

Proceedings by Holders

     34   

Section 6.07

 

Proceedings by Trustee

     35   

Section 6.08

 

Remedies Cumulative and Continuing

     35   

Section 6.09

 

Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders

     35   

Section 6.10

 

Notice of Defaults

     36   

Section 6.11

 

Undertaking to Pay Costs

     36   
ARTICLE VII   
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE   

Section 7.01

 

Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee

     36   

Section 7.02

 

Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc.

     38   

Section 7.03

 

No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc.

     40   

Section 7.04

 

Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar May Own Notes

     40   

Section 7.05

 

Monies and Shares of Common Stock to Be Held in Trust

     40   

Section 7.06

 

Compensation and Expenses of Trustee

     40   

Section 7.07

 

Eligibility of Trustee

     41   

Section 7.08

 

Resignation or Removal of Trustee

     41   

Section 7.09

 

Acceptance by Successor Trustee

     42   

Section 7.10

 

Succession by Merger, Etc.

     43   

Section 7.11

 

Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company

     43   
ARTICLE VIII   
CONCERNING THE HOLDERS   

Section 8.01

 

Action by Holders

     44   

Section 8.02

 

Proof of Execution by Holders

     44   

Section 8.03

 

Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners

     44   

Section 8.04

 

Company-Owned Notes Disregarded

     45   

Section 8.05

 

Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound

     45   
ARTICLE IX   
HOLDERS’ MEETINGS   

Section 9.01

 

Purpose of Meetings

     45   

Section 9.02

 

Call of Meetings by Trustee

     46   

 

ii


Section 9.03

 

Call of Meetings by Company or Holders

     46   

Section 9.04

 

Qualifications for Voting

     46   

Section 9.05

 

Regulations

     46   

Section 9.06

 

Voting

     47   

Section 9.07

 

No Delay of Rights by Meeting

     47   
ARTICLE X   
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   

Section 10.01

 

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

     48   

Section 10.02

 

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

     49   

Section 10.03

 

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     50   

Section 10.04

 

Notation on Notes

     50   

Section 10.05

 

Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished Trustee

     50   
ARTICLE XI   
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE   

Section 11.01

 

Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms

     50   

Section 11.02

 

Successor Corporation to Be Substituted

     51   

Section 11.03

 

Evidence to Be Given to Trustee

     51   
ARTICLE XII   
NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR STOCKHOLDERS   

Section 12.01

 

Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations

     52   
ARTICLE XIII   
CONVERSION OF NOTES   

Section 13.01

 

Conversion Privilege

     52   

Section 13.02

 

Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion

     54   

Section 13.03

 

Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes

     57   

Section 13.04

 

Adjustment of Conversion Rate

     59   

Section 13.05

 

Adjustments of Prices

     67   

Section 13.06

 

Shares to Be Fully Paid

     67   

Section 13.07

 

Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Common Stock

     67   

Section 13.08

 

Certain Covenants

     69   

Section 13.09

 

Responsibility of Trustee

     69   

Section 13.10

 

Stockholder Rights Plans

     70   

Section 13.11

 

Limit of Issuance of Common Stock Upon Conversion

     70   

Section 13.12

 

Withholding Taxes for Adjustments in Conversation Rate

     70   

 

iii


ARTICLE XIV   
REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS   

Section 14.01

 

Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change

     70   

Section 14.02

 

Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice

     73   

Section 14.03

 

Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price

     73   

Section 14.04

 

Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes

     74   
ARTICLE XV   
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS   

Section 15.01

 

Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors

     74   

Section 15.02

 

Official Acts by Successor Corporation

     74   

Section 15.03

 

Addresses for Notices, Etc.

     75   

Section 15.04

 

Governing Law

     75   

Section 15.05

 

Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee

     76   

Section 15.06

 

Legal Holidays

     76   

Section 15.07

 

No Security Interest Created

     76   

Section 15.08

 

Benefits of Indenture

     76   

Section 15.09

 

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

     76   

Section 15.10

 

Authenticating Agent

     77   

Section 15.11

 

Execution in Counterparts

     78   

Section 15.12

 

Severability

     78   

Section 15.13

 

Force Majeure

     78   

Section 15.14

 

Calculations

     78   

Section 15.15

 

USA PATRIOT Act

     78   

EXHIBIT

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Note

     A-1   

 

iv


INDENTURE, dated as of November 27, 2012, between ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation, as issuer (the “Company,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01) and UNION BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”), initially in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100,000,000 (as increased by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the exercise of their option to purchase additional Notes as set forth in the Purchase Agreement), and in order to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article include the plural as well as the singular.

Additional Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03, as applicable.

Additional Shares” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.03.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of 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.

Averaging Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.04(e).


Bid Solicitation Agent” means the Company or the Person appointed by the Company to solicit bids for the Trading Price of the Notes in accordance with Section 13.01(b)(i). The Company shall initially act as the Bid Solicitation Agent.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it hereunder.

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

Business Day” means, with respect to any Note, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed.

Capital Stock” means, for any entity, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) stock issued by that entity.

Cash Percentage” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.02(a)(i).

close of business” means 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Equity” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that is generally entitled (a) to vote in the election of directors of such Person or (b) if such Person is not a corporation, to vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, at the date of this Indenture.

Company” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.

Company Order” means a written order of the Company, signed by (a) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Executive or Senior Vice President, or any Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or numbers or word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”) and (b) any such other Officer designated in clause (a) of this definition or the Company’s Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

Conversion Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.02.

Conversion Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.02(c).

Conversion Obligation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.01(a).

 

2


Conversion Price” means as of any date, $1,000 divided by the Conversion Rate as of such date.

Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.01(a).

Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 120 South San Pedro Street, 4th Floor, MC4-102-080, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Attention: Administrator for Encore Capital Group, Inc., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor trustee (or such other address as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

Daily Conversion Value” means, for each of the 50 consecutive Trading Days during the Observation Period, 2% of the product of (a) the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day and (b) the Daily VWAP on such Trading Day.

Daily Net Settlement Amount” means, for each of the 50 consecutive Trading Days during the relevant Observation Period:

(a) if the Company does not elect a Cash Percentage as set forth herein, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the difference between the Daily Conversion Value and $20, divided by (ii) the Daily VWAP for such Trading Day;

(b) if the Company elects a Cash Percentage of 100% as set forth herein, cash in an amount equal to the difference between the Daily Conversion Value and $20; or

(c) if the Company elects a Cash Percentage of less than 100% as set forth herein, (i) cash equal to the product of (x) the difference between the Daily Conversion Value and $20 and (y) the Cash Percentage, plus (ii) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (x)(A) the difference between the Daily Conversion Value and $20, divided by (B) the Daily VWAP for such Trading Day and (y) 100% minus the Cash Percentage.

Daily Settlement Amount” for each of the 50 consecutive Trading Days during the Observation Period shall consist of:

(a) cash in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $20 and (ii) the Daily Conversion Value on such Trading Day; and

(b) if the Daily Conversion Value on such Trading Day exceeds $20, the Daily Net Settlement Amount.

Daily VWAP” means, for each of the 50 consecutive Trading Days during the applicable Observation Period, the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed under

 

3


the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “ECPG <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of the Common Stock on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company). The “Daily VWAP” shall be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.

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

Defaulted Amounts” means any amounts on any Note (including, without limitation, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, principal and interest) that are payable but are not punctually paid or duly provided for.

Depositary” means, with respect to each Global Note, the Person specified in Section 2.05(c) as the Depositary with respect to such Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.

Distributed Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.04(c).

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.03(c); provided that, solely for purposes of Section 13.04, “Effective Date” means the first date on which shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.

Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

Ex-Dividend Date” means the first date on which shares of the Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question, from the Company or, if applicable, from the seller of Common Stock on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market.

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

Form of Assignment and Transfer” means the “Form of Assignment and Transfer” in substantially the form attached as Attachment 3 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” means the “Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” in substantially the form attached as Attachment 2 to the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

4


Form of Notice of Conversion” means the “Form of Notice of Conversion” in substantially the form attached as Attachment 1 to the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Fundamental Change” shall be deemed to have occurred at the time after the Notes are originally issued if any of the following occurs:

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

(b) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a merger of the Company solely for the purpose of changing the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation, that results in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of the Common Stock solely into shares of common stock of the surviving entity; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Company’s Subsidiaries; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (B) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a fundamental change pursuant to this clause (b) (this proviso, the “Majority Ownership Exception”); or

(c) the Common Stock (or other common stock or ordinary shares underlying the Notes) ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors);

provided, however, that a transaction or transactions described in clauses (a) or (b) above shall not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by the common stockholders of the Company, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made in respect of dissenters’ appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock or ordinary shares that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions, and, as a result

 

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therefrom, the Notes become convertible into such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares pursuant to Section 13.07 (this proviso, the “Listed Stock Exception”).

Fundamental Change Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(c).

Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01.

Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(b)(i).

Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01.

Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

Holder,” as applied to any Note, or other similar terms (but excluding the term “beneficial holder,” “beneficial owner” or “owner of a beneficial interest” or terms of similar import), means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the Note Register.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented.

Initial Purchasers” means Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and JMP Securities LLC.

Interest Payment Date” means each May 27 and November 27 of each year, beginning on May 27, 2013.

Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock on any date means the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded. If the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for the Common Stock on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose.

Listed Stock Exception” shall have the meaning specified in the definition of Fundamental Change in this Section 1.01.

 

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Majority Ownership Exception” shall have the meaning specified in the definition of Fundamental Change in this Section 1.01.

Make-Whole Fundamental Change” means any transaction or event that constitutes a Fundamental Change (as defined above and determined after giving effect to any exceptions to or exclusions from such definition, but without regard to the Majority Ownership Exception).

Market Disruption Event” means:

(i) for purposes of determining whether the Notes will be convertible pursuant to Section 13.01(b)(i), the occurrence or existence during the one-half hour period ending on the scheduled close of trading on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed for trading of any material suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or future contracts relating to the Common Stock; and

(ii) for purposes of determining any Observation Period and the Maturity Date only, (x) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (y) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Scheduled Trading Day for the Common Stock for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options, contracts or future contracts relating to the Common Stock.

Maturity Date” means November 27, 2017, 2017; provided, however, that if there is a Market Disruption Event during the period beginning on, and including, the 52nd Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding November 27, 2017 to, but excluding, November 27, 2017, the Maturity Date will be delayed, effective as of the close of business on November 26, 2017, by one Scheduled Trading Day for each day during such period on which there was such a Market Disruption Event.

Measurement Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.01(b)(i).

Merger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.07(a).

Note” or “Notes” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of the recitals of this Indenture.

Note Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).

Note Registrar” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).

Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.02(b).

 

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Observation Period,” with respect to any Note surrendered for conversion, means: (i) if the relevant Conversion Date occurs prior to May 27, 2017, the 50 consecutive Trading-Day period beginning on, and including, the second Trading Day after such Conversion Date; and (ii) if the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after May 27, 2017, the 50 consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the 52nd Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding November 27, 2017; provided that such Observation Period may be extended by no more than one Scheduled Trading Day for each day during such Observation Period on which there was a Market Disruption Event prior to November 27, 2017.

Offering Memorandum” means the preliminary offering memorandum dated November 19, 2012, as supplemented by the pricing term sheet dated November 20, 2012, relating to the offering and sale of the Notes.

Officer” means, with respect to the Company, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, any Executive or Senior Vice President or any Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or numbers or word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”).

Officer’s Certificate,” when used with respect to the Company, means a certificate that is delivered to the Trustee and that is signed by an Officer of the Company. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.05 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. The Officer giving an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 4.08 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

open of business” means 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company that is delivered to the Trustee, which opinion may contain customary exceptions and qualifications as to the matters set forth therein. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.05 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section 15.05.

outstanding,” when used with reference to Notes, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

(a) Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or accepted by the Trustee for cancellation;

(b) Notes, or portions thereof, that have become due and payable and in respect of which monies in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent);

 

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(c) Notes that have been paid pursuant to Section 2.06 or Notes in lieu of which, or in substitution for which, other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.06 unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Notes are held by protected purchasers in due course;

(d) Notes converted pursuant to Article XIII and required to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.08; and

(e) Notes repurchased pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Section 2.10.

Paying Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.02.

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

Physical Notes” means permanent certificated Notes in registered form issued in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and multiples thereof.

Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 in lieu of or in exchange for a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note that it replaces.

Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.07(a).

Regular Record Date,” with respect to any Interest Payment Date, means the May 13 or November 13 (whether or not such day is a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable May 27 or November 27 Interest Payment Date, respectively.

Resale Restriction Termination Date,” (i) with respect to the Notes, shall have the meaning specified in the legend set forth in Section 2.05(c), and (ii) with respect to the Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes, shall have the meaning specified in the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d).

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

Rule 144” means Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

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Rule 144A” means Rule 144A as promulgated under the Securities Act.

Scheduled Trading Day” means a day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading. If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Scheduled Trading Day” means a Business Day.

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

Settlement Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02(a)(i).

Settlement Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02(a)(i).

Shelf Registration Statement” means a registration statement of the Company filed with the Commission on either (i) Form S-3 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the Securities Act) or (ii) if the Company is not permitted to file a registration statement on Form S-3, an evergreen registration statement on Form S-1 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the Securities Act), in each case for an offering to be made on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act covering Notes and any Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof.

Significant Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company that meets the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act; provided that, for purposes of Section 6.01(i) and Section 6.01(j), in the case of a Subsidiary of the Company that meets the criteria of clause (3) of the definition thereof but not clause (1) or (2) thereof, such Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be a Significant Subsidiary unless the Subsidiary’s income from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle exclusive of amounts attributable to any non-controlling interests for the last completed fiscal year prior to the date of such determination exceeds $10,000,000.

Spin-Off” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.04(c).

Stock Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.03(c).

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

Successor Company” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(a).

Trading Day” means a day on which (i) trading in the Common Stock (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on The NASDAQ Global

 

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Select Market or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then listed or, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then listed or admitted for trading, (ii) there is no Market Disruption Event and (iii) a Last Reported Sale Price for the Common Stock (or closing price for such other security) is available on such securities exchange or market; provided that if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day; and provided, further, that for purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion only, “Trading Day” means a day on which (x) there is no Market Disruption Event and (y) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on The NASDAQ Global Select Market or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted for trading, except that if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Trading Price” of the Notes on any date of determination means the average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent for $5,000,000 principal amount of Notes at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers the Company selects for this purpose; provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent but two such bids are obtained, then the average of such two bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent, that one bid shall be used. If the Bid Solicitation Agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for $5,000,000 principal amount of Notes from a nationally recognized securities dealer on any determination date, then the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes on such determination date shall be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the applicable Conversion Rate.

transfer” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as it was in force at the date of execution of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date hereof, the term “Trust Indenture Act” shall mean, to the extent required by 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.

unit of Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.07(a).

Valuation Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.04(c).

 

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Section 1.02 References to Interest. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note in this Indenture shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to any of Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03. Unless the context otherwise requires, any express mention of Additional Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

ARTICLE II

ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES

Section 2.01 Designation and Amount. The Notes shall be designated as the “3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017.” The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is initially limited to $100,000,000 (as increased by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to their option to purchase additional Notes as set forth in the Purchase Agreement), subject to Section 2.10 and except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 10.04, Section 13.02 and Section 14.03.

Section 2.02 Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Notes shall be substantially in the respective forms set forth in Exhibit A, the terms and provisions of which shall constitute, and are hereby expressly incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture. To the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

Any Global Note may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture as may be required by the Custodian or the Depositary, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Notes may be listed or traded or designated for issuance or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

Any of the Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the Officers executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

Each Global Note shall represent such principal amount of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of

 

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outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect repurchases, cancellations, conversions, transfers or exchanges permitted hereby. Any endorsement of the Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in such manner and upon written instructions given by the Holder of such Notes in accordance with this Indenture. Payment of principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Global Note shall be made to the Holder of such Note on the date of payment, unless a record date or other means of determining Holders eligible to receive payment is provided for herein.

Section 2.03 Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts. (a) The Notes shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples thereof. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication and shall bear interest from the date specified on the face of the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto. Accrued interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months and, for partial months, on the basis of actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.

(b) The Person in whose name any Note (or its Predecessor Note) is registered on the Note Register at the close of business on any Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date. Interest shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained by the Company for such purposes in Los Angeles, California, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office, or any other office so designated by the Trustee. The Company shall pay interest (i) on any Physical Notes (A) to Holders holding Physical Notes having an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or less, by check mailed to the Holders of these Notes at their address as it appears in the Note Register and (B) to Holders holding Physical Notes having an aggregate principal amount of more than $5,000,000, either by check mailed to such Holders or, upon application by such Holder to the Note Registrar not later than the relevant Regular Record Date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to that Holder’s account within the United States, which application shall remain in effect until the Holder notifies, in writing, the Note Registrar to the contrary or (ii) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

(c) Any Defaulted Amounts shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant payment date but shall accrue interest per annum at the rate borne by the Notes, subject to the enforceability thereof under applicable law, from, and including, such relevant payment date, and such Defaulted Amounts together with such interest thereon shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Amounts to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of the Defaulted Amounts proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment (which shall be not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Trustee of such notice, unless the Trustee shall consent in writing

 

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to an earlier date), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Amounts or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or 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 Amounts as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment, and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of such special record date and the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder at its address as it appears in the Note Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Amounts shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such special record date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii) of this Section 2.03(c).

(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Amounts in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, if, after written 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.

Section 2.04 Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes. The Notes shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary or any of its Executive or Senior Vice Presidents.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes, without any further action by the Company hereunder.

Only such Notes as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth on the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto, executed manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee as provided by Section 15.10), shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee (or such an authenticating agent) upon any Note executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Note so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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In case any Officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Notes shall cease to be such Officer before the Notes so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Notes nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Notes had not ceased to be such Officer of the Company; and any Note may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Note, shall be the Officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an Officer.

Section 2.05 Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary. (a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the “Note Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. Such register shall be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable period of time. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed the “Note Registrar” for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided. The Company may appoint one or more co-Note Registrars in accordance with Section 4.02.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note to the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.05, 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 a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture.

Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at any such office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive, bearing registration numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

All Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange, repurchase or conversion shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar, any co-Note Registrar or any Paying Agent for any exchange or registration of transfer of Notes, but the Company or the Trustee may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or other similar governmental charge required by law or permitted pursuant to Section 13.02(d) or Section 13.02(e).

None of the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar shall be required to exchange or register a transfer of (i) any Notes surrendered for conversion or, if a portion of any Note is surrendered for conversion, such portion thereof surrendered for

 

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conversion or (ii) any Notes, or a portion of any Note, surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in accordance with Article XIV.

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

(b) So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary, unless otherwise required by law, subject to the fourth paragraph from the end of Section 2.05(c) all Notes shall be represented by one or more Notes in global form (each, a “Global Note”) registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note that does not involve the issuance of a Physical Note shall be effected through the Depositary (but not the Trustee or the Custodian) in accordance with this Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor.

(c) Every Note that bears or is required under this Section 2.05(c) to bear the legend set forth in this Section 2.05(c) (together with any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes and required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d), collectively, the “Restricted Securities”) shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.05(c) (including those contained in the legend set forth below), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be eliminated or otherwise waived by written consent of the Company with notice to the Trustee as provided below. The Holder of each such Restricted Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by all such restrictions on transfer. As used in this Section 2.05(c) and Section 2.05(d), the term “transfer” encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition whatsoever of any Restricted Security.

Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, any certificate evidencing a Note (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof, other than Common Stock, if any, issued upon conversion thereof which shall bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d), if applicable) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such Notes have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, with notice thereof to the Trustee):

THE SALE OF THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE (AS DEFINED BELOW), THIS NOTE AND ANY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS NOTE (AND ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN OR THEREIN) MAY NOT BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, EXCEPT:

 

  (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES;

 

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  (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT;

 

  (C) TO A PERSON THAT YOU REASONABLY BELIEVE TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

 

  (D) UNDER ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (INCLUDING, IF AVAILABLE, THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT).

THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE” MEANS THE DATE: (A) THAT IS AT LEAST ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE OF THE NOTES (INCLUDING ANY ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXERCISE OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS’ OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES); AND (B) ON WHICH THE COMPANY HAS INSTRUCTED THE TRUSTEE THAT THIS LEGEND WILL NO LONGER APPLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

PRIOR TO ANY TRANSFER PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING CLAUSES (C) AND (D), THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS (WITH RESPECT TO CLAUSE (D) ONLY) OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE AND RELY UPON TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

DURING THE PERIOD ENDING ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES, NO “AFFILIATE” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144) WILL BE PERMITTED TO RESELL ANY OF THE NOTES THAT CONSTITUTE “RESTRICTED SECURITIES” UNDER RULE 144 THAT HAVE BEEN REACQUIRED BY ANY OF THEM.

No transfer of any Note prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date will be registered by the Note Registrar unless the applicable box on the Form of Assignment and Transfer has been checked.

Any Note (or security issued in exchange or substitution therefor) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of such Note for exchange to the Note Registrar in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.05, be exchanged for a new Note or Notes, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(c) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian in writing to so surrender any Global Note as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms for exchange, and, upon such instruction, the Custodian shall so

 

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surrender such Global Note for exchange; and any new Global Note so exchanged therefor shall not bear the restrictive legend specified in this Section 2.05(c) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee upon the occurrence of the Resale Restriction Termination Date. Upon such notice, the legend set forth above shall be deemed removed from the Note, with no further action required by the Company, the Trustee, or, if applicable, the Depositary. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Holders after a registration statement, if any, with respect to the Notes or any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes has been declared effective under the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in this Section 2.05(c)), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole or in part except (i) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary and (ii) for transfers of portions of a Global Note in certificated form made upon request of a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary (for itself or on behalf of a beneficial owner) by written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of the Depositary in accordance with customary procedures of the Depositary and in compliance with this Section 2.05(c).

The Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act. The Company initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to each Global Note. Initially, each Global Note shall be issued to the Depositary, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Trustee as custodian for Cede & Co.

If (i) the Depositary notifies the Company at any time that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and a beneficial owner of any Note requests that its beneficial interest therein be issued as a Physical Note or (iv) the Company and a beneficial owner of any Note so agree, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Notes, shall authenticate and deliver (x) in the case of clause (iii) or (iv), a Physical Note to such beneficial owner in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Note corresponding such beneficial owner’s beneficial interest and (y) in the case of clause (i) or (ii), Physical Notes to each beneficial owner of the related Global Notes (or a portion thereof) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes, and upon delivery of the Global Notes to the Trustee such Global Notes shall be canceled.

Physical Notes issued in exchange for all or a part of the Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. Upon execution and authentication, the Trustee shall deliver such Physical Notes to the Persons in whose names such Physical Notes are so registered.

 

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At such time as all interests in a Global Note have been converted, canceled, repurchased or transferred, such Global Note shall be, upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Physical Notes, converted, canceled, repurchased or transferred to a transferee who receives Physical Notes therefor or any Physical Note is exchanged or transferred for part of such Global Note, the principal amount of such Global Note shall, in accordance with the Trustee’s customary procedures, be appropriately reduced or increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on the Schedule of Exchanges of such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction or increase.

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

Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

Neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Notes under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

(d) Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, any stock certificate representing Common Stock issued upon conversion of such Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless the Note or such Common Stock has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or such Common Stock has been issued upon conversion of Notes that have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company with written notice thereof to the Trustee and any transfer agent for the Common Stock):

 

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THE SALE OF THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE (AS DEFINED BELOW), THIS SECURITY (AND ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN) MAY NOT BE OFFERED, RESOLD, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, EXCEPT:

 

  (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES;

 

  (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

 

  (C) UNDER ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (INCLUDING, IF AVAILABLE, THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT).

THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE” MEANS THE DATE: (A) THAT IS AT LEAST ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE OF THE COMPANY’S 3.00% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2017 (INCLUDING THE LAST DATE OF ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXERCISE OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS’ OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES); AND (B) ON WHICH THE COMPANY HAS INSTRUCTED THE TRUSTEE THAT THIS LEGEND WILL NO LONGER APPLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE FOR THE NOTES.

PRIOR TO ANY TRANSFER PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING CLAUSE (C), THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE AND RELY UPON TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

DURING THE PERIOD ENDING ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES, NO “AFFILIATE” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144) WILL BE PERMITTED TO RESELL ANY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUED UPON CONVERSION OF THE NOTES THAT CONSTITUTE “RESTRICTED SECURITIES” UNDER RULE 144 THAT HAVE BEEN REACQUIRED BY ANY OF THEM.

Any such Common Stock as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of the certificates representing such shares of Common Stock for exchange in accordance with the procedures of the transfer agent for the Common Stock, be exchanged for a new certificate or certificates for a like aggregate number of

 

20


shares of Common Stock, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(d).

(e) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its controlled “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144) to, resell any of the Notes or any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of any Note that constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144 that have been reacquired by any of them.

Section 2.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes. In case any Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in its discretion may execute, and upon its written request in a Company Order, the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a new Note, bearing a registration number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

The Trustee or such authenticating agent may authenticate any such substituted Note and deliver the same upon the receipt of such security or indemnity as the Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, such authenticating agent may require. No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar for any exchange or registration of transfer of any substitute Note, but, upon the issuance of any substitute Note, the Company or the Trustee may require the payment by the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Note that has matured or is about to mature or has been surrendered for required repurchase or is about to be converted in accordance with Article XIII shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, in its sole discretion, instead of issuing a substitute Note, pay or authorize the payment of or convert or authorize the conversion of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note), as the case may be, if the applicant for such payment or conversion shall furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless for any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and, if applicable, any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

Every substitute Note issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06 by virtue of the fact that any Note is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. To the extent permitted by law, all Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment

 

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or conversion or repurchase of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment or conversion of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.07 Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of Physical Notes, the Company may execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall, upon written request of the Company in a Company Order, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the Physical Notes but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Note shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or such authenticating agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Physical Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee or such authenticating agent Physical Notes (other than any Global Note) and thereupon any or all temporary Notes (other than any Global Note) may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02 and the Trustee or such authenticating agent shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Notes an equal aggregate principal amount of Physical Notes. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Physical Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.08 Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc. The Company shall cause all Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment, repurchase, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion, if surrendered to the Company or the Company’s agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates, to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. All Notes delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled promptly by it, and no Notes shall be authenticated in exchange thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures and, after such disposition, shall deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company. If the Company shall acquire any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption, repurchase or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.09 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in all notices issued to Holders as a convenience to such Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or on such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

Section 2.10 Additional Notes; Repurchases. The Company may, without the consent of the Holders and notwithstanding Section 2.01, reopen this Indenture and issue additional

 

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Notes hereunder with the same terms and with the same CUSIP number as the Notes initially issued hereunder in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that if any such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes initially issued hereunder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional Notes shall have a separate CUSIP number. Prior to the issuance of any such additional Notes, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a Company Order, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to cover such matters required by Section 15.05, and such Opinion of Counsel to include a customary legal opinion as to the enforceability under New York law of such additional Notes, which opinion may contain customary exceptions and qualifications. In addition, the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to the Company), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by the Company or its Subsidiaries or through a private or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties to private agreements, including by cash-settled swaps or other derivatives. The Company shall cause any Notes so repurchased (other than Notes repurchased pursuant to cash-settled swaps or other derivatives) to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 2.08.

ARTICLE III

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 3.01 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture shall, upon request of the Company contained in an Officer’s Certificate cease to be of further effect, and the Trustee, at the expense and request of of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when (a) (i) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (x) Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06 and (y) Notes 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 4.04(d)) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (ii) the Company has deposited with the Trustee or delivered to Holders, as applicable, after the Notes have become due and payable, whether at the Maturity Date, any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, upon conversion or otherwise, cash or cash and shares of Common Stock, if any (solely to satisfy the Company’s Conversion Obligation, if applicable), sufficient to pay all of the outstanding Notes and all other sums due and payable under this Indenture by the Company; and (b) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.06 shall survive.

ARTICLE IV

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 4.01 Payment of Principal and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be paid the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, each of the Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company 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 from principal, premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) payments hereunder.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain an office in Los Angeles, California, or any other office so designated by the Trustee, where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment or repurchase (“Paying Agent”) or for conversion (“Conversion Agent”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office or the office or agency of the Trustee in Los Angeles, California, or any other office so designated by the Trustee as a place where Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer.

The Company may also from time to time designate as co-Note Registrars one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office in Los Angeles, California, or any other office so designated by the Trustee as a place 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. The terms “Paying Agent” and “Conversion Agent” include any such additional or other offices or agencies, as applicable.

The Company hereby initially designates the Trustee as the Paying Agent, Note Registrar, Custodian and Conversion Agent and the Corporate Trust Office and the office of the Trustee in Los Angeles, California, or any other office so designated by the Trustee, each shall be considered as one such office or agency of the Company for each of the aforesaid purposes.

Section 4.03 Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.08, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

Section 4.04 Provisions as to Paying Agent. (a) If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04:

(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes;

 

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(ii) that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and

(iii) that at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon request of the Trustee, it will forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust.

The Company shall, on or before each due date of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) or accrued and unpaid interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action; provided that if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit must be received by the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes a sum sufficient to pay such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) and accrued and unpaid interest so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall become due and payable.

(c) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay, cause to be paid or deliver to the Trustee all sums or amounts held in trust by the Company or any Paying Agent hereunder as required by this Section 4.04, such sums or amounts to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment or delivery by the Company or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability but only with respect to such sums or amounts.

(d) Any money and shares of Common Stock deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on request of the Company contained in an Officer’s Certificate, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note 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 shares of Common Stock, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 4.05 Existence. Subject to Article XI, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

 

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Section 4.06 Rule 144A Information Requirement and Annual Reports. (a) At any time the Company is not subject to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall, so long as any of the Notes (or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof) shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, upon written request, provide to the Trustee, any Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes or shares of Common Stock, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

(b) The Company shall file with the Trustee within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the Commission (taking into account any applicable grace periods provided thereunder), copies of any documents or reports that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any such information, documents or reports, or portions thereof, subject to confidential treatment and any correspondence with the Commission). Any such document or report that the Company files with the Commission via the Commission’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee for purposes of this Section 4.06(b) at the time such documents are filed via the EDGAR system, it being understood that the Trustee shall not be responsible for determining whether such filings have been made.

(c) Delivery of the reports and documents described in subsection (b) above to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate).

(d) If, at any time during the six-month period beginning on, and including, the date that is six months after the last date of original issuance of the Notes, the Company fails to timely file any document or report that it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable (after giving effect to all applicable grace periods thereunder and other than reports on Form 8-K), or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates (as a result of restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities law or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes), the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes. Such Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes at the rate of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during such period for which the Company’s failure to file has occurred and is continuing. As used in this Section 4.06(d), documents or reports that the Company is required to “file” with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act do not include documents or reports that the Company furnishes to the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(e) If, and for so long as, the restrictive legend on the Notes specified in Section 2.05(c) has not been removed (or deemed removed pursuant to this Indenture), the Notes are assigned a restricted CUSIP number or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities law or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes) as of the 380th day after the last date of original issuance of the Notes, the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per

 

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annum of the principal amount of Notes outstanding until the restrictive legend on the Notes has been removed in accordance with Section 2.05(c), the Notes are assigned an unrestricted CUSIP number and the Notes are freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities law or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes).

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Additional Interest will accrue or be payable under Section 4.06(e) on any date on which (i) (w) the Company has filed a Shelf Registration Statement for the resale of the Notes and any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes, (x) such Shelf Registration Statement is effective and usable by Holders identified therein as selling security Holders for the resale of the Notes and any shares of Common Stock issued upon exchange of the Notes, (y) the Holders may register the resale of their Notes under such Shelf Registration Statement on terms customary for the resale of convertible or exchangeable securities offered in reliance on Rule 144A, and (z) the Notes and/or shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement become freely tradable as a result of such sale; or (ii) after the Company has complied with the requirements set forth in clause (i) above for a period of one year, no further Additional Interest shall be payable under Section 4.06(e).

(g) Additional Interest will be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date following accrual in the same manner as regular interest on the Notes.

(h) The Additional Interest that is payable in accordance with Section 4.06(d) or Section 4.06(e) shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any Additional Interest that may be payable as a result of the Company’s election pursuant to Section 6.03. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Additional Interest accrue under the terms of this Indenture (aggregating any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d) or Section 4.06(e) with any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 6.03) at a rate per year in excess of 0.50%, regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to the requirement to pay such Additional Interest.

(i) If Additional Interest is payable by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06(d) or Section 4.06(e), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to that effect stating (i) the amount of such Additional Interest that is payable and (ii) the date on which such Additional Interest is payable. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no such Additional Interest is payable. If the Company has paid Additional Interest directly to the Persons entitled to it, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the particulars of such payment.

Section 4.07 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the

 

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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 4.08 Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2012) an Officer’s Certificate stating whether or not the signers thereof have knowledge of any failure by the Company to comply with all conditions and covenants then required to be performed under this Indenture and, if so, specifying each such failure and the nature thereof.

In addition, 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 Event of Default or Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default, its status and the action that the Company is taking or proposing to take in respect thereof.

Section 4.09 Notice of Maturity Date. The Company will provide the Trustee and the Holders written notice as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than the close of business on November 26, 2017) if it determines that the Maturity Date will not be November 27, 2017 pursuant to the proviso in the definition thereof.

ARTICLE V

LISTS OF HOLDERS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.01 Lists of Holders. For so long as there are any Physical Notes, the Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee, semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each May 13 and November 13 in each year beginning with May 13, 2013, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request (or such lesser time as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to enable it to timely provide any notice to be provided by it hereunder), a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than 15 days (or such other date as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to so provide any such notices) prior to the time such information is furnished, except that no such list need be furnished so long as the Trustee is acting as Note Registrar.

Section 5.02 Preservation and Disclosure of Lists. The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 or maintained by the Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar, if so acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default. The following events shall be “Events of Default” with respect to the Notes:

 

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(a) default in any payment of interest on any Note when due and payable, and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

(b) default in the payment of principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of any Note when due and payable on the Maturity Date, upon any required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

(c) failure by the Company to comply with its obligation to convert the Notes in accordance with this Indenture upon exercise of a Holder’s conversion right, and such failure continues for a period of five Business Days;

(d) failure by the Company to issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice in accordance with Section 14.01(c) or notice of a specified corporate event in accordance with Section 13.01(b)(ii) or Section 13.01(b)(iii), in each case when due;

(e) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article XI;

(f) failure by the Company for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding has been received by the Company to comply with any of its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture;

(g) default (x) by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company in the payment when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any indebtedness for money borrowed in the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of $10,000,000 or more, or (y) resulting in the acceleration of the Company’s or the Company’s Subsidiaries’ indebtedness for money borrowed having an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 or more so that it becomes due and payable before the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, if such default is not cured or waived, or such acceleration is not rescinded, as the case may be, within 30 days after written notice to the Company from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of Notes then outstanding in accordance with this Indenture;

(h) a final judgment for the payment of $10,000,000 or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) rendered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company, which judgment is not discharged or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;

(i) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced

 

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against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or

(j) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company or such Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or such Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 30 consecutive days.

Section 6.02 Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment. In case one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (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), then, and in each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries), unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and payable, anything contained in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, all Notes shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and payable.

The immediately preceding paragraph, however, is subject to the conditions that if, at any time after the principal of the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay installments of accrued and unpaid interest upon all Notes and the principal of any and all Notes that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, and on such principal at the rate borne by the Notes) and amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06, and if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) any and all existing Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on Notes that shall have become due solely by such acceleration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.09, then and in every such case (except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence) the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all Defaults or Events of Default with respect to the Notes and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences and 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

 

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Indenture; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any Default or Event of Default resulting from (i) the nonpayment of the principal of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, any Notes or (ii) a failure to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes.

Section 6.03 Additional Interest in Lieu of Reporting Default. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary, to the extent the Company elects, the sole remedy for Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 4.06(b) shall after the occurrence of such an Event of Default consist exclusively of the right to receive Additional Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the 365-day period on which such Event of Default is continuing beginning on, and including, the calendar day following the date on which such an Event of Default first occurs to, and including, the 366th day following such Event of Default (or, if earlier, the date on which such Event of Default is cured or waived as provided for in this Indenture). Additional Interest payable pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d) or Section 4.06(e). If the Company so elects, such Additional Interest shall be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as regular interest on the Notes. On the 366th day after such Event of Default (if the Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 4.06(b) is not cured or waived prior to such 366th day), the Notes will be subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02. In the event the Company does not elect to pay Additional Interest following an Event of Default in accordance with this Section 6.03, the Notes shall be subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02.

In order to elect to pay Additional Interest as the sole remedy during the first 365 days after the occurrence of any Event of Default described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company must notify in writing all Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Paying Agent of such election prior to the beginning of such 365-day period. Upon the failure to timely give such notice, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02.

In no event shall Additional Interest accrue under the terms of this Indenture (aggregating any Additional Interest payable pursuant to this Section 6.03 with any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d) or Section 4.06(e)) at a rate per year in excess of 0.50%, regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to the requirement to pay such Additional Interest.

The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine Additional Interest, or with respect to the nature, extent or calculation of the amount of Additional Interest owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of Additional Interest.

Section 6.04 Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor. If an Event of Default described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01 shall have occurred, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on any

 

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overdue principal and interest, if any, at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06. If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.

In the event there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Notes under title 11 of the United States Code, or any other applicable law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company or such other obligor, the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the event of any other judicial proceedings relative to the Company or such other obligor upon the Notes, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes 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 pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.04, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in respect of the Notes, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and to take such other actions as it may deem 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 proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Notes, its or their creditors, or its or their property, and to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, custodian or similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Holders to make such payments to the Trustee, as administrative expenses, 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 it for reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements, including agents and counsel fees, and including any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06, incurred by it up to the date of such distribution. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements out of the estate in any such proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, monies, securities and other property that the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting such Holder 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.

 

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All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or 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, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and in any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Notes, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of the Notes parties to any such proceedings.

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of any waiver pursuant to Section 6.09 or any rescission and annulment pursuant to Section 6.02 or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Holders, and the Trustee shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Holders, and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 6.05 Application of Monies Collected by Trustee. Any monies collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI with respect to the Notes shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such monies, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

First, to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06;

Second, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on, and any cash due upon conversion of, the Notes in default in the order of the date due of the payments of such interest and cash due upon conversion, as the case may be, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon such overdue payments at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

Third, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount (including, if applicable, the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on the overdue principal and, to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and the cash due upon conversion) and interest without preference or priority of principal over interest, or of interest over principal or of any installment of interest over any

 

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other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) and accrued and unpaid interest; and

Fourth, to the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

Section 6.06 Proceedings by Holders. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price) or interest when due, or the right to receive payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, no Holder of any Note shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(a) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof, as herein provided;

(b) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to pursue such remedy hereunder;

(c) such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense to be incurred therein or thereby;

(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of the request and offer of security or indemnity, had not complied with such request; and

(e) no direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding within such 60-day period pursuant to Section 6.09,

it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Note with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee that no one or more 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 Holder, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders (except as otherwise provided herein) (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders). For the protection and enforcement of this Section 6.06, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture and any provision of any Note, the right of any Holder to receive payment or delivery, as the case may be, of (x) the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, (y) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, and (z) the consideration due upon conversion of, such Note, on or after the

 

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respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note or in this Indenture, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery, as the case may be, on or after such respective dates against the Company shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.07 Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as are necessary to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Section 6.08 Remedies Cumulative and Continuing. Except as provided in the last paragraph of Section 2.06, all powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any of the Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or any acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.09 Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders. The Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04 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 Notes; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. The Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that it determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04 may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except (i) a default in the payment of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, or the principal (including any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price) of, the Notes when due that has not been cured pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01, (ii) a failure by the Company to the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes or (iii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article X cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or

 

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Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.09, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.10 Notice of Defaults. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after it receives written notice of the occurrence and continuance of a Default, send to all Holders as the names and addresses of such Holders appear upon the Note Register, notice of all such Defaults, unless such Defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable), or accrued and unpaid interest on, any of the Notes or a Default in the payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.

Section 6.11 Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in its discretion, require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided that the provisions of this Section 6.11 (to the extent permitted by law) shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on any Note (including, but not limited to, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to the Notes being repurchased as provided in this Indenture) on or after the due date expressed or provided for in such Note or to any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Note in accordance with the provisions of Article XIII.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiver of all Events of Default that may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred that has not been cured or waived the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs; provided that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the

 

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costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

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

(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any 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 that by any provisions 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 any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);

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

(c) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action it takes, suffers or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(d) 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 not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined as provided in Section 8.04 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;

(e) whether or not therein 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;

(f) the Trustee shall not be liable in respect of any payment (as to the correctness of amount, entitlement to receive or any other matters relating to payment) or notice effected by the

 

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Company or any Paying Agent or any records maintained by any co-Note Registrar with respect to the Notes;

(g) if any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee had actual knowledge of such event;

(h) in the absence of written investment direction from the Company, all cash received by the Trustee shall be placed in a non-interest bearing trust account, and in no event shall the Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses, fees, taxes or other costs incurred with respect thereto or for losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any such investment prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investments prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investment to provide timely written investment direction, and the Trustee shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any amounts held hereunder in the absence of such written investment direction from the Company; and

(i) in the event that the Trustee is also acting as Custodian, Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or transfer agent hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article VII shall also be afforded to such Custodian, Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or transfer agent.

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

Section 7.02 Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

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

(b) before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel;

(c) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

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

(e) 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 or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(f) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder;

(g) 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 each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

(h) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture (i.e., an incumbency certificate);

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

(j) the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties; and

(k) 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 satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of

 

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Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

Section 7.03 No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes (except in the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 7.04 Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar May Own Notes. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar.

Section 7.05 Monies and Shares of Common Stock to Be Held in Trust. All monies and any shares of Common Stock received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received. Money and any shares of Common Stock held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds or property except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money or shares of any Common Stock received by it hereunder except as may be agreed from time to time in writing by the Company and the Trustee.

Section 7.06 Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in any capacity (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as mutually agreed to in writing between the Trustee and the Company, and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture in any capacity thereunder (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall have been caused by its gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee in any capacity under this Indenture and any other document or transaction entered into in connection herewith and their agents and any authenticating agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder or any other Person), damage, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, its officers, directors, agents or employees, or such agent or authenticating agent, as the case may be, and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or in any other capacity hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06 to compensate or indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be secured by a senior claim to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or

 

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collected by the Trustee, except, subject to the effect of Section 6.05, funds held in trust herewith for the benefit of the Holders of particular Notes. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or indebtedness of the Company. The obligation of the Company under this Section 7.06 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The indemnification provided in this Section 7.06 shall extend to the officers, directors, agents and employees of the Trustee.

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee and its agents and any authenticating agent incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) occurs, 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 bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

Section 7.07 Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 7.08 Resignation or Removal of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Holders, the resigning Trustee may, at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

(i) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.07 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

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(ii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in either case, the Company may by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of removal to the Holders, the Trustee being removed may, at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Notes.

(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, as determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal. If within ten days after notice to the Company of such nomination the Company objects thereto, the Trustee so removed or any Holder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in Section 7.08 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee.

(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.08 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.09.

Section 7.09 Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.08 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a senior claim to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by such trustee as such, except for funds held in trust for the benefit of Holders of particular Notes, to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.

 

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No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 7.09 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.07.

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 7.09, each of the Company and the successor trustee, at the written direction and at the expense of the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the action or inaction of a successor trustee.

Section 7.10 Succession by Merger, Etc. Any corporation or other entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of this Indenture), shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that in the case of any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee such corporation or other entity shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.07.

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or authenticating agent appointed by such predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by such successor trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or to authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

Section 7.11 Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company (other than with regard to any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by the Trustee that affects the rights of the Holders of the Notes under this Indenture) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed 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 three Business Days after the date any officer that the Company has indicated to the Trustee should receive such application actually receives such application, unless any such

 

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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 any omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in accordance with this Indenture in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE HOLDERS

Section 8.01 Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action, the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced by (a) any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders. Whenever the Company or the Trustee solicits the taking of any action by the Holders of the Notes, the Company or the Trustee may, but shall not be required to, fix in advance of such solicitation, a date as the record date for determining Holders entitled to take such action. The record date if one is selected shall be not more than fifteen days prior to the date of commencement of solicitation of such action.

Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Holders. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, Section 7.02 and Section 9.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or its agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register or by a certificate of the Note Registrar. The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.

Section 8.03 Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. The Company, the Trustee, any authenticating agent, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent and any Note Registrar may deem the Person in whose name a Note shall be registered upon the Note Register to be, and may treat it as, the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by any Person other than the Company or any Note Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and (subject to Section 2.03) accrued and unpaid interest on such Note, for conversion of such Note and for all other purposes under this Indenture; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any Conversion Agent nor any Note Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. The sole registered holder of a Global Note shall be the Depositary or its nominee. All such payments or deliveries so made to any Holder for the time being, or upon its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sums or shares of Common Stock so paid or delivered, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for monies payable or shares deliverable upon any such Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes following an Event of Default, any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note may directly enforce against the Company, without the consent, solicitation, proxy, authorization or any other action of the Depositary or any other Person, such

 

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owner’s right to exchange such beneficial interest for a Note in certificated form in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 8.04 Company-Owned Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, consent, waiver or other action under this Indenture, Notes that are owned by the Company, by any Subsidiary thereof or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any Subsidiary thereof shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in conclusively relying on any such direction, consent, waiver or other action only Notes that a Responsible Officer actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 8.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to so act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Subsidiary thereof or a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or a Subsidiary thereof. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision or indecision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. The Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all Notes, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

Section 8.05 Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Note that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Notes the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Note. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Note and of any Notes issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Note or any Note issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof.

ARTICLE IX

HOLDERS’ MEETINGS

Section 9.01 Purpose of Meetings. A meeting of Holders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX for any of the following purposes:

(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee or to give any directions to the Trustee permitted under this Indenture, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event

 

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of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Holders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article VI;

(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VII;

(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.02; or

(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Notes under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

Section 9.02 Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Holders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting and the establishment of any record date pursuant to Section 8.01, shall be mailed to Holders of such Notes at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. Such notice shall also be mailed to the Company. Such notices shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

Any meeting of Holders shall be valid without notice if the Holders of all Notes then outstanding are present in person or by proxy or if notice is waived before or after the meeting by the Holders of all Notes then outstanding, and if the Company and the Trustee are either present by duly authorized representatives or have, before or after the meeting, waived notice.

Section 9.03 Call of Meetings by Company or Holders. In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Holders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Holders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.

Section 9.04 Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

Section 9.05 Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders, in regard to proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in

 

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regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the Holders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes represented at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, at any meeting of Holders each Holder or proxyholder shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held or represented by him or her; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Note challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Notes held by it or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating it as the proxy to vote on behalf of other Holders. Any meeting of Holders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or Section 9.03 may be adjourned from time to time by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented at the meeting, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 9.06 Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders shall be by written ballot on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 9.02. The record shall show the principal amount of the Notes voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

Section 9.07 No Delay of Rights by Meeting. Nothing contained in this Article IX shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Holders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Notes. Nothing contained in this Article

 

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IX shall be deemed or construed to limit any Holder’s actions pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depositary so long as the Notes are issued in global form.

ARTICLE X

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 10.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. The Company, when authorized by the resolutions of the Board of Directors and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(b) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture pursuant to Article XI;

(c) to add guarantees with respect to the Notes;

(d) to secure the Notes;

(e) to add to the covenants for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;

(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

(g) to increase the Conversion Rate as provided in this Indenture;

(h) to irrevocably elect a Cash Percentage;

(i) to conform this Indenture to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect;

(j) to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee pursuant to Section 7.09 or to facilitate the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee; or

(k) to conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes to the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum, to the extent such provision in the “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate.

Upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 10.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 10.02.

Section 10.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article VIII) of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding (determined in accordance with Article VIII and including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Notes), the Company, when authorized by the resolutions of the Board of Directors and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders; provided, however, that, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, no such supplemental indenture shall:

(a) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

(b) reduce the rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest (other than Additional Interest) on any Note;

(c) reduce the principal of or extend the Maturity Date of any Note;

(d) make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any Notes;

(e) reduce the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of any Note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the Holders the Company’s obligation to make such payments, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;

(f) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note;

(g) change the ranking of the Notes;

(h) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Note; or

(i) make any change in this Article X that requires each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions in Section 6.01 or Section 6.09.

Upon the written request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid and subject to Section 10.05, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

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Holders do not need, under this Section 10.02, to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture. It shall be sufficient if such Holders approve the substance thereof. After any such supplemental indenture becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the supplemental indenture.

Section 10.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article X, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 10.04 Notation on Notes. Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article X may, at the Company’s expense, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may, at the Company’s expense, be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee (or an authenticating agent duly appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 15.10) and delivered in exchange for the Notes then outstanding, upon surrender of such Notes then outstanding.

Section 10.05 Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished Trustee. In addition to the documents required by Section 15.05, the Trustee shall receive and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article X, is permitted or authorized by this Indenture, such Opinion of Counsel to include a customary legal opinion as to the enforceability under New York law of such supplemental indenture, which opinion may contain customary exceptions and qualifications.

ARTICLE XI

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

Section 11.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Company shall not consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to another Person, unless:

(a) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”), if not the Company, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor Company (if not the

 

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Company) shall expressly assume all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture; and

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under this Indenture.

For purposes of this Section 11.01, the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company substantially as an entirety to another Person, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to another Person.

Section 11.02 Successor Corporation to Be Substituted. In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease and upon the assumption by the Successor Company of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Notes, the due and punctual delivery or payment, as the case may be, of any consideration due upon conversion of the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company, such Successor Company (if not the Company) shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture, and the Company will be discharged from the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture, except in the case of any such lease. Such Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company any or all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such Successor Company instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Notes that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the Officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Notes that such Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Notes so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Notes theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Notes had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In the event of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or transfer (but not in the case of a lease), upon compliance with this Article XI the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture (or any successor that shall thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article XI) may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter and, except in the case of a lease, such Person shall be released from its liabilities as obligor and maker of the Notes and from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Notes thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

Section 11.03 Evidence to Be Given to Trustee. No consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease shall be effective unless the Trustee shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation,

 

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merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease and any such assumption and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, complies with the provisions of this Article XI.

ARTICLE XII

NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR STOCKHOLDERS

Section 12.01 Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations. None of the Company’s past, present or future directors, officers, employees or stockholders, as such, will have any liability for any of the obligations under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, or in respect or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

ARTICLE XIII

CONVERSION OF NOTES

Section 13.01 Conversion Privilege. (a) Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article XIII, each Holder of a Note shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert all or any portion (if the portion to be converted is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) of such Note (i) subject to satisfaction of the conditions described in Section 13.01(b), at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding May 27, 2017 under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 13.01(b), and (ii) irrespective of the conditions described in Section 13.01(b), on or after May 27, 2017 and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, at an initial conversion rate of 31.6832 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13.04, the “Conversion Rate”) per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (subject to the settlement provisions of Section 13.02, the “Conversion Obligation”).

(b) (i) Prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding May 27, 2017, the Notes may be surrendered for conversion during the five Business-Day period immediately after any ten consecutive Trading-Day period (the “Measurement Period”) in which the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, as determined following a request by a Holder of Notes in accordance with this subsection (b)(i), for each Trading Day of the Measurement Period was less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on each such Trading Day. The Trading Prices shall be determined by the Bid Solicitation Agent pursuant to this subsection (b)(i) and the definition of Trading Price set forth in this Indenture. The Company shall provide written notice to the Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) of the three independent nationally recognized securities dealers selected by the Company pursuant to the definition of Trading Price, along with appropriate contact information for each. The Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes unless the Company has requested such determination, and the Company shall have no obligation to make such request (or, if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, the Company shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price) unless a Holder of at least $5,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes provides the Company with reasonable

 

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evidence that the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes would be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate, at which time the Company shall instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) to determine, or if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, the Company shall determine, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price per Note is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate. If (x) the Company is not acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Company does not instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent to determine the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes when obligated as provided in the preceding sentence, or if the Company instructs the Bid Solicitation Agent to obtain bids and the Bid Solicitation Agent fails to make such determination, or (y) the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent and the Company fails to make such determination when obligated as provided in the preceding sentence, then, in either case, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on each Trading Day of such failure. If the Trading Price condition set forth above has been met, the Company shall so notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing. If, at any time after the Trading Price condition set forth above has been met, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the applicable Conversion Rate, the Company shall so notify the Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing.

(ii) If, prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding May 27, 2017, the Company elects to:

(A) issue to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of its Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance; or

(B) distribute to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock the Company’s assets, debt securities or rights to purchase securities of the Company, which distribution has a per share value, as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors, exceeding 10% of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day preceding the date of announcement for such distribution,

then, in either case, the Company shall notify all Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing at least 55 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution. Once the Company has given such notice, the Notes may be surrendered for conversion at any time until the earlier of (1) the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution and (2) the Company’s announcement that such issuance or distribution will not

 

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take place, even if the Notes are not otherwise convertible at such time. For purposes of this Section 13.01(b)(ii)(A) and Section 13.04(b), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at less than such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.

(iii) If a transaction or event that (x) constitutes a Fundamental Change occurs, (y) constitutes a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs or (z) if the Company is a party to a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange, or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, pursuant to which the Common Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other assets not set forth in (x) and (y) above, in each case prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding May 27, 2017, regardless of whether a Holder has the right to require the Company to repurchase the Notes pursuant to Section 14.01, then the Notes may be surrendered for conversion at any time from or after the effective date of the transaction or event until the earlier of (A) 35 Trading Days after the actual effective date of such transaction or event (or, if later, the date on which the Company provides notice of such transaction or event) or, if such transaction or event also constitutes a Fundamental Change, until the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, and (B) the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date. The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing no later than five Business Days following the date the Company publicly announces such transaction or event.

(iv) Prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding May 27, 2017, the Notes may be surrendered for conversion during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2013 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock for at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on the last Trading Day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than 130% of the Conversion Price on each applicable Trading Day. The Conversion Agent, on behalf of the Company, shall determine at the beginning of each calendar quarter commencing after March 31, 2013 whether the Notes may be surrendered for conversion in accordance with this clause (iv) and shall notify the Company and the Trustee if the Notes become convertible in accordance with this clause.

Section 13.02 Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion.

(a) Except as provided in Section 13.03(b) and Section 13.07(a), upon conversion of any Note, on the third Business Day immediately following the last Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period, the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, to the converting Holder, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, a “Settlement Amount” equal to the sum of the Daily Settlement Amounts for each of the 50 Trading Days

 

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during the applicable Observation Period for such Note, together with cash, if applicable, in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section 13.02.

(i) All conversions occurring on or after May 27, 2017 shall be settled using the same forms and amounts of consideration. Prior to May 27, 2017, the Company shall use the same forms and amounts of consideration for all conversions occurring on the same Conversion Date, but the Company shall not have any obligation to use the same forms and amounts with respect to conversions that occur on different Conversion Dates. If the Company elects to settle all or a portion of its Conversion Obligation in excess of the principal portion of the Notes being converted in cash, the Company shall inform converting Holders through the Trustee of such election (the “Settlement Notice”) no later than the close of business on the Trading Day immediately following the related Conversion Date (or, in the case of any conversions occurring on or after May 27, 2017, no later than the close of business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding May 27, 2017) and the Company shall indicate in such Settlement Notice the percentage of each share issuable upon conversion in excess of the principal portion of the Notes being converted that will be paid in cash (the “Cash Percentage”). If the Company does not so deliver a Settlement Notice prior to the deadline set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall no longer have the right to elect a Cash Percentage and the Company shall settle its Conversion Obligation by paying cash in respect of the principal portion of the converted Notes and delivering shares of Common Stock in respect of the remainder, if any, of its Conversion Obligation in excess of the aggregate principal portion of the Notes being converted as set forth herein.

(ii) The Daily Settlement Amounts (if applicable), the Daily Net Settlement Amounts (if applicable) and the Daily Conversion Values (if applicable) shall be determined by the Company promptly following the last day of the applicable Observation Period. Promptly after such determination of the Daily Settlement Amounts, the Daily Net Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and the amount of cash payable in lieu of any fractional share, the Company shall notify the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing of the Daily Settlement Amounts, the Daily Net Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and the amount of cash payable in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall have no responsibility for any such determination.

(b) Subject to Section 13.02(e), before any Holder of a Note shall be entitled to convert a Note as set forth above, such Holder shall (i) in the case of a Global Note, comply with the procedures of the Depositary in effect at that time and, if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 13.02(h) and, if required, pay all transfer and similar taxes, if any as provided in Sections 13.02(d) or (e), and (ii) in the case of a Physical Note (1) complete, manually sign and deliver an irrevocable notice to the Conversion Agent as set forth in the Form of Notice of Conversion (or a facsimile thereof) (a “Notice of Conversion”) at the office of the Conversion Agent and state in writing therein the principal amount of Notes to be converted and the name or names (with addresses) in which such Holder wishes the certificate or certificates for any shares of Common

 

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Stock to be delivered upon settlement of the Conversion Obligation to be registered, (2) surrender such Notes, duly endorsed to the Company or in blank (and accompanied by appropriate endorsement and transfer documents), at the office of the Conversion Agent, (3) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, (4) if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes and (5) if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 13.02(h). The Trustee (and, if different, the Conversion Agent) shall notify the Company of any conversion pursuant to this Article XIII on the Conversion Date for such conversion. No Notice of Conversion with respect to any Notes may be surrendered by a Holder thereof if such Holder has also delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to the Company in respect of such Notes and not validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 14.02. Nothing herein shall preclude any withholding of tax required by law.

If more than one Note shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the Conversion Obligation with respect to such Notes shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted thereby) so surrendered.

(c) A Note shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the date (the “Conversion Date”) that the Holder has complied with the requirements set forth in subsection (b) above. If any shares of Common Stock are due to converting Holders, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued, and deliver to the Conversion Agent or to such Holder, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, certificates or a book-entry transfer through the Depositary for the full number of shares of Common Stock to which such Holder shall be entitled in satisfaction of the Company’s Conversion Obligation.

(d) In case any Note shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Holder of the Note so surrendered a new Note or Notes in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Note, without payment of any service charge by the converting Holder but with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge required by law or that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such conversion being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such conversion.

(e) If a Holder submits a Note for conversion, the Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issue of any shares of Common Stock upon conversion, unless the tax is due because the Holder requests such shares to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name, in which case the Holder shall pay that tax. The Conversion Agent may refuse to deliver the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock being issued in a name other than the Holder’s name until the Trustee receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax that is due by such Holder in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.

(f) Except as provided in Section 13.04, no adjustment shall be made for dividends on any shares issued upon the conversion of any Note as provided in this Article 13.

 

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(g) Upon the conversion of an interest in a Global Note, the Trustee, or the Custodian at the direction of the Trustee, shall make a notation on such Global Note as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any conversion of Notes effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.

(h) Upon conversion, a Holder shall not receive any separate cash payment for accrued and unpaid interest, if any, except as set forth below. The Company’s settlement of the Conversion Obligation shall be deemed to satisfy in full its obligation to pay the principal amount of the Note and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, and including, the relevant Conversion Date. As a result, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, and including, such Conversion Date shall be deemed to be paid in full rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited. Upon a conversion of Notes, accrued and unpaid interest will be deemed to be paid first out of the cash paid upon such conversion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Notes are converted after the close of business on a Regular Record Date, Holders of such Notes as of the close of business on such Regular Record Date will receive the full amount of interest payable on such Notes on the corresponding Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion. Notes surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the open of business on the immediately following Interest Payment Date must be accompanied by funds equal to the amount of interest payable on the Notes so converted; provided that no such payment shall be required (1) for conversions following the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date; (2) if the Company has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day following the corresponding Interest Payment Date; or (3) to the extent of any Defaulted Amounts, if any Defaulted Amounts exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Note.

(i) The Person in whose name the certificate for any shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion is registered shall be treated as a stockholder of record as of the close of business on the last Trading Day of the related Observation Period, subject to Sections 13.04(c) and 13.04(e). Upon a conversion of Notes, such Person shall no longer be a Holder of such Notes surrendered for conversion.

(j) The Company shall not issue any fractional share of Common Stock upon conversion of the Notes and shall instead pay cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion based on the Daily VWAP on the Last Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period. For each Note surrendered for conversion, the full number of shares that shall be issued upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate Daily Settlement Amounts for the applicable Observation Period, and any fractional shares remaining after such computation shall be paid in cash.

Section 13.03 Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes. (a) If a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs prior to the Maturity Date and a Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall, under the circumstances described below, increase the Conversion Rate for the Notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”), as described below. A conversion of Notes shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such Make-

 

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Whole Fundamental Change if the applicable Conversion Date occurs during the period from, and including, the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change up to, and including, the Business Day immediately prior to the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (or, in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change that would have been a Fundamental Change but for the Majority Ownership Exception, the 35th Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change).

(b) Upon surrender of Notes for conversion in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change pursuant to Section 13.01(b)(iii), the Company shall satisfy the related Conversion Obligation in accordance with Section 13.02 based on the Conversion Rate as increased to reflect the Additional Shares pursuant to the table below; provided, however, that if, at the effective time of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Reference Property following such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is composed entirely of cash, for any conversion of Notes following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Conversion Obligation shall be calculated based solely on the Stock Price for the transaction and shall be deemed to be an amount of cash per $1,000 principal amount of converted Notes equal to the Conversion Rate (including any adjustment for Additional Shares), multiplied by such Stock Price. In such event, the Conversion Obligation will be determined and shall be paid to Holders in cash on the third Business Day following the Conversion Date. The Company shall notify the Holders of Notes of the Effective Date of any Make-Whole Fundamental Change no later than five Business Days after such Effective Date.

(c) The number of Additional Shares, if any, by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased shall be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs or becomes effective (the “Effective Date”) and the price (the “Stock Price”) paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of the Common Stock in the Make-Whole Fundamental Change. If the holders of the Common Stock receive in exchange for their Common Stock only cash in a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Stock Price shall be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the Stock Price shall be the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the five Trading-Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change. The Board of Directors shall make appropriate adjustments to the Stock Price, in its good faith determination, to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date of the event occurs, during such five consecutive Trading-Day period.

(d) The Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table below shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate of the Notes is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted Stock Prices shall equal the Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment giving rise to the Stock Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional Shares set forth in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 13.04.

 

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(e) The following table sets forth the number of Additional Shares to be received per $1,000 principal amount of Notes pursuant to this Section 13.03 for each Stock Price and Effective Date set forth below:

 

     Stock Price  

Effective Date

   $ 25.25      $ 27.50      $ 30.00      $ 35.00      $ 40.00      $ 50.00      $ 60.00      $ 75.00      $ 100.00      $ 150.00  

November 27, 2012

     7.9207         6.6172         5.5250         4.0849         3.2183         2.2676         1.7606         1.3149         0.8987         0.4938   

November 27, 2013

     7.9207         6.3374         5.1576         3.6536         2.7960         1.9203         1.4849         1.1138         0.7691         0.4315   

November 27, 2014

     7.9207         5.9800         4.6905         3.1167         2.2845         1.5187         1.1736         0.8883         0.6219         0.3587   

November 27, 2015

     7.9207         5.5264         4.0847         2.4328         1.6596         1.0626         0.8300         0.6392         0.4564         0.2743   

November 27, 2016

     7.9207         4.9638         3.2517         1.5072         0.8878         0.5665         0.4614         0.3663         0.2718         0.1772   

November 27, 2017

     7.9207         4.6804         1.6501         0.0000         0.0000         0.0000         0.0000         0.0000         0.0000         0.0000   

The exact Stock Prices and Effective Dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

(i) if the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices in the table above or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table above, the number of Additional Shares shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices and the earlier and later Effective Dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year;

(ii) if the Stock Price is greater than $150.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to subsection (d) above), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate; and

(iii) if the Stock Price is less than $25.25 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to subsection (d) above), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion exceed 39.6039 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 13.04.

(f) Nothing in this Section 13.03 shall prevent an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

Section 13.04 Adjustment of Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time by the Company if any of the following events occurs, except that the Company shall not make any adjustments to the Conversion Rate if Holders of the Notes participate (other than in the case of a share split or share combination), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock and solely as a result of holding the Notes, in any of the transactions described in this Section 13.04, without having to convert their Notes, as if they held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holder.

 

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(a) If the Company exclusively issues shares of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on shares of its Common Stock, or if the Company effects a share split or share combination, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

CR’ = CR0   ×  

OS’

 
    OS0  

where,

 

CR0    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;
CR’    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date;
OS0    =   the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date; and
OS’    =   the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.

Any adjustment made under this Section 13.04(a) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the Effective Date for such share split or share combination, as applicable. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 13.04(a) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

(b) If the Company issues to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

CR’ = CR0   ×  

OS0 + X

 
    OS0 + Y  

where,

 

CR0    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance;

 

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CR’    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
OS0    =   the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
X    =   the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and
Y    =   the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants.

Any increase made under this Section 13.04(b) shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance. To the extent that shares of the Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance had not occurred.

For purposes of this Section 13.04(b) and Section 13.01(b)(ii)(A), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at less than such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.

(c) If the Company distributes shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of its indebtedness, other assets or property or rights, options or warrants to acquire its Capital Stock or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, excluding (i) dividends, distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 13.04(a) or Section 13.04(b), (ii) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 13.04(d), (iii) distributions of Reference Property in a transaction described in Section 13.07; and (iv) Spin-Offs as to which the provisions set forth below in this Section 13.04(c) shall apply (any of such shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, other assets or property or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock or other securities of the Company, the “Distributed Property”), then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

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CR’ = CR0   ×  

SP0

  
    SP0 – FMV   

where,

 

CR0    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;
CR’    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
SP0    =   the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; and
FMV    =   the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of the Distributed Property with respect to each outstanding share of the Common Stock on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.

Any increase made under the portion of this Section 13.04(c) above shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock receive the Distributed Property, the amount and kind of Distributed Property such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Ex-Dividend Date for the distribution. If the Board of Directors determines the “FMV” (as defined above) of any distribution for purposes of this Section 13.04(c) by reference to the actual or when-issued trading market for any securities, it shall in doing so consider the prices in such market over the same period used in computing the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.

With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 13.04(c) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company, that are, or, when issued, will be, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange (a “Spin-Off”), the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

CR’ = CR0   ×  

FMV0 + MP0

  
    MP0   

where,

 

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CR0    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Effective Date of the Spin-Off;
CR’    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the Effective Date of the Spin-Off;
FMV0    =   the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Common Stock applicable to one share of the Common Stock (determined by reference to the definition of Last Reported Sale Price as set forth in Section 1.01 as if references therein to Common Stock were to such Capital Stock or similar equity interest) over the first 10 consecutive Trading-Day period after, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “Valuation Period”); and
MP0    =   the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the Valuation Period.

The adjustment to the Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph will be calculated as of the open of business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period, but shall be given effect as of the close of business on the Effective Date of the Spin-Off. If the last Trading Day of an Observation Period occurs during the related Valuation Period, the Company will pay cash and deliver shares of its Common Stock, if any, on the third Business Day immediately following the last day of the Valuation Period, and the Person in whose name the certificate for any shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion is registered shall be treated as a stockholder of record as of the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period. If any distribution of the type described in this Section 13.04(c) is declared but not so made, the conversion rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors or a committee thereof determines not to make such distribution, to the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.

(d) If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

CR’ = CR0   ×  

SP0

 
    SP0 – C  

where,

 

CR0    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
CR’    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
SP0    =   the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; and

 

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C    =    the amount in cash per share the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock.

Any increase pursuant to this Section 13.04(d) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to make or pay such dividend or distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of the Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate on the Ex-Dividend Date for such cash dividend or distribution.

(e) If the Company makes or any of its Subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender or exchange offer for the Common Stock, to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of the Common Stock exceeds the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

CR’ = CR0   ×  

AC + (SP’×OS’)

 
    OS0 × SP’  

where,

 

CR0    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
CR’    =   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
AC    =   the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors) paid or payable for shares of Common Stock purchased in such tender or exchange offer;
OS0    =   the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);
OS’    =   the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the date such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to the purchase of all

 

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     shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and
SP’    =   the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading-Day period (the “Averaging Period”) commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.

The adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 13.04(e) shall be calculated as of the open of business on the Trading Day immediately following the last day of the Averaging Period but will be given effect immediately after the open of business on the Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer. If the last Trading Day of an Observation Period occurs during the related Averaging Period, the Company will pay cash and deliver shares of its Common Stock, if any, on the third Business Day immediately following the last day of the Averaging Period, and the Person in whose name the certificate for any shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion is registered shall be treated as a stockholder of record as of the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Averaging Period.

(f) Except as stated herein, the Company shall not adjust the Conversion Rate for the issuance of shares of its Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of its Common Stock or the right to purchase shares of its Common Stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities (including as consideration for a merger, purchase or similar transaction).

(g) In addition to those adjustments required by clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 13.04, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of The NASDAQ Global Select Market, the Company from time to time may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for a period of at least 20 Business Days if the Board of Directors determines that such increase would be in the Company’s best interest. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of The NASDAQ Global Select Market, the Company may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock in connection with a dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or similar event. Whenever the Conversion Rate is increased pursuant to either of the preceding two sentences, the Company shall mail to the Holder of each Note at its last address appearing on the Note Register a notice of the increase at least 15 days prior to the date the increased Conversion Rate takes effect, and such notice shall state the increased Conversion Rate and the period during which it will be in effect.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XIII, the Conversion Rate shall not be adjusted:

(i) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any plan;

 

65


(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

(iii) upon the repurchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an open-market share repurchase program or other buy-back transaction that is not a tender offer or exchange offer of the nature described under Section 13.04(e);

(iv) for a third-party tender offer (other than a tender offer by any Subsidiary of the Company as described under Section 13.04(e));

(v) upon the issuance of any shares of the Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in clause (ii) of this subsection and outstanding as of the date the Notes were first issued;

(vi) solely for a change in the par value of the Common Stock; or

(vii) for accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

The Company shall not be required to make an adjustment pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this Section 13.04 unless such adjustment would result in a change of at least 1% of the then effective Conversion Rate. However, the Company shall carry forward any adjustment that the Company would otherwise have to make and take that adjustment into account in any subsequent adjustment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all such carried-forward adjustments shall be made with respect to the Notes (i) in connection with any subsequent adjustment to the Conversion Rate of at least 1% of the Conversion Rate (when such carried-forward adjustments are taken into account), (ii) on the occurrence of any Fundamental Change or Make-Whole Fundamental Change and (iii) on each Trading Day of any Observation Period. All calculations and other determinations under this Article XIII shall be made by the Company and shall be made to the nearest one-ten thousandth (1/10,000) of a share.

(i) Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee (and the Conversion Agent if not the Trustee) an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the Conversion Rate after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Rate and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and shall mail such notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate to each Holder at its last address appearing on the Note Register of this Indenture. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment.

(j) For purposes of this Section 13.04, the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company so long as the

 

66


Company does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company, but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock.

(k) For purposes of this Section 13.04, “Effective Date” means the first date on which the shares of the Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.

Section 13.05 Adjustments of Prices. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Company to calculate the Last Reported Sale Prices, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values, the Daily Net Settlement Amounts or the Daily Settlement Amounts over a span of multiple days (including an Observation Period and the period for determining the Stock Price for purposes of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change), the Company shall make appropriate adjustments to each to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date of the event occurs, at any time during the period when such Last Reported Sale Prices, Daily VWAPs, Daily Conversion Values or Daily Settlement Amounts are to be calculated.

Section 13.06 Shares to Be Fully Paid. The Company shall provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares or shares held in treasury, sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for conversion of the Notes from time to time as such Notes are presented for conversion (assuming that at the time of computation of such number of shares, all such Notes would be converted by a single Holder).

Section 13.07 Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Common Stock.

(a) In the case of:

(i) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes in par value or from no par value or resulting from a subdivision or combination),

(ii) any consolidation, merger or combination involving the Company,

(iii) any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety or

(iv) any statutory share exchange,

in each case, as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “Merger Event”), then, at and after the effective time of such Merger Event, the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Notes into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such Merger Event

 

67


would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “Reference Property,” with each “unit of Reference Property” meaning the kind and amount of Reference Property that a holder of one share of Common Stock is entitled to receive) upon such Merger Event and, prior to or at the effective time of such Merger Event, the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture permitted under Section 10.01(f) providing for such change in the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes; provided, however, that at and after the effective time of the Merger Event the Conversion Obligation shall be calculated and settled in accordance with Section 13.02 such that (A) the amount otherwise payable in cash upon conversion of the Notes as set forth under Section 13.02 shall continue to be payable in cash, (B) the Company shall continue to have the right to elect to determine the form of consideration to be paid or delivered, as the case may be, in respect of the remainder, if any, of the Conversion Obligation in excess of the principal amount of the Notes being converted as set forth under Section 13.02, (C) the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, otherwise deliverable upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 13.02 shall instead be deliverable in the amount and type of Reference Property that a holder of that number of shares of Common Stock would have received in such Merger Event and (D) the Daily VWAP shall be calculated based on the value of a unit of Reference Property.

If the Merger Event causes the Common Stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), then (i) the Reference Property into which the Notes will be convertible shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Common Stock that affirmatively make such an election, and (ii) the unit of Reference Property for purposes of the immediately preceding paragraph shall refer to the consideration referred to in clause (i) attributable to one share of Common Stock. If the holders receive only cash in such Merger Event, then for all conversions that occur after the effective date of such Merger Event (x) the consideration due upon conversion of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be solely cash in an amount equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Conversion Date (as may be increased by any Additional Shares pursuant to Section 13.03), multiplied by the price paid per share of Common Stock in such Merger Event and (y) the Company shall satisfy the Conversion Obligation by paying cash to converting Holders on the third Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date. The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.

Such supplemental indenture described in the second immediately preceding paragraph shall provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as is possible to the adjustments provided for in this Article XIII. If, in the case of any Merger Event, the Reference Property includes shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) of a Person other than the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such Merger Event, then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such other Person and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders of the Notes as the Board of Directors shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing, including the provisions providing for the purchase rights set forth in Article XIV.

 

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(b) In the event the Company shall execute a supplemental indenture pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 13.07, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate briefly stating the reasons therefor, the kind or amount of cash, securities or property or asset that will comprise a unit of Reference Property after any such Merger Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all conditions precedent have been complied with, and shall promptly mail notice thereof to all Holders. The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each Holder, at its address appearing on the Note Register provided for in this Indenture, within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.

(c) The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Merger Events.

Section 13.08 Certain Covenants. (a) The Company covenants that any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Notes will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Company and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

(b) The Company further covenants that if at any time the Common Stock shall be listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to list and keep listed, so long as the Common Stock shall be so listed on such exchange or automated quotation system, any Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes.

Section 13.09 Responsibility of Trustee. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Conversion Rate (or any adjustment thereto) or whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment (including any increase) of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and any other Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 13.07 relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any event referred to in such Section 13.07 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, may accept (without any independent investigation) as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in conclusively relying upon, the Officer’s Certificate

 

69


(which the Company shall be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event contemplated by Section 13.01(b) has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent the notices referred to in Section 13.01(b) with respect to the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notices the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely, and the Company agrees to deliver such notices to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent immediately after the occurrence of any such event or at such other times as shall be provided for in Section 13.01(b). The Conversion Agent (if other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) shall have the same protection under this Section 13.09 as the Trustee.

Section 13.10 Stockholder Rights Plans. To the extent that the Company has a rights plan in effect upon conversion of the Notes, each share of Common Stock, if any, issued upon such conversion shall be entitled to receive the appropriate number of rights, if any, and the certificates representing the Common Stock issued upon such conversion shall bear such legends, if any, in each case as may be provided by the terms of any such stockholder rights plan, as the same may be amended from time to time. If at the time of conversion, however, the rights have separated from the shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable stockholder rights plan so that the Holders would not be entitled to receive any rights in respect of Common Stock, if any, issuable upon conversion of the Notes, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company distributed to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock Distributed Property as provided in Section 13.04(c), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

Section 13.11 Limit of Issuance of Common Stock Upon Conversion. The Company will not take any voluntary action that would result in an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 13.04(b), 13.04(c) 13.04(d) or 13.04(e) without complying, if applicable, with the stockholder approval rules of The NASDAQ Global Select Market, or any similar rule of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed at the relevant time. In accordance with such listing standards, this restriction will apply at any time when the Notes are outstanding, regardless of whether the Company then has a class of securities listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market.

Section 13.12 Withholding Taxes for Adjustments in Conversation Rate. If the Company pays withholding taxes on behalf of a Holder or beneficial owner as a result of an adjustment to the Conversion Rate, the Company may, at its option, set off such payments against payments of cash and shares of Common Stock on the Notes.

ARTICLE XIV

REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section 14.01 Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change. (a) If a Fundamental Change occurs at any time, each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes, or any portion thereof that is equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000, on the date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) specified by the Company that is not less than 20 Business Days or

 

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more than 30 Business Days following the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, and including, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”), unless the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date falls after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the Interest Payment Date to which such Regular Record Date relates, in which case the Company shall instead pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to Holders of record as of such Regular Record Date, and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased pursuant to this Article XIV.

(b) Repurchases of Notes under this Section 14.01 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

(i) delivery to the Paying Agent by a Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) substantially in the form set forth in Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, if the Notes are Physical Notes, or in compliance with the Depositary’s procedures for surrendering interests in Global Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in each case on or before the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and

(ii) delivery of the Notes, if the Notes are Physical Notes, to the Paying Agent at any time after delivery of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements for transfer) at the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent, or book-entry transfer of the Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary, in each case such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor.

The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in respect of any Notes to be repurchased shall state:

(i) in the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be delivered for repurchase;

(ii) the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

(iii) that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Indenture;

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depositary procedures.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 14.01 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the

 

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Fundamental Change Repurchase Date by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 14.02.

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

(c) On or before the 20th calendar day after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall provide to all Holders of Notes and the Trustee and the Paying Agent (in the case of a Paying Agent other than the Trustee) a notice (the “Fundamental Change Company Notice”) of the occurrence of the Fundamental Change and of the repurchase right at the option of the Holders arising as a result thereof. In the case of Physical Notes, such notice shall be by first class mail or, in the case of Global Notes, such notice shall be delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary. Each Fundamental Change Company Notice shall specify:

(i) the events causing the Fundamental Change;

(ii) the date of the Fundamental Change;

(iii) the last date on which a Holder may exercise the repurchase right pursuant to this Article XIV;

(iv) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

(v) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(vi) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent, if applicable;

(vii) if applicable, the Conversion Rate and any adjustments to the Conversion Rate;

(viii) if applicable, that the Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(ix) the procedures that Holders must follow to require the Company to repurchase their Notes.

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 14.01.

At the Company’s written request and upon 15 days prior notice, the Trustee shall give such notice in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Fundamental Change Company Notice shall be prepared by the Company.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Notes may be repurchased by the Company on any date at the option of the Holders upon a Fundamental Change if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes). The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Physical Notes held by it during the acceleration of the Notes (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes), or any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Notes in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary shall be deemed to have been cancelled, and, upon such return or cancellation, as the case may be, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

Section 14.02 Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. (a) A Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn (in whole or in part) by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 14.02 at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, specifying:

(i) the principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted,

(ii) if Physical Notes have been issued, the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and

(iii) the principal amount, if any, of such Note that remains subject to the original Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which portion must be in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000;

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the notice must comply with appropriate procedures of the Depositary.

Section 14.03 Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. (a) The Company will deposit with the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company, or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04) on or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date an amount of money sufficient to repurchase all of the Notes to be repurchased at the appropriate Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Subject to receipt of funds and/or Notes by the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), payment for Notes surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date) will be made on the later of (i) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date with respect to such Note (provided the Holder has satisfied the conditions in Section 14.01) and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of such Note to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 14.01 by mailing checks for the amount payable to the Holders of such Notes entitled thereto as they shall appear in the Note Register; provided, however, that payments to the Depositary shall be made by wire transfer of immediately

 

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available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. The Trustee shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Nothing herein shall preclude any withholding tax required by law.

(b) If by 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) holds money sufficient to make payment on all the Notes or portions thereof that are to be repurchased on such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, then (i) such Notes will cease to be outstanding, (ii) interest will cease to accrue on such Notes (whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes has been made or the Notes have been delivered to the Trustee or Paying Agent) and (iii) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes will terminate (other than the right to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price).

(c) Upon surrender of a Note that is to be repurchased in part pursuant to Section 14.01, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder a new Note in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unrepurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

Section 14.04 Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes. In connection with any repurchase offer, the Company will, if required:

(a) comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act;

(b) file a Schedule TO or any successor or similar schedule required under the Exchange Act; and

(c) otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any offer by the Company to repurchase the Notes;

in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this Article XIV to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in this Article XIV.

ARTICLE XV

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 15.01 Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company contained in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

Section 15.02 Official Acts by Successor Corporation. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or Officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation or other entity that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.

 

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Section 15.03 Addresses for Notices, Etc. Any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders on the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) to Encore Capital Group, Inc., 311 Enterprise Drive, Plainsboro, New Jersey, 08536, Attention: General Counsel or sent electronically in PDF format. Any notice, direction, request or demand hereunder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed to the Corporate Trust Office or sent electronically in PDF format.

The Trustee, by notice to the Company, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to it by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register and shall be sufficiently given to it if so mailed within the time prescribed; provided that notices given to Holders holding Notes in book-entry form may be given through the facilities of the Depository.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

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 to Holders by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Section 15.04 Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

The Company irrevocably consents and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Notes and the Trustee, that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Indenture or the Securities may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and, until amounts due and to become due in respect of the Notes have been paid, hereby irrevocably consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in personam, generally and unconditionally with respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself in respect of its properties, assets and revenues.

 

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The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Indenture brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 15.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture other than an Opinion of Counsel with respect to an action to be taken on the date hereof in connection with the initial issuance of the Notes, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such action is permitted by the terms of this Indenture.

Each Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel provided for, by or on behalf of the Company in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with this Indenture (other than the Officer’s Certificates provided for in Section 4.08) shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate is familiar with the requested action and this Indenture; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement contained in such certificate is based; (c) a statement that, in the judgment of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed judgment as to whether or not such action is permitted by this Indenture; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the judgment of such Person, such action is permitted by this Indenture.

Section 15.06 Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Conversion Date or Maturity Date is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.

Section 15.07 No Security Interest Created. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.

Section 15.08 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, any authenticating agent, any Note Registrar and their successors hereunder or the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 15.09 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

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Section 15.10 Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that shall be authorized to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Notes in connection with the original issuance thereof and transfers and exchanges of Notes hereunder, including under Section 2.04, Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 10.04 and Section 14.03 as fully to all intents and purposes as though the authenticating agent had been expressly authorized by this Indenture and those Sections to authenticate and deliver Notes. For all purposes of this Indenture, the authentication and delivery of Notes by the authenticating agent shall be deemed to be authentication and delivery of such Notes “by the Trustee” and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement hereunder or in the Notes for the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. Such authenticating agent shall at all times be a Person eligible to serve as trustee hereunder pursuant to Section 7.07.

Any corporation or other entity into which any authenticating agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any authenticating agent shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of any authenticating agent, shall be the successor of the authenticating agent hereunder, if such successor corporation or other entity is otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or the authenticating agent or such successor corporation or other entity.

Any authenticating agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any authenticating agent by giving written notice of termination to such authenticating agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor authenticating agent (which may be the Trustee), shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all Holders as the names and addresses of such Holders appear on the Note Register.

The Company agrees to pay to the authenticating agent from time to time such compensation for its services as agreed in writing although the Company may terminate the authenticating agent (if other than the Trustee), if it determines such authenticating agent’s fees to be unreasonable.

The provisions of Section 7.02, Section 7.03, Section 7.04, Section 8.03 and this Section 15.10 shall be applicable to any authenticating agent.

If an authenticating agent is appointed pursuant to this Section, the Notes may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

                                                                                                  ,
as Authenticating Agent, certifies that this is one of the Notes described in the within-named Indenture.

 

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By:  

 

Authorized Signatory

Section 15.11 Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 15.12 Severability. In the event any provision of this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then (to the extent permitted by law) the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

Section 15.13 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 15.14 Calculations. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock, the Daily Settlement Amount, the Daily Net Settlement Amount, the Daily Conversion Value, accrued interest payable on the Notes and the Conversion Rate of the Notes. The Company shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations shall be final and binding on Holders. The Company shall provide a schedule of its calculations to each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and Conversion Agent is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder upon the written request of that Holder at the sole cost and expense of the Company.

Section 15.15 USA PATRIOT Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

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

 

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ J. Brandon Black

  Name: J. Brandon Black
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
UNION BANK, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Stephen W. Boughton

  Name: Stephen W. Boughton
  Title: Vice President


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A GLOBAL NOTE]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“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.]

[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A RESTRICTED SECURITY]

[THE SALE OF THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE (AS DEFINED BELOW), THIS NOTE AND ANY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS NOTE (AND ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN OR THEREIN) MAY NOT BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, EXCEPT:

TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES;

PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT;

TO A PERSON THAT YOU REASONABLY BELIEVE TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

UNDER ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (INCLUDING, IF AVAILABLE, THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT).

THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE” MEANS THE DATE: (A) THAT IS AT LEAST ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE OF THE NOTES (INCLUDING ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXERCISE OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS’ OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES); AND (B) ON WHICH THE COMPANY HAS INSTRUCTED THE

 

A-1


TRUSTEE THAT THIS LEGEND WILL NO LONGER APPLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

PRIOR TO ANY TRANSFER PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING CLAUSES (C) AND (D), THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS (WITH RESPECT TO CLAUSE (D) ONLY) OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE AND RELY UPON TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

DURING THE PERIOD ENDING ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES, NO “AFFILIATE” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144) WILL BE PERMITTED TO RESELL ANY OF THE NOTES THAT CONSTITUTE “RESTRICTED SECURITIES” UNDER RULE 144 THAT HAVE BEEN REACQUIRED BY ANY OF THEM.]1

Encore Capital Group, Inc.

3.00% Convertible Senior Note due 2017

 

No.        Initially $        

CUSIP No. 292554 AC62

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC., a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation or other entity under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum [as set forth in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Notes” attached hereto]3[of $         (DOLLARS)]4, which amount, taken together with the principal amounts of all other outstanding Notes, shall not, unless permitted by the Indenture, exceed $100,000,000 in aggregate at any time (or $115,000,000 if the Initial Purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Notes in full as

 

1  This legend (other than the first paragraph hereof) shall be deemed removed from the face of this Security without further action of the Company, the Trustee, or the holders of this Security at such time as the Company instructs the Trustee to remove such legend pursuant to Section 2.05(c) of the Indenture.
2  At such time as the Company notifies the Trustee to remove the legend (other than the first paragraph thereof) pursuant to Section 2.05(c) of the Indenture, the CUSIP number for this Security shall be deemed to be CUSIP No. 292554 AD4.
3  Include for a Global Note.
4  Include for a Physical Note.

 

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set forth in the Purchase Agreement), in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary, on the Maturity Date, and interest thereon as set forth below.

This Note shall accrue interest at the rate of 3.00% per year from November 28, 2012, or from the date after the most recent date for which interest has been paid or provided for to, and including, the next scheduled Interest Payment Date until, and including, the Maturity Date. Accrued interest on this Note shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months and, for partial months, on the basis of actual days elapsed over a 30-day month. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 27 and November 27, commencing on May 27, 2013, to Holders of record at the close of business on the preceding May 13 and November 13 (whether or not such day is a Business Day), respectively. Additional Interest will be payable as set forth in Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03 of the within-mentioned Indenture, and any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note therein shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to any of such Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) or Section 6.03 and any express mention of the payment of Additional Interest in any provision therein shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions thereof where such express mention is not made.

Any Defaulted Amounts shall accrue interest per annum at the rate borne by the Notes, subject to the enforceability thereof under applicable law, from, and including, the calendar day after the relevant payment date to, and including, the date on which such Defaulted Amounts shall have been paid by the Company, at its election, in accordance with Section 2.03(c) of the Indenture.

The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on this Note, if and so long as such Note is a Global Note, in immediately available funds in lawful money of the United States at the time to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered Holder of such Note. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall pay the principal of any Notes (other than Notes that are Global Notes) at the office or agency designated by the Company for that purpose. The Company has initially designated the Trustee as its Paying Agent and Note Registrar in respect of the Notes and its agency in New York, New York as a place where Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer and exchange.

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, including, without limitation, provisions giving the Holder of this Note the right to convert this Note into cash and shares of Common Stock, if any, on the terms and subject to the limitations set forth in the Indenture. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Note, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Note, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York (without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).

 

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In the case of any conflict between this Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control and govern.

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent under the Indenture.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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

 

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

UNION BANK, N.A.,

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes described in the within-named Indenture.

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory
Dated:

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

Encore Capital Group, Inc.

3.00% Convertible Senior Note due 2017

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”), initially limited to the aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (as increased by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the exercise of their option to purchase additional Notes as set forth in the Purchase Agreement), all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of November 27, 2012 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and Union Bank, N.A. (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes. Additional Notes may be issued in an unlimited aggregate

 

A-4


principal amount, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture. Capitalized terms used in this Note and not defined in this Note shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture.

In the event of certain Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) of the Indenture with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries) shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of, and interest on, all Notes may be declared, by either the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and upon said declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company will make all payments and deliveries in respect of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and the principal amount on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the Holder who surrenders a Note to a Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Note. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee in certain circumstances, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, and in certain other circumstances, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute supplemental indentures modifying the terms of the Indenture and the Notes as described therein. It is also provided in the Indenture that, subject to certain exceptions, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, accrued and unpaid interest on, and the consideration due upon conversion of, this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the lawful money herein prescribed.

The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples thereof. At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations, without payment of any service charge but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer or similar tax that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such exchange of Notes being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such exchange.

 

A-5


The Notes are not subject to redemption through the operation of any sinking fund or otherwise.

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Holder has the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof) on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date at a price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder hereof has the right, at its option, during certain periods and upon the occurrence of certain conditions specified in the Indenture, prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, to convert any Notes or portion thereof that is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, into cash and shares of Common Stock, if any, at the Conversion Rate specified in the Indenture, as adjusted from time to time as provided in the Indenture.

Terms used in this Note and defined in the Indenture are used herein as therein defined.

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 = as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT = Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

CUST = Custodian

TEN ENT = as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN = joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

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

 

A-6


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

Encore Capital Group, Inc.

3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017

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

 

Date of exchange

   Amount of decrease
in principal  amount of
this Global Note
   Amount of increase in
principal amount of
this Global Note
   Principal amount of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or increase
   Signature of
authorized signatory
of Trustee or
Custodian
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           

 

A-7


ATTACHMENT 1

[FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION]

To: Encore Capital Group, Inc.

To: Union Bank, N.A., 120 South San Pedro Street, 4th Floor, MC4-102-080, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby exercises the option to convert this Note, or the portion hereof (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, into cash and shares of Common Stock, if any, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, and directs that any cash payable and any shares of Common Stock issuable and deliverable upon such conversion, together with any cash for any fractional share, and any Notes representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered Holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If any shares of Common Stock or any portion of this Note not converted are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes, if any in accordance with Section 13.02(d) and Section 13.02(e) of the Indenture. Any amount required to be paid to the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Note.

 

Dated:  

 

   

 

     

 

      Signature(s)

 

   
Signature Guarantee    
Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if shares of Common Stock are to be issued, or Notes are to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder.    
Fill in for registration of shares if to be issued, and Notes if to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder:    

 

1


 

(Name)

 

(Street Address)

 

(City, State and Zip Code)
Please print name and address

 

Principal amount to be converted (if less than all): $        ,000
NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

 

2


ATTACHMENT 2

[FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE]

To: Encore Capital Group, Inc.

To: Union Bank, N.A., 120 South San Pedro Street, 4th Floor, MC4-102-080, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Encore Capital Group, Inc. (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to pay to the registered holder hereof in accordance with Section 14.01 of the Indenture referred to in this Note (1) the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, and (2) if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date does not fall during the period after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day immediately following the corresponding Interest Payment Date, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, and including, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

In the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be repurchased are as set forth below:

 

Dated:  

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number
Principal amount to be repurchased by the Company (if less than all): $        ,000
NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

1


ATTACHMENT 3

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

Union Bank, N.A.,

as Trustee and Registrar

[address]

For value received                      hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto                      (Please insert social security or Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Note, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints                      attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

In connection with any transfer of the within Note occurring prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, as defined in the Indenture governing such Note, the undersigned confirms that such Note is being transferred:

 

 

To Encore Capital Group, Inc. or a subsidiary thereof; or

 

 

Pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

 

 

Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

 

 

Under any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including, if available, the exemption provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Dated:  

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

Signature Guarantee
Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program pursuant

 

1


to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if Notes are to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder.

NOTICE: The signature on the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

2

LETTER AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

 

   November 20, 2012
To:    Encore Capital Group, Inc.
   3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300
   San Diego, California 92108
   Attn:    Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer
   Telephone:    858-309-6904
   Facsimile:    858-309-6977
From:    Deutsche Bank LOGO
   Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
   Winchester House
   1 Great Winchester St, London EC2N 2DB
   Telephone:    44 20 7545 8000
   c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
   60 Wall Street
   New York, NY 10005
   Telephone:    212-250-2500
  

Re:    BaseConvertible Bond Hedge Transaction

   (Transaction Reference Number: 513651)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (“Dealer”) and Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Counterparty”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below.

DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH IS NOT REGISTERED AS A BROKER DEALER UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. (“DBSI”) HAS ACTED SOLELY AS AGENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION AND HAS NO OBLIGATION, BY WAY OF ISSUANCE, ENDORSEMENT, GUARANTEE OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE PERFORMANCE OF EITHER PARTY UNDER THE TRANSACTION. AS SUCH, ALL DELIVERY OF FUNDS, ASSETS, NOTICES, DEMANDS AND COMMUNICATIONS OF ANY KIND RELATING TO THIS TRANSACTION BETWEEN DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH, AND COUNTERPARTY SHALL BE TRANSMITTED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE SECURITIES INVESTOR PROTECTION CORPORATION (SIPC).

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the definitions and provisions of the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “2006 Definitions”) and the definitions and provisions of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and together with the 2006 Definitions, the “Definitions”), in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). In the event of any inconsistency between the 2006 Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions will govern. Certain defined terms used herein are based on terms that are defined in the Offering Memorandum dated November 20, 2012, (the “Offering Memorandum”)

 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dr. Paul Achleitner.

 

Management Board: Jürgen Fitschen (Co-Chairman),

Anshu Jain (Co-Chairman), Stefan Krause, Stephan Leithner, Stuart Lewis, Rainer Neske and Henry Ritchotte.

   Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: BaFin – Federal Financial Supervising Authority) and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business; a member of the London Stock Exchange. Deutsche Bank AG is a joint stock corporation with limited liability incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany HRB No. 30 000 District Court of Frankfurt am Main; Branch Registration in England and Wales BR000005; Registered address: Winchester House, 1 Great Winchester Street, London EC2N 2DB. Deutsche Bank Group online: http://www.deutsche-bank.com


relating to the 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017 (as originally issued by Counterparty, the “Convertible Securities” and each USD 1,000 principal amount of Convertible Securities, a “Convertible Security”) issued by Counterparty in an aggregate initial principal amount of USD 100,000,000 (as increased by up to an aggregate principal amount of USD 15,000,000 if and to the extent that the Initial Purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Convertible Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein)) pursuant to an Indenture to be dated November 27, 2012 between Counterparty and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Indenture”). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms defined in the Offering Memorandum, the Indenture and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern. The parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is entered into on the date hereof with the understanding that (i) definitions set forth in the Indenture which are also defined herein by reference to the Indenture and (ii) sections of the Indenture that are referred to herein will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum. If any such definitions in the Indenture or any such sections of the Indenture differ from the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum, the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum will govern for purposes of this Confirmation. The parties further acknowledge that the Indenture section numbers used herein are based on the draft of the Indenture last reviewed by Dealer as of the date of this Confirmation, and if any such section numbers are changed in the Indenture as executed, the parties will amend this Confirmation in good faith to preserve the intent of the parties. Subject to the foregoing, references to the Indenture herein are references to the Indenture as in effect on the date of its execution, and if the Indenture is amended following such date, any such amendment will be disregarded for purposes of this Confirmation unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed an agreement in such form (without any Schedule except for (i) the elections set forth in this Confirmation and (ii) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement will apply to Dealer and to Counterparty as if (x) the phrase “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” were deleted from Section 5(a)(vi)(1) of the Agreement and (y) the “Threshold Amount” with respect to Dealer were three percent (3%) of shareholders’ equity of Deutsche Bank AG as of the Trade Date and with respect to Counterparty were USD10,000,000). For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement.

All provisions contained in, or incorporated by reference to, the Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein. In the event of any inconsistency between this Confirmation and either the Definitions or the Agreement, this Confirmation shall govern.

2. The Transaction constitutes a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:

 

  Trade Date:    November 20, 2012
  Effective Date:    The closing date of the initial issuance of the Convertible Securities.
  Option Type:    Call
  Seller:    Dealer
  Buyer:    Counterparty
  Shares:    The common stock of Counterparty, par value USD0.01 per share (Ticker Symbol: “ECPG”).
  Number of Options:    100,000
  Number of Shares:    As of any date, the product of (i) the Number of Options, (ii) the Conversion Rate and (iii) the Applicable Percentage.
  Conversion Rate:    As of any date, the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) as of such date, but without regard to any adjustments to the

 

2


     “Conversion Rate” pursuant to Section 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture.
  Applicable Percentage:    40%
  Premium:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Premium Payment Date:    The Effective Date
  Exchange:    The NASDAQ Global Select Market
  Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Procedures for Exercise:   
  Exercise Dates:    Each Conversion Date.
  Conversion Date:    Each “Conversion Date”, as defined in the Indenture, occurring during the period from and excluding the Trade Date to and including the Expiration Date, for Convertible Securities, each in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount, that are submitted for conversion on such Conversion Date in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (such Convertible Securities, the “Relevant Convertible Securities” for such Conversion Date).
  Required Exercise on Conversion Dates:    On each Conversion Date, a number of Options equal to (i) the number of Relevant Convertible Securities for such Conversion Date in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount minus (ii) the number of Relevant Conversion Options (as defined below), if any, corresponding to such Conversion Date shall be automatically exercised.
  Expiration Date:    The second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture), subject to the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Notice of Exercise” below.
  Automatic Exercise:    As provided above under “Required Exercise on Conversion Dates”.
  Exercise Notice Deadline:    In respect of any exercise of Options hereunder on any Conversion Date, the “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the first “Scheduled Trading Day” of the “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture) relating to the Convertible Securities converted on the Conversion Date occurring on the relevant Exercise Date (or, in the event there is no “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture) relating to such Convertible Securities, the second “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately following such Conversion Date); provided that in the case of any exercise of Options hereunder in connection with the conversion of any Relevant Convertible Securities on any Conversion Date occurring on or after May 27, 2017 (the “Free Convertibility Date”), the Exercise Notice Deadline shall be the “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture).
  Notice of Exercise:    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, Dealer shall have no obligation to make any payment or delivery in respect of any exercise of Options hereunder unless Counterparty notifies Dealer in writing prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Exercise Notice Deadline in respect of such exercise

 

3


     of (i) the number of Convertible Securities being converted on the relevant Conversion Date (including, if applicable, whether all or any portion of such Convertible Securities are Convertible Securities as to which additional Shares would be added to the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) pursuant to Section 13.03 of the Indenture (the “Make-Whole Convertible Securities”)), (ii) the scheduled settlement date under the Indenture for the Convertible Securities converted on the Conversion Date and (iii) the first “Scheduled Trading Day” of the “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture);, if any provided that in the case of any exercise of Options hereunder in connection with the conversion of any Relevant Convertible Securities on any Conversion Date occurring on or after the Free Convertibility Date, the contents of such notice shall be as set forth in clause (i) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if Counterparty fails to give such notice when due in respect of any exercise of Options hereunder, Dealer’s obligation to make any payment or delivery in respect of such exercise shall be permanently extinguished, and late notice shall not cure such failure; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Options relating to Relevant Convertible Securities with a “Conversion Date” (as defined in the Indenture) occurring prior to the Free Convertibility Date, such notice (and the related exercise or termination, as the case may be, of Options hereunder) shall be effective if given after the Exercise Notice Deadline, but prior to 5:00 PM New York City time on the fifth Exchange Business Day following the Exercise Notice Deadline, in which event the Calculation Agent shall have the right to adjust the Delivery Obligation as appropriate to reflect the additional costs (including, but not limited to, hedging mismatches and market losses) and expenses incurred by Dealer in connection with its hedging activities (including the unwinding of any hedge position) as a result of Dealer not having received such notice on or prior to the Exercise Notice Deadline.
  Notice of Convertible Security Cash Percentage:    Unless Counterparty shall have notified Dealer in writing (i) in the case of Relevant Convertible Securities with a Conversion Date occurring prior to the Free Convertibility Date, in the related Notice of Exercise, within the applicable time period therefor set forth under “Notice of Exercise” above, of the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities or (ii) in the case of Relevant Convertible Securities with a Conversion Date occurring during the period beginning on and including the Free Convertibility Date and ending on and including the second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture) (the “Free Convertibility Period”), before 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately preceding the Free Convertibility Date of the irrevocable election by the Counterparty, in accordance with Section 13.02(a)(i) of the Indenture, of the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities, in either case of the immediately preceding clauses (i) or (ii), Counterparty shall be deemed to have notified Dealer of a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) of 0.00% applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities,

 

4


     notwithstanding any different actual election by Counterparty with respect to the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Convertible Securities. Counterparty acknowledges its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined below) and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of any election of a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Convertible Securities.
 

Dealer’s Telephone Number and Telex and/or Facsimile Number and Contact Details for purpose of Giving Notice:

   To be provided by Dealer.

Settlement Terms:

  
  Settlement Date:    In respect of an Exercise Date occurring on a Conversion Date, the settlement date for the cash and/or Shares to be delivered in respect of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on such Conversion Date pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture; provided that the Settlement Date will not be prior to the “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately following the date Counterparty provides the Notice of Delivery Obligation prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time.
  Delivery Obligation:    In lieu of the obligations set forth in Sections 8.1 and 9.1 of the Equity Definitions, and subject to “Notice of Exercise” above, in respect of an Exercise Date occurring on a Conversion Date, Dealer will deliver to Counterparty, on the related Settlement Date, a number of Shares and/or amount of cash in USD equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Percentage and (ii) the aggregate number of Shares, if any, that Counterparty would be obligated to deliver to the holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on such Conversion Date pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture and/or the aggregate amount of cash, if any, in excess of USD1,000 per Convertible Security (in denominations of USD1,000) that Counterparty would be obligated to deliver to holder(s) pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture (except that such aggregate number of Shares shall be determined without taking into consideration any rounding pursuant to Section 13.02(j) of the Indenture and shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number) and cash in lieu of fractional Shares, if any, resulting from such rounding, as if Counterparty had elected to satisfy its conversion obligation in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities with a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) equal to the Convertible Security Cash Percentage, notwithstanding any different actual election by Counterparty with respect to the settlement of such Convertible Securities (the “Convertible Obligation”); provided that such obligation shall be determined excluding any Shares and/or cash that Counterparty is obligated to deliver to holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities as a result of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Delivery Obligation shall not include any interest payment on the Relevant Convertible Securities that the Counterparty is (or would have been) obligated to deliver to holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities for such Conversion Date); provided, further that if Counterparty or its

 

5


   board of directors is permitted or required to exercise discretion under the terms of the Indenture with respect to any determination, calculation or adjustment (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 13.05 of the Indenture or in connection with any proportional adjustments or the determination of the fair value of any securities, property, rights or other assets) (any such determination, calculation or adjustment, a “Counterparty Determination”), Counterparty shall consult with Dealer with respect thereto and, if the Calculation Agent disagrees in good faith with such Counterparty Determination, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Calculation Agent shall make the relevant determination, calculation or adjustment for purposes of this Transaction (and for the avoidance of doubt, such determination, calculation or adjustment shall be made (A) in accordance with the methodology set forth in the Indenture, except as set forth in this paragraph, and (B) using, where relevant, variables determined by the Calculation Agent).
  Applicable Limit:    Notwithstanding the provisions under “Delivery Obligation” above but subject to Section 8(a)(ii) below, in all events the Delivery Obligation for any Option shall be capped so that (i) an amount of cash in USD equal to the sum of (x) the number of Shares comprising such Delivery Obligation multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the Settlement Date for such Option and (y) the amount of cash in USD comprising such Delivery Obligation does not exceed (ii) an amount of cash in USD equal to the Applicable Percentage multiplied by the excess of (x) the aggregate of (A) the amount of cash, if any, payable to the holder of the related Relevant Convertible Security and (B) the number of Shares, if any, deliverable to the holder of the related Relevant Convertible Security multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the Settlement Date for such Option over (y) USD 1,000.
  Applicable Limit Price:    On any day, the opening price as displayed under the heading “Op” on Bloomberg page ECPG <equity> (or any successor thereto).
  Convertible Security Cash Percentage:    For any Relevant Convertible Securities, the “Cash Percentage” of which Counterparty has notified, or is deemed to have notified, Dealer in accordance with “Notice of Convertible Security Cash Percentage” above that Counterparty has elected, or is deemed to have elected, to satisfy its conversion obligation in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities.
  Notice of Delivery Obligation:    No later than the Exchange Business Day immediately following the last day of the relevant “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture), Counterparty shall give Dealer notice of the final number of Shares and/or cash comprising the Convertible Obligation; provided that, with respect to any Exercise Date occurring during the Free Convertibility Period, Counterparty may provide Dealer with a single notice of an aggregate number of Shares and/or cash comprising the Convertible Obligations for all Exercise Dates occurring in such period prior to 12:00 noon New York City time on the second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately following the last day of the relevant “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture) (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the requirement of Counterparty to deliver such notice shall not limit Counterparty’s obligations with respect to any Notice of Exercise or any Notice of Convertible

 

6


     Security Cash Percentage or Dealer’s obligations with respect to any Delivery Obligation, each as set forth above, in any way).
  Other Applicable Provisions:    To the extent Dealer is obligated to deliver Shares hereunder, the provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction.

Share Adjustments:

  
  Method of Adjustment:    Notwithstanding Section 11.2 of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, upon the occurrence of any event or condition set forth in Sections 13.04(a)-(e) or 13.05 of the Indenture that results in an adjustment under the Indenture, the Calculation Agent shall make an analogous adjustment to the terms relevant to the exercise, settlement or payment of the Transaction. Reasonably promptly upon the occurrence of any such event or condition set forth in Sections 13.04(a)-(e) or 13.05 of the Indenture, Counterparty shall notify the Calculation Agent of such event or condition; and once the adjustments to be made to the terms of the Indenture and the Convertible Securities in respect of such event or condition have been determined, Counterparty shall reasonably promptly notify the Calculation Agent in writing of the details of such adjustments.
Extraordinary Events:   
  Merger Events:    Notwithstanding Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, a “Merger Event” means the occurrence of any event or condition set forth in the definition of “Merger Event” under Section 13.07(a) of the Indenture.
  Consequences of Merger Events:    Notwithstanding Sections 12.2 and 12.3 of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, upon the occurrence of a Merger Event that results in an adjustment under the Indenture, the Calculation Agent shall make an analogous adjustment to the terms relevant to the exercise, settlement or payment of the Transaction; provided that such adjustment shall be made without regard to any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture; and provided further that if, with respect to a Merger Event, the consideration for the Shares includes (or, at the option of a holder of Shares, may include) shares of an entity or person not organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination) shall apply.
  Notice of Merger Consideration:    Upon the occurrence of a Merger Event that causes the Shares to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), Counterparty shall reasonably promptly (but, in any event prior to the relevant merger date) notify the Calculation Agent of (i) the weighted average of the types and

 

7


     amounts of consideration received by the holders of Shares entitled to receive cash, securities or other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for such Shares in any Merger Event who affirmatively make such an election and (ii) the details of the adjustment made under the Indenture in respect of such Merger Event.
  Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:    Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.
  Additional Disruption Events:   
 

(a) Change in Law:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the word “Shares” with the phrase “Hedge Positions” in clause (X) thereof, (iii) inserting the parenthetical “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” at the end of clause (A) thereof, (iv) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (v) adding the following proviso to the end of clause (Y) thereof: “provided that such party has used good faith efforts to avoid such increased cost on terms reasonably acceptable to such party, as long as (i) such party would not incur a materially increased cost (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position, or any increase in margin or capital requirements), as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (ii) such party would not violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or policy of such party, as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (iii) such party would not suffer a material penalty, injunction, non-financial burden, reputational harm or other material adverse consequence in doing so, (iv) such party would not incur any material operational or administrative burden in doing so and (v) such party would not, in doing so, be required to take any action that is contrary to the intent of the law or regulation that is subject to the Change in Law”.
 

(b) Failure to Deliver:

   Applicable
 

(c) Insolvency Filing:

   Applicable
 

(d) Hedging Disruption:

   Applicable; provided that:
    

(i)     Section 12.9(a)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting the following two phrases at the end of such Section:

 

8


    

“For the avoidance of doubt, the term “equity price risk” shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, stock price and volatility risk. And, for the further avoidance of doubt, any such transactions or assets referred to in phrases (A) or (B) above must be available on commercially reasonable pricing terms.”; and

    

(ii)    Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting in the third line thereof, after the words “to terminate the Transaction”, the words “or a portion of the Transaction affected by such Hedging Disruption”.

 

(e) Increased Cost of Hedging:

  

Not  Applicable

  Hedging Party:    For all applicable Potential Adjustment Events and Extraordinary Events, Dealer
  Determining Party:    For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer
  Non-Reliance:    Applicable
  Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:    Applicable
  Additional Acknowledgments:    Applicable

3. Calculation Agent: Dealer, whose judgments, determinations and calculations shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a request by Company, the Calculation Agent shall promptly (but in any event within three Scheduled Trading Days) provide to Company by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Company in such request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation (including any assumptions used in making such determination or calculation), it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary models used by it for such determination or calculation.

4. Account Details:

 

Dealer Payment Instructions:

      Bank:    The Bank of New York
      ABA#:    021-000-018
      Acct. No.:    8900327634
      Acct. Name:    Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

Counterparty Payment Instructions:

      To be provided by Counterparty.

5. Offices:

 

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: London

        

 

The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is: Not applicable

6. Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:

 

Address for notices or communications to Counterparty for purposes of this Confirmation:

To:

   Encore Capital Group, Inc.
   3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300
   San Diego, CA 92108

Attn:

   Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer

 

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Telephone:

  858-309-6904

Facsimile:

  858-309-6977

With a copy to:

Attn:

  Greg Call, General Counsel

Telephone:

  858-569-3978

Facsimile:

  858-309-6998
Address for notices or communications to Dealer for purposes of this Confirmation:

Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch

c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Attention:

    Andrew Yaeger

Telephone:

    212-250-2717

Email:

    Andrew.Yaeger@db.com

With a copy to:

(same address as above)

Attn:

    Paul Stowell

Telephone:

    212-250-6270

Email:

    Paul.Stowell@db.com   

Attention:

    Faiz Khan   

Telephone:

    212-250-0668   

Email:

    Faiz.Khan@db.com]   

7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

(a) Each of the representations and warranties of Counterparty set forth in Section 1 of the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 20, 2012, between Counterparty and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Barclays Capital Inc. as representatives of the initial purchasers party thereto (the “Initial Purchasers”), are true and correct and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Counterparty represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

(i) On the Trade Date (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) (A) On the Trade Date, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, are not, and shall not be, subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”) and (B) Counterparty shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in sections 101(b) and 102(b) of Regulation M, until the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Trade Date.

(iii) On the Trade Date, neither Counterparty nor any “affiliated purchaser” (each as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of any cash-settled or other derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or an

 

10


equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, except for the Share repurchase transactions contemplated under “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Memorandum, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet.

(iv) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC Topic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(v) Without limiting the generality of Section 3(a)(iii) of the Agreement, the Transaction will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

(vi) On or prior to the Effective Date, Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer a resolution of Counterparty’s board of directors authorizing the Transaction.

(vii) Counterparty is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

(viii) Counterparty is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(ix) On each of the Trade Date and the Premium Payment Date, Counterparty is not, or will not be, “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) and Counterparty would be able to purchase the Shares hereunder in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

(x) To Counterparty’s knowledge, based on due inquiry, no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares.

(xi) Counterparty understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(b) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

(c) Each of Dealer and Counterparty acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof. Accordingly, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account and without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

(d) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of the Bankruptcy Code. The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge that it is the intent of the parties that (A) this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in

 

11


connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “payment or other transfer of property” within the meaning of Sections 362 and 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2), 555, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(e) Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement; provided that, such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including, without limitation, excepts and qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

8. Other Provisions:

(a) Additional Termination Events.

(i) The occurrence of an “Event of Default” with respect to Counterparty under the terms of the Convertible Securities as set forth in Section 6.01 of the Indenture that results in an acceleration of the Convertible Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction and Counterparty is the sole Affected Party and Dealer shall be the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation, the receipt by Dealer from Counterparty, within the applicable time period set forth under “Notice of Exercise” above, of any Notice of Exercise in respect of the exercise of any Options that, according to such Notice of Exercise, relate to Relevant Convertible Securities that are Make-Whole Convertible Securities shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this paragraph and shall not result in the exercise of any Options. Upon receipt of any such Notice of Exercise, Dealer shall designate an Exchange Business Day following such Additional Termination Event as an Early Termination Date (and Dealer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to designate such Early Termination Date so that the related payment or delivery, as the case may be, hereunder in respect of the Relevant Conversion Options will occur on (or as promptly as reasonable practicable after) the related settlement for the conversion of the Relevant Convertible Securities) with respect to the portion of the Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Relevant Conversion Options”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Relevant Convertible Securities specified in such Notice of Exercise, divided by USD 1,000, and (B) the Number of Options as of the date Dealer designates such Early Termination Date and, as of such date, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Relevant Conversion Options. Any payment hereunder with respect to such termination (the “Conversion Unwind Payment”) shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction (except that, for purposes of this Section 8(a)(ii), the provisions opposite the caption “Applicable Limit” above shall be deemed to be deleted from this Confirmation) and a Number of Options equal to the number of Relevant Conversion Options, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction (and, in determining the amount payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement, the Calculation Agent shall not take into account any adjustments to the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture); provided that, the Conversion Unwind Payment shall not be greater than (x) the Applicable Percentage multiplied by (y) the number of Relevant Conversion Options multiplied by (z) the excess of (I) the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture taking into account any adjustments thereto pursuant to Section 13.03 of the Indenture), multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the settlement date for the cash and/or Shares to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture in respect of the Relevant Convertible Securities relating to such Conversion Unwind Payment, over (II) USD 1,000.

(iii) Within five Scheduled Trading Days promptly following any Repayment Event (as defined below), Counterparty shall notify Dealer of such Repayment Event and the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Securities subject to such Repayment Event (any such notice, a “Repayment Notice”); provided that such Repayment Notice shall contain an acknowledgement by Counterparty of its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and 10(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and shall remake the representations set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A), in each case in respect of such repurchase and delivery of such Repayment Notice. The receipt by Dealer from

 

12


Counterparty of any Repayment Notice shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this paragraph. Upon receipt of any such Repayment Notice, Dealer shall designate an Exchange Business Day following receipt of such Repayment Notice as an Early Termination Date with respect to the portion of the Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Repayment Options”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate principal amount of such Convertible Securities specified in such Repayment Notice, divided by USD 1,000, and (B) the Number of Options as of the date Dealer designates such Early Termination Date and, as of such date, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Repayment Options. Any payment hereunder with respect to such termination (the “Repayment Unwind Payment”) shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction and a Number of Options equal to the number of Repayment Options, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction. “Repayment Event” means that (i) any Convertible Securities are repurchased (whether in connection with or as a result of a fundamental change, howsoever defined, or for any other reason) by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any Convertible Securities are delivered to Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries in exchange for delivery of any property or assets of such party (howsoever described), (iii) any principal of any of the Convertible Securities is repaid prior to the final maturity date of the Convertible Securities (for any reason other than as a result of an acceleration of the Convertible Securities that results in an Additional Termination Event pursuant to the preceding Section 8(a)(i)), or (iv) any Convertible Securities are exchanged by or for the benefit of the holders thereof for any other securities of Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries (or any other property, or any combination thereof) pursuant to any exchange offer or similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, any conversion of Convertible Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall not constitute a Repayment Event.

(b) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If Dealer shall owe Counterparty any amount pursuant to “Consequences of Merger Events” above or Sections 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, including, without limitation, any Conversion Unwind Payment and any Repayment Unwind Payment (a “Payment Obligation”), Dealer shall satisfy any such Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below) unless either (i) Counterparty shall have elected for Dealer to satisfy such Payment Obligation in cash in USD by (x) giving irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the relevant merger date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable and (y) remaking the representation set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation on the date of such notice, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day or (ii) in the event of (x) an Insolvency, a Nationalization or a Merger Event, in each case, in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash or (y) an Event of Default in which Counterparty is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Counterparty is the Affected Party, which Event of Default or Termination Event resulted from an event or events within Counterparty’s control (other than any Additional Termination Event pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) or Section 8(a)(iii)), in either of which cases under the immediately preceding clauses (i) or (ii), the provisions of “Consequences of Merger Events” above, Sections 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply in lieu of the provisions of this Section 8(b) in respect of such Payment Obligation. In the case of any such settlement by the Share Termination Alternative, the following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant merger date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable:

 

Share Termination Alternative:

Applicable and means that Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to “Consequences of Merger Events and Tender Offers” above, Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable, or such later date as the Calculation Agent may reasonably determine (the “Share Termination Payment Date”), in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.

 

Share Termination Delivery Property:

A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by

 

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replacing any fractional portion of the aggregate amount of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.

 

Share Termination Unit Price:

The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit on the date such Share Termination Delivery Units are to be delivered as Share Termination Delivery Property, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Dealer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.

 

Share Termination Delivery Unit:

In the case of a Termination Event, Event of Default, Delisting or Additional Disruption Event, one Share or, in the case of an Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event, one Share or a unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event, as applicable. If such Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.

 

Failure to Deliver:

Applicable

 

Other applicable provisions:

If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the issuer of the Shares or any portion of the Share Termination Delivery Units) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction, except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units.”

(c) Disposition of Hedge Shares. Counterparty hereby agrees that if, in the good faith reasonable judgment of Dealer, based on advice of counsel, any Shares acquired by Dealer for the purpose of hedging its obligations pursuant to the Transaction, other than any such Shares that were, at the time of acquisition by Dealer, “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (any such Shares, the “Hedge Shares”), cannot be sold in the public market by Dealer without registration under the Securities Act, Counterparty shall, at its election: (i) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a registered offering, make available to Dealer an effective registration statement under the Securities Act to cover the resale of such Hedge Shares and (A) enter into an agreement substantially similar to underwriting agreements for registered secondary offerings of a substantially similar size, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, (B) provide accountant’s “comfort” letters in customary form for registered offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size, (C) provide disclosure opinions of nationally recognized outside counsel to Counterparty reasonably acceptable to Dealer, (D) provide other customary opinions, certificates and closing documents customary in form for registered offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size and (E) afford Dealer a reasonable opportunity to conduct a “due diligence” investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size; provided, however, that if Dealer, in its reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with access to due diligence materials, the results of its due diligence investigation, or the procedures and documentation for the registered offering referred to above, then clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this Section 8(c) shall apply at the election of Counterparty; (ii) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a private placement, enter into a private placement agreement substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of a substantially similar size, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, including customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Dealer, due diligence rights (for Dealer or any designated buyer of the Hedge Shares from Dealer), opinions and certificates and such other documentation as is customary for private placements agreements for private placements of equity securities of a substantially similar size, all reasonably acceptable to Dealer (in which case, the Calculation Agent shall make any adjustments to the terms of the Transaction that are necessary, in its reasonable judgment, to compensate Dealer for any discount from the public market price of the Shares incurred on the sale of Hedge Shares in a private placement); or (iii) purchase the Hedge Shares from Dealer at

 

14


the VWAP Price on such Exchange Business Days, and in the amounts, requested by Dealer. “VWAP Price” means, on any Exchange Business Day, the per Share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “ECPG <equity> AQR” (or any successor thereto) in respect of the period from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Exchange Business Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one Share on such Exchange Business Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent using a volume-weighted method).

(d) Repurchase Notices. Counterparty shall, on or prior to any day on which Counterparty effects any repurchase of Shares, give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”) if, following such repurchase, the Notice Percentage as determined on the date of such Repurchase Notice is (i) greater than 9.0% and (ii) greater by 0.5% than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of the first such Repurchase Notice, greater than the Notice Percentage as of the date hereof). The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the Number of Shares and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Counterparty fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(d) then Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Counterparty) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer.

(e) Transfer and Assignment.

(i) Either party may transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction with the prior written consent of the non-transferring party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. For the avoidance of doubt, Dealer may condition its consent on any of the following, without limitation: (i) the receipt by Dealer of opinions and documents reasonably satisfactory to Dealer in connection with such assignment, (ii) such assignment being effected on terms reasonably satisfactory to Dealer with respect to any legal and regulatory requirements relevant to Dealer, (iii) Counterparty continuing to be obligated to provide notices hereunder relating to the Convertible Securities and continuing to be obligated with respect to “Disposition of Hedge Shares” and “Repurchase Notices” above, (iv) Counterparty not being released from its indemnification obligations under Section 8(d) of this Confirmation, (v) such assignment only being to a third party that is a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), (vi) Dealer not being, as a result of such assignment, required to pay the transferee on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than an amount Dealer would have been required to pay to Counterparty in the absence of such assignment, (vii) there not being an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event as a result of such assignment, (viii) without limiting the generality of clause (v), Counterparty causing the transferee to make such Payee Tax Representations and to provide such tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by Dealer to permit Dealer to determine that the results described in clauses (vi) and (vii) will not occur upon or after such assignment and (ix) Counterparty being responsible for all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, incurred by Dealer in connection with such assignment. In addition, Dealer may transfer or assign without any consent of the Counterparty its rights and obligations hereunder and under the Agreement (1) in whole or in part to any affiliate of Dealer of credit quality at least equivalent to that of Dealer as of the Trade Date, (2) in whole or in part to any other affiliate of Dealer with respect to which Counterparty shall have received a full guaranty of such affiliate’s obligations from Dealer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Counterparty or (3) if at the time of such transfer or assignment an Excess Ownership Position exists, in part to any other third party with a rating for its long term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness equal to or better than the lesser of

 

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(I) the credit rating of Dealer at the time of the transfer and (II) A- by Standard and Poor’s Rating Group, Inc. or its successor (“S&P”), or A3 by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or, if either S&P or Moody’s ceases to rate such debt, at least an equivalent or better rating by a substitute rating agency mutually agreed by Counterparty and Dealer, in the case of this clause (3), to the extent that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists after giving effect to such partial transfer or assignment, in each case of the immediately preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3), only if an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event will not occur as a result of such transfer or assignment.

(ii) At any time at which any Excess Ownership Position exists, if Dealer, in its discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party in accordance with the requirements set forth above after using its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing terms and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Trading Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that such Excess Ownership Position no longer exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment or delivery shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and Section 8(b) of this Confirmation as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Counterparty shall be the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (iii) such portion of the Transaction shall be the only Terminated Transaction. “Excess Ownership Position” means any of the following: (i) the Equity Percentage exceeds 9.0%, (ii) Dealer or any “affiliate” or “associate” of Dealer would own in excess of 14.0% of the outstanding Shares for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iii) Dealer, Dealer Group (as defined below) or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations (except for any filings of Form 13F, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act) or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination. The “Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer, for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or of any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part (Dealer and any such affiliates, persons and groups, collectively, “Dealer Group”), beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day (including, solely for such purpose, Shares that would be deemed outstanding pursuant to the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) if such sentence were applicable to the calculation of clause (B) of the definition of Equity Percentage).

(f) Staggered Settlement. If upon advice of counsel with respect to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including any requirements relating to Dealer’s hedging activities hereunder, Dealer reasonably determines that it would not be advisable to deliver, or to acquire Shares to deliver, any or all of the Shares to be delivered by Dealer on the relevant Settlement Date, Dealer may, by notice to Counterparty on or prior to any Settlement Date (a “Nominal Settlement Date”), elect to deliver the Shares on two or more dates (each, a “Staggered Settlement Date”) or at two or more times on the Nominal Settlement Date as follows:

(i) in such notice, Dealer will specify to Counterparty the related Staggered Settlement Dates (each of which will be on or prior to such Nominal Settlement Date, but not prior to the beginning of the related “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture)) and/or delivery times (during any single Staggered Settlement Date) and how it will allocate the Shares it is required to deliver under “Delivery Obligation” (above) among the Staggered Settlement Dates and/or delivery times; and

(ii) the aggregate number of Shares that Dealer will deliver to Counterparty hereunder on all such Staggered Settlement Dates (including on one or more delivery times on any single Staggered Settlement Date) will equal the number of Shares that Dealer would otherwise be required to deliver on such Nominal Settlement Date.

 

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(g) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Exercise Date or Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer, with respect to some or all of the relevant Options (in which event the Calculation Agent shall make appropriate adjustments to the Delivery Obligation), if Dealer determines in its good faith and reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel in the case of the immediately following clause (ii), that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to (i) preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions in the cash market, the stock loan market or any other relevant market or (ii) to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer; provided that, no such Exercise Date, Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer may be postponed or extended more than 50 “Trading Days” (as defined in the Indenture) after the original Exercise Date, Settlement Date or other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer, as the case may be.

(h) Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party.

(i) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(j) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty solely to the extent of any such performance.

(k) No Netting and Set-off. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement (including without limitation Section 6(f) thereof, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction) and this Confirmation or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, neither party shall net or set off its obligations under the Transaction against its rights against the other party under any other transaction or instrument.

(l) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Counterparty’s bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Counterparty’s bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Counterparty of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is not secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Counterparty herein under or pursuant to any other agreement.

(m) Early Unwind. In the event the sale by Counterparty of the “Firm Securities” is not consummated with the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any reason by the close of business in New York on the Premium Payment Date (or such later date as agreed upon by the parties, which in no event shall be later than December 4, 2012) (the Premium Payment Date or such later date being the “Early Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate (the “Early Unwind”), on the Early Unwind Date and the Transaction and all of the respective rights and obligations of Dealer and Counterparty thereunder shall be cancelled and terminated. Following such termination and cancellation, each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of either party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Early Unwind Date; provided that, unless such Early Unwind Date occurred as a result of a breach of the Purchase Agreement by the Initial Purchasers, Counterparty shall purchase from Dealer on the Early Unwind Date all Shares purchased by Dealer or one or more of its affiliates in connection with the Transaction at the then prevailing market price. Dealer and Counterparty represent and acknowledge to the other that, subject to the proviso included in this Section 8(m), upon an Early Unwind, all obligations with respect to the Transaction shall be deemed fully and finally discharged.

(n) Payment by Counterparty. In the event that, following payment of the Premium, (i) an Early Termination Date occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction as a result of a Termination Event or an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement) and, as a result,

 

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Counterparty owes to Dealer an amount calculated under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, or (ii) Counterparty owes to Dealer, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, an amount calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.

(o) Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act. In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, nor any requirement under WSTAA or an amendment made by WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from Change in Law, an Excess Ownership Position or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

(p) Method of Delivery. Whenever delivery of funds or other assets is required hereunder by or to Counterparty, such delivery shall be effected through DBSI. In addition, all notices, demands and communications of any kind relating to the Transaction between Dealer and Counterparty shall be transmitted exclusively through DBSI.

(q) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF COUNTERPARTY AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

(r) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS CONFIRMATION AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

 

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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by sending to us a letter or telex substantially similar to this facsimile, which letter or telex sets forth the material terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates and indicates your agreement to those terms. Dealer will make the time of execution of the Transaction available upon request.

Dealer is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

 

    Yours faithfully,
    DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH
    By:  

/s/ Andrew Yaeger

      Name: Andrew Yaeger
      Title: Managing Director
    By:  

/s/ Natalie Hurton

      Name: Natalie Hurton
      Title: Managing Director
    DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., acting solely as Agent in connection with the Transaction
    By:  

/s/ Andrew Yaeger

      Name: Andrew Yaeger
      Title: Managing Director
    By:  

/s/ Natalie Hurton

      Name: Natalie Hurton
      Title: Managing Director

Confirmed and Acknowledged as of the date first above written:

 

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

By:  

/s/ J. Brandon Black

  Name: J. Brandon Black
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dr. Paul Achleitner.

 

Management Board: Jürgen Fitschen (Co-Chairman), Anshu Jain (Co-Chairman), Stefan Krause, Stephan Leithner, Stuart Lewis, Rainer Neske and Henry Ritchotte.

   Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: BaFin – Federal Financial Supervising Authority) and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business; a member of the London Stock Exchange. Deutsche Bank AG is a joint stock corporation with limited liability incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany HRB No. 30 000 District Court of Frankfurt am Main; Branch Registration in England and Wales BR000005; Registered address: Winchester House, 1 Great Winchester Street, London EC2N 2DB. Deutsche Bank Group online: http://www.deutsche-bank.com


Annex A

 

Premium:    USD 7,756,000 (Premium per Option USD 6.12)
LETTER AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.2

 

   November 20, 2012
To:    Encore Capital Group, Inc.
   3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300
   San Diego, California 92108
   Attn:    Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer
   Telephone:    858-309-6904
   Facsimile:    858-309-6977
From:    RBC Capital Markets, LLC
   as agent for Royal Bank of Canada
   3 World Financial Center – 8th Floor
   200 Vesey Street
   New York, NY 10281-8089
   Telephone:    212-858-7000
   Facsimile:    212-428-3053
Re:    Base Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction
   (Transaction Reference Number:             )

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between Royal Bank of Canada (“Dealer”), through its agent RBC Capital Markets, LLC (the “Agent”) and Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Counterparty”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below.

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the definitions and provisions of the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “2006 Definitions”) and the definitions and provisions of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and together with the 2006 Definitions, the “Definitions”), in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). In the event of any inconsistency between the 2006 Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions will govern. Certain defined terms used herein are based on terms that are defined in the Offering Memorandum dated November 20, 2012, (the “Offering Memorandum”) relating to the 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017 (as originally issued by Counterparty, the “Convertible Securities” and each USD 1,000 principal amount of Convertible Securities, a “Convertible Security”) issued by Counterparty in an aggregate initial principal amount of USD 100,000,000 (as increased by up to an aggregate principal amount of USD 15,000,000 if and to the extent that the Initial Purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Convertible Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein)) pursuant to an Indenture to be dated November 27, 2012 between Counterparty and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Indenture”). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms defined in the Offering Memorandum, the Indenture and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern. The parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is entered into on the date hereof with the understanding that (i) definitions set forth in the Indenture which are also defined herein by reference to the Indenture and (ii) sections of the Indenture that are referred to herein will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum. If any such definitions in the Indenture or any such sections of the Indenture differ from the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum, the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum will govern for purposes of this Confirmation. The parties further acknowledge that the Indenture section numbers used herein are based on the draft of the Indenture last reviewed by Dealer as of the date of this Confirmation, and if any such section numbers are changed in the Indenture as executed, the parties will amend this Confirmation in good faith to preserve the intent of the parties. Subject to the foregoing, references to the Indenture herein are references to the Indenture as in effect on the date of its execution, and if the Indenture is amended following such date, any such amendment will be disregarded for purposes of this Confirmation unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed an


agreement in such form (without any Schedule except for (i) the elections set forth in this Confirmation and (ii) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement will apply to Dealer and to Counterparty as if (x) the phrase “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” were deleted from Section 5(a)(vi)(1) of the Agreement and (y) the “Threshold Amount” with respect to Dealer were three percent (3%) of shareholders’ equity of Royal Bank of Canada as of the Trade Date and with respect to Counterparty were USD10,000,000). For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement.

All provisions contained in, or incorporated by reference to, the Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein. In the event of any inconsistency between this Confirmation and either the Definitions or the Agreement, this Confirmation shall govern.

2. The Transaction constitutes a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:

 

  Trade Date:    November 20, 2012
  Effective Date:    The closing date of the initial issuance of the Convertible Securities.
  Option Type:    Call
  Seller:    Dealer
  Buyer:    Counterparty
  Shares:    The common stock of Counterparty, par value USD0.01 per share (Ticker Symbol: “ECPG”).
  Number of Options:    100,000
  Number of Shares:    As of any date, the product of (i) the Number of Options, (ii) the Conversion Rate and (iii) the Applicable Percentage.
  Conversion Rate:    As of any date, the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) as of such date, but without regard to any adjustments to the “Conversion Rate” pursuant to Section 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture.
  Applicable Percentage:    40%
  Premium:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Premium Payment Date:    The Effective Date
  Exchange:    The NASDAQ Global Select Market
  Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Procedures for Exercise:   
  Exercise Dates:    Each Conversion Date.
  Conversion Date:    Each “Conversion Date”, as defined in the Indenture, occurring during the period from and excluding the Trade Date to and including the Expiration Date, for Convertible Securities, each in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount, that are submitted for conversion on such Conversion Date in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (such Convertible Securities, the “Relevant Convertible Securities” for such Conversion Date).
  Required Exercise on Conversion Dates:    On each Conversion Date, a number of Options equal to (i) the

 

2


     number of Relevant Convertible Securities for such Conversion Date in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount minus (ii) the number of Relevant Conversion Options (as defined below), if any, corresponding to such Conversion Date shall be automatically exercised.
  Expiration Date:    The second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture), subject to the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Notice of Exercise” below.
  Automatic Exercise:    As provided above under “Required Exercise on Conversion Dates”.
  Exercise Notice Deadline:    In respect of any exercise of Options hereunder on any Conversion Date, the “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the first “Scheduled Trading Day” of the “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture) relating to the Convertible Securities converted on the Conversion Date occurring on the relevant Exercise Date (or, in the event there is no “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture) relating to such Convertible Securities, the second “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately following such Conversion Date); provided that in the case of any exercise of Options hereunder in connection with the conversion of any Relevant Convertible Securities on any Conversion Date occurring on or after May 27, 2017 (the “Free Convertibility Date”), the Exercise Notice Deadline shall be the “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture).
  Notice of Exercise:    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, Dealer shall have no obligation to make any payment or delivery in respect of any exercise of Options hereunder unless Counterparty notifies Dealer in writing prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Exercise Notice Deadline in respect of such exercise of (i) the number of Convertible Securities being converted on the relevant Conversion Date (including, if applicable, whether all or any portion of such Convertible Securities are Convertible Securities as to which additional Shares would be added to the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) pursuant to Section 13.03 of the Indenture (the “Make-Whole Convertible Securities”)), (ii) the scheduled settlement date under the Indenture for the Convertible Securities converted on the Conversion Date and (iii) the first “Scheduled Trading Day” of the “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture);, if any provided that in the case of any exercise of Options hereunder in connection with the conversion of any Relevant Convertible Securities on any Conversion Date occurring on or after the Free Convertibility Date, the contents of such notice shall be as set forth in clause (i) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if Counterparty fails to give such notice when due in respect of any exercise of Options hereunder, Dealer’s obligation to make any payment or delivery in respect of such exercise shall be permanently extinguished, and late notice shall not cure such failure; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Options relating to Relevant Convertible Securities with a “Conversion Date” (as defined in the Indenture) occurring prior to the Free Convertibility Date, such notice (and the related exercise or termination, as the

 

3


     case may be, of Options hereunder) shall be effective if given after the Exercise Notice Deadline, but prior to 5:00 PM New York City time on the fifth Exchange Business Day following the Exercise Notice Deadline, in which event the Calculation Agent shall have the right to adjust the Delivery Obligation as appropriate to reflect the additional costs (including, but not limited to, hedging mismatches and market losses) and expenses incurred by Dealer in connection with its hedging activities (including the unwinding of any hedge position) as a result of Dealer not having received such notice on or prior to the Exercise Notice Deadline.
  Notice of Convertible Security Cash Percentage:    Unless Counterparty shall have notified Dealer in writing (i) in the case of Relevant Convertible Securities with a Conversion Date occurring prior to the Free Convertibility Date, in the related Notice of Exercise, within the applicable time period therefor set forth under “Notice of Exercise” above, of the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities or (ii) in the case of Relevant Convertible Securities with a Conversion Date occurring during the period beginning on and including the Free Convertibility Date and ending on and including the second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture) (the “Free Convertibility Period”), before 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately preceding the Free Convertibility Date of the irrevocable election by the Counterparty, in accordance with Section 13.02(a)(i) of the Indenture, of the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities, in either case of the immediately preceding clauses (i) or (ii), Counterparty shall be deemed to have notified Dealer of a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) of 0.00% applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities, notwithstanding any different actual election by Counterparty with respect to the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Convertible Securities. Counterparty acknowledges its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined below) and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of any election of a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Convertible Securities.
 

Dealer’s Telephone Number

and Telex and/or Facsimile Number

and Contact Details for purpose of

Giving Notice:

   To be provided by Dealer.
Settlement Terms:   
  Settlement Date:    In respect of an Exercise Date occurring on a Conversion Date, the settlement date for the cash and/or Shares to be delivered in respect of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on such Conversion Date pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture; provided that the Settlement Date will not be prior to the “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately following the date Counterparty provides the Notice of Delivery Obligation prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time.
  Delivery Obligation:    In lieu of the obligations set forth in Sections 8.1 and 9.1 of the

 

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     Equity Definitions, and subject to “Notice of Exercise” above, in respect of an Exercise Date occurring on a Conversion Date, Dealer will deliver to Counterparty, on the related Settlement Date, a number of Shares and/or amount of cash in USD equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Percentage and (ii) the aggregate number of Shares, if any, that Counterparty would be obligated to deliver to the holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on such Conversion Date pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture and/or the aggregate amount of cash, if any, in excess of USD1,000 per Convertible Security (in denominations of USD1,000) that Counterparty would be obligated to deliver to holder(s) pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture (except that such aggregate number of Shares shall be determined without taking into consideration any rounding pursuant to Section 13.02(j) of the Indenture and shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number) and cash in lieu of fractional Shares, if any, resulting from such rounding, as if Counterparty had elected to satisfy its conversion obligation in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities with a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) equal to the Convertible Security Cash Percentage, notwithstanding any different actual election by Counterparty with respect to the settlement of such Convertible Securities (the “Convertible Obligation”); provided that such obligation shall be determined excluding any Shares and/or cash that Counterparty is obligated to deliver to holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities as a result of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Delivery Obligation shall not include any interest payment on the Relevant Convertible Securities that the Counterparty is (or would have been) obligated to deliver to holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities for such Conversion Date); provided, further that if Counterparty or its board of directors is permitted or required to exercise discretion under the terms of the Indenture with respect to any determination, calculation or adjustment (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 13.05 of the Indenture or in connection with any proportional adjustments or the determination of the fair value of any securities, property, rights or other assets) (any such determination, calculation or adjustment, a “Counterparty Determination”), Counterparty shall consult with Dealer with respect thereto and, if the Calculation Agent disagrees in good faith with such Counterparty Determination, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Calculation Agent shall make the relevant determination, calculation or adjustment for purposes of this Transaction (and for the avoidance of doubt, such determination, calculation or adjustment shall be made (A) in accordance with the methodology set forth in the Indenture, except as set forth in this paragraph, and (B) using, where relevant, variables determined by the Calculation Agent).
  Applicable Limit:    Notwithstanding the provisions under “Delivery Obligation” above but subject to Section 8(a)(ii) below, in all events the Delivery Obligation for any Option shall be capped so that (i) an amount of cash in USD equal to the sum of (x) the number of Shares comprising such Delivery Obligation multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the Settlement Date for such Option and (y) the

 

5


     amount of cash in USD comprising such Delivery Obligation does not exceed (ii) an amount of cash in USD equal to the Applicable Percentage multiplied by the excess of (x) the aggregate of (A) the amount of cash, if any, payable to the holder of the related Relevant Convertible Security and (B) the number of Shares, if any, deliverable to the holder of the related Relevant Convertible Security multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the Settlement Date for such Option over (y) USD 1,000.
  Applicable Limit Price:    On any day, the opening price as displayed under the heading “Op” on Bloomberg page ECPG <equity> (or any successor thereto).
  Convertible Security Cash Percentage:    For any Relevant Convertible Securities, the “Cash Percentage” of which Counterparty has notified, or is deemed to have notified, Dealer in accordance with “Notice of Convertible Security Cash Percentage” above that Counterparty has elected, or is deemed to have elected, to satisfy its conversion obligation in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities.
  Notice of Delivery Obligation:    No later than the Exchange Business Day immediately following the last day of the relevant “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture), Counterparty shall give Dealer notice of the final number of Shares and/or cash comprising the Convertible Obligation; provided that, with respect to any Exercise Date occurring during the Free Convertibility Period, Counterparty may provide Dealer with a single notice of an aggregate number of Shares and/or cash comprising the Convertible Obligations for all Exercise Dates occurring in such period prior to 12:00 noon New York City time on the second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately following the last day of the relevant “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture) (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the requirement of Counterparty to deliver such notice shall not limit Counterparty’s obligations with respect to any Notice of Exercise or any Notice of Convertible Security Cash Percentage or Dealer’s obligations with respect to any Delivery Obligation, each as set forth above, in any way).
  Other Applicable Provisions:    To the extent Dealer is obligated to deliver Shares hereunder, the provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction.
Share Adjustments:   
  Method of Adjustment:    Notwithstanding Section 11.2 of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, upon the occurrence of any event or condition set forth in Sections 13.04(a)-(e) or 13.05 of the Indenture that results in an adjustment under the Indenture, the Calculation Agent shall make an analogous adjustment to the terms relevant to the exercise, settlement or payment of the Transaction. Reasonably promptly upon the occurrence of any such event or condition set forth in Sections 13.04(a)-(e) or 13.05 of the Indenture, Counterparty shall notify the Calculation Agent of such event or condition; and once the

 

6


     adjustments to be made to the terms of the Indenture and the Convertible Securities in respect of such event or condition have been determined, Counterparty shall reasonably promptly notify the Calculation Agent in writing of the details of such adjustments.
Extraordinary Events:   
  Merger Events:    Notwithstanding Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, a “Merger Event” means the occurrence of any event or condition set forth in the definition of “Merger Event” under Section 13.07(a) of the Indenture.
  Consequences of Merger Events:    Notwithstanding Sections 12.2 and 12.3 of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, upon the occurrence of a Merger Event that results in an adjustment under the Indenture, the Calculation Agent shall make an analogous adjustment to the terms relevant to the exercise, settlement or payment of the Transaction; provided that such adjustment shall be made without regard to any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture; and provided further that if, with respect to a Merger Event, the consideration for the Shares includes (or, at the option of a holder of Shares, may include) shares of an entity or person not organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination) shall apply.
  Notice of Merger Consideration:    Upon the occurrence of a Merger Event that causes the Shares to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), Counterparty shall reasonably promptly (but, in any event prior to the relevant merger date) notify the Calculation Agent of (i) the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Shares entitled to receive cash, securities or other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for such Shares in any Merger Event who affirmatively make such an election and (ii) the details of the adjustment made under the Indenture in respect of such Merger Event.
 

Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:

   Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.

Additional Disruption Events:

  
 

(a) Change in Law:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”,

 

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     (ii) replacing the word “Shares” with the phrase “Hedge Positions” in clause (X) thereof, (iii) inserting the parenthetical “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” at the end of clause (A) thereof, (iv) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (v) adding the following proviso to the end of clause (Y) thereof: “provided that such party has used good faith efforts to avoid such increased cost on terms reasonably acceptable to such party, as long as (i) such party would not incur a materially increased cost (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position, or any increase in margin or capital requirements), as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (ii) such party would not violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or policy of such party, as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (iii) such party would not suffer a material penalty, injunction, non-financial burden, reputational harm or other material adverse consequence in doing so, (iv) such party would not incur any material operational or administrative burden in doing so and (v) such party would not, in doing so, be required to take any action that is contrary to the intent of the law or regulation that is subject to the Change in Law”.
 

(b) Failure to Deliver:

   Applicable
 

(c) Insolvency Filing:

   Applicable
 

(d) Hedging Disruption:

   Applicable; provided that:
    

(i)     Section 12.9(a)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting the following two phrases at the end of such Section:

    

“For the avoidance of doubt, the term “equity price risk” shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, stock price and volatility risk. And, for the further avoidance of doubt, any such transactions or assets referred to in phrases (A) or (B) above must be available on commercially reasonable pricing terms.”; and

    

(ii)    Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting in the third line thereof, after the words “to terminate the Transaction”, the words “or a portion of the Transaction affected by such Hedging Disruption”.

 

(e) Increased Cost of Hedging:

   Not Applicable
  Hedging Party:    For all applicable Potential Adjustment Events and Extraordinary Events, Dealer
  Determining Party:    For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer
  Non-Reliance:    Applicable
 

Agreements and Acknowledgments

Regarding Hedging Activities:

   Applicable
  Additional Acknowledgments:    Applicable

 

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3. Calculation Agent: Dealer, whose judgments, determinations and calculations shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a request by Company, the Calculation Agent shall promptly (but in any event within three Scheduled Trading Days) provide to Company by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Company in such request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation (including any assumptions used in making such determination or calculation), it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary models used by it for such determination or calculation.

4. Account Details:

 

Dealer Payment Instructions:

   Royal Bank of Canada
   JP Morgan Chase NY (CHASUS33)
   ABA#:    021-000-021
   Royal Bank of Canada (ROYCUS3X)
   A/C #:    920-1-033363
   Ref:    US Transit
   A/C    204-1499

Counterparty Payment Instructions:

   To be provided by Counterparty.

5. Offices:

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: New York

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

3 World Financial Center

200 Vesey Street

New York, NY 10281

Telephone:         212-858-7000

The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is: Not applicable

6. Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:

Address for notices or communications to Counterparty for purposes of this Confirmation:

 

To:   

Encore Capital Group, Inc.

3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300

San Diego, CA 92108

Attn:    Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer
Telephone:    858-309-6904
Facsimile:    858-309-6977
With a copy to:
Attn:    Greg Call, General Counsel
Telephone:    858-569-3978
Facsimile:    858-309-6998

Address for notices or communications to Dealer for purposes of this Confirmation:

 

Trade Affirmations and Settlements:
To:    RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Attn:    Structured Derivatives Documentation

 

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   3 World Financial Center
   200 Vesey Street
   New York, NY 10281
Facsimile:    212-858-7033
Email:    geda@rbccm.com
Trade Confirmations:
To:    RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Attn:   

Structured Derivatives Documentation

3 World Financial Center

200 Vesey Street

New York, NY 10281

Facsimile:    212-428-3053
Email:    SEDDOC@rbccm.com

7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

(a) Each of the representations and warranties of Counterparty set forth in Section 1 of the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 20, 2012, between Counterparty and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Barclays Capital Inc. as representatives of the initial purchasers party thereto (the “Initial Purchasers”), are true and correct and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Counterparty represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

(i) On the Trade Date (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) (A) On the Trade Date, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, are not, and shall not be, subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”) and (B) Counterparty shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in sections 101(b) and 102(b) of Regulation M, until the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Trade Date.

(iii) On the Trade Date, neither Counterparty nor any “affiliated purchaser” (each as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of any cash-settled or other derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or an equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, except for the Share repurchase transactions contemplated under “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Memorandum, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet.

(iv) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC Topic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(v) Without limiting the generality of Section 3(a)(iii) of the Agreement, the Transaction will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

 

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(vi) On or prior to the Effective Date, Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer a resolution of Counterparty’s board of directors authorizing the Transaction.

(vii) Counterparty is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

(viii) Counterparty is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(ix) On each of the Trade Date and the Premium Payment Date, Counterparty is not, or will not be, “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) and Counterparty would be able to purchase the Shares hereunder in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

(x) To Counterparty’s knowledge, based on due inquiry, no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares.

(xi) Counterparty understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(b) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

(c) Each of Dealer and Counterparty acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof. Accordingly, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account and without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

(d) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of the Bankruptcy Code. The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge that it is the intent of the parties that (A) this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “payment or other transfer of property” within the meaning of Sections 362 and 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2), 555, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(e) Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement; provided that, such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including, without limitation, excepts and qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

8. Other Provisions:

(a) Additional Termination Events.

(i) The occurrence of an “Event of Default” with respect to Counterparty under the terms of the

 

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Convertible Securities as set forth in Section 6.01 of the Indenture that results in an acceleration of the Convertible Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction and Counterparty is the sole Affected Party and Dealer shall be the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation, the receipt by Dealer from Counterparty, within the applicable time period set forth under “Notice of Exercise” above, of any Notice of Exercise in respect of the exercise of any Options that, according to such Notice of Exercise, relate to Relevant Convertible Securities that are Make-Whole Convertible Securities shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this paragraph and shall not result in the exercise of any Options. Upon receipt of any such Notice of Exercise, Dealer shall designate an Exchange Business Day following such Additional Termination Event as an Early Termination Date (and Dealer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to designate such Early Termination Date so that the related payment or delivery, as the case may be, hereunder in respect of the Relevant Conversion Options will occur on (or as promptly as reasonable practicable after) the related settlement for the conversion of the Relevant Convertible Securities) with respect to the portion of the Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Relevant Conversion Options”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Relevant Convertible Securities specified in such Notice of Exercise, divided by USD 1,000, and (B) the Number of Options as of the date Dealer designates such Early Termination Date and, as of such date, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Relevant Conversion Options. Any payment hereunder with respect to such termination (the “Conversion Unwind Payment”) shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction (except that, for purposes of this Section 8(a)(ii), the provisions opposite the caption “Applicable Limit” above shall be deemed to be deleted from this Confirmation) and a Number of Options equal to the number of Relevant Conversion Options, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction (and, in determining the amount payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement, the Calculation Agent shall not take into account any adjustments to the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture); provided that, the Conversion Unwind Payment shall not be greater than (x) the Applicable Percentage multiplied by (y) the number of Relevant Conversion Options multiplied by (z) the excess of (I) the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture taking into account any adjustments thereto pursuant to Section 13.03 of the Indenture), multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the settlement date for the cash and/or Shares to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture in respect of the Relevant Convertible Securities relating to such Conversion Unwind Payment, over (II) USD 1,000.

(iii) Within five Scheduled Trading Days promptly following any Repayment Event (as defined below), Counterparty shall notify Dealer of such Repayment Event and the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Securities subject to such Repayment Event (any such notice, a “Repayment Notice”); provided that such Repayment Notice shall contain an acknowledgement by Counterparty of its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and 10(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and shall remake the representations set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A), in each case in respect of such repurchase and delivery of such Repayment Notice. The receipt by Dealer from Counterparty of any Repayment Notice shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this paragraph. Upon receipt of any such Repayment Notice, Dealer shall designate an Exchange Business Day following receipt of such Repayment Notice as an Early Termination Date with respect to the portion of the Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Repayment Options”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate principal amount of such Convertible Securities specified in such Repayment Notice, divided by USD 1,000, and (B) the Number of Options as of the date Dealer designates such Early Termination Date and, as of such date, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Repayment Options. Any payment hereunder with respect to such termination (the “Repayment Unwind Payment”) shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction and a Number of Options equal to the number of Repayment Options, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction. “Repayment Event” means that (i) any Convertible Securities are repurchased (whether in connection with or as a result of a fundamental change, howsoever defined, or for any other reason) by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries, (ii)

 

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any Convertible Securities are delivered to Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries in exchange for delivery of any property or assets of such party (howsoever described), (iii) any principal of any of the Convertible Securities is repaid prior to the final maturity date of the Convertible Securities (for any reason other than as a result of an acceleration of the Convertible Securities that results in an Additional Termination Event pursuant to the preceding Section 8(a)(i)), or (iv) any Convertible Securities are exchanged by or for the benefit of the holders thereof for any other securities of Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries (or any other property, or any combination thereof) pursuant to any exchange offer or similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, any conversion of Convertible Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall not constitute a Repayment Event.

(b) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If Dealer shall owe Counterparty any amount pursuant to “Consequences of Merger Events” above or Sections 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, including, without limitation, any Conversion Unwind Payment and any Repayment Unwind Payment (a “Payment Obligation”), Dealer shall satisfy any such Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below) unless either (i) Counterparty shall have elected for Dealer to satisfy such Payment Obligation in cash in USD by (x) giving irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the relevant merger date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable and (y) remaking the representation set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation on the date of such notice, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day or (ii) in the event of (x) an Insolvency, a Nationalization or a Merger Event, in each case, in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash or (y) an Event of Default in which Counterparty is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Counterparty is the Affected Party, which Event of Default or Termination Event resulted from an event or events within Counterparty’s control (other than any Additional Termination Event pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) or Section 8(a)(iii)), in either of which cases under the immediately preceding clauses (i) or (ii), the provisions of “Consequences of Merger Events” above, Sections 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply in lieu of the provisions of this Section 8(b) in respect of such Payment Obligation. In the case of any such settlement by the Share Termination Alternative, the following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant merger date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable:

 

Share Termination Alternative:

Applicable and means that Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to “Consequences of Merger Events and Tender Offers” above, Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable, or such later date as the Calculation Agent may reasonably determine (the “Share Termination Payment Date”), in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.

Share Termination Delivery

Property:

A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of the aggregate amount of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.

 

Share Termination Unit Price:

The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit on the date such Share Termination Delivery Units are to be delivered as Share Termination Delivery Property, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Dealer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.

 

Share Termination Delivery Unit:

In the case of a Termination Event, Event of Default, Delisting or Additional Disruption Event, one Share or, in the case of an Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event, one Share or a unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any

 

13


 

securities) in such Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event, as applicable. If such Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.

 

Failure to Deliver:

Applicable

 

Other applicable provisions:

If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the issuer of the Shares or any portion of the Share Termination Delivery Units) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction, except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units.”

(c) Disposition of Hedge Shares. Counterparty hereby agrees that if, in the good faith reasonable judgment of Dealer, based on advice of counsel, any Shares acquired by Dealer for the purpose of hedging its obligations pursuant to the Transaction, other than any such Shares that were, at the time of acquisition by Dealer, “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (any such Shares, the “Hedge Shares”), cannot be sold in the public market by Dealer without registration under the Securities Act, Counterparty shall, at its election: (i) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a registered offering, make available to Dealer an effective registration statement under the Securities Act to cover the resale of such Hedge Shares and (A) enter into an agreement substantially similar to underwriting agreements for registered secondary offerings of a substantially similar size, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, (B) provide accountant’s “comfort” letters in customary form for registered offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size, (C) provide disclosure opinions of nationally recognized outside counsel to Counterparty reasonably acceptable to Dealer, (D) provide other customary opinions, certificates and closing documents customary in form for registered offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size and (E) afford Dealer a reasonable opportunity to conduct a “due diligence” investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size; provided, however, that if Dealer, in its reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with access to due diligence materials, the results of its due diligence investigation, or the procedures and documentation for the registered offering referred to above, then clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this Section 8(c) shall apply at the election of Counterparty; (ii) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a private placement, enter into a private placement agreement substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of a substantially similar size, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, including customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Dealer, due diligence rights (for Dealer or any designated buyer of the Hedge Shares from Dealer), opinions and certificates and such other documentation as is customary for private placements agreements for private placements of equity securities of a substantially similar size, all reasonably acceptable to Dealer (in which case, the Calculation Agent shall make any adjustments to the terms of the Transaction that are necessary, in its reasonable judgment, to compensate Dealer for any discount from the public market price of the Shares incurred on the sale of Hedge Shares in a private placement); or (iii) purchase the Hedge Shares from Dealer at the VWAP Price on such Exchange Business Days, and in the amounts, requested by Dealer. “VWAP Price” means, on any Exchange Business Day, the per Share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “ECPG <equity> AQR” (or any successor thereto) in respect of the period from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Exchange Business Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one Share on such Exchange Business Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent using a volume-weighted method).

(d) Repurchase Notices. Counterparty shall, on or prior to any day on which Counterparty effects any repurchase of Shares, give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”) if, following such repurchase, the Notice Percentage as determined on the date of such Repurchase Notice is (i) greater than 9.0% and (ii) greater by 0.5% than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of the first such Repurchase Notice, greater than the Notice Percentage as of the date hereof). The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the Number of Shares and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Counterparty fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(d) then Counterparty agrees to

 

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indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Counterparty) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer.

(e) Transfer and Assignment.

(i) Either party may transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction with the prior written consent of the non-transferring party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. For the avoidance of doubt, Dealer may condition its consent on any of the following, without limitation: (i) the receipt by Dealer of opinions and documents reasonably satisfactory to Dealer in connection with such assignment, (ii) such assignment being effected on terms reasonably satisfactory to Dealer with respect to any legal and regulatory requirements relevant to Dealer, (iii) Counterparty continuing to be obligated to provide notices hereunder relating to the Convertible Securities and continuing to be obligated with respect to “Disposition of Hedge Shares” and “Repurchase Notices” above, (iv) Counterparty not being released from its indemnification obligations under Section 8(d) of this Confirmation, (v) such assignment only being to a third party that is a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), (vi) Dealer not being, as a result of such assignment, required to pay the transferee on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than an amount Dealer would have been required to pay to Counterparty in the absence of such assignment, (vii) there not being an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event as a result of such assignment, (viii) without limiting the generality of clause (v), Counterparty causing the transferee to make such Payee Tax Representations and to provide such tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by Dealer to permit Dealer to determine that the results described in clauses (vi) and (vii) will not occur upon or after such assignment and (ix) Counterparty being responsible for all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, incurred by Dealer in connection with such assignment. In addition, Dealer may transfer or assign without any consent of the Counterparty its rights and obligations hereunder and under the Agreement (1) in whole or in part to any affiliate of Dealer of credit quality at least equivalent to that of Dealer as of the Trade Date, (2) in whole or in part to any other affiliate of Dealer with respect to which Counterparty shall have received a full guaranty of such affiliate’s obligations from Dealer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Counterparty or (3) if at the time of such transfer or assignment an Excess Ownership Position exists, in part to any other third party with a rating for its long term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness equal to or better than the lesser of (I) the credit rating of Dealer at the time of the transfer and (II) A- by Standard and Poor’s Rating Group, Inc. or its successor (“S&P”), or A3 by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or, if either S&P or Moody’s ceases to rate such debt, at least an equivalent or better rating by a substitute rating agency mutually agreed by Counterparty and Dealer, in the case of this clause (3), to the extent that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists after giving effect to such partial transfer or assignment, in each case of the immediately preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3), only if an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event will not occur as a result of such transfer or assignment.

(ii) At any time at which any Excess Ownership Position exists, if Dealer, in its discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party in accordance with the requirements set forth above after using its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing terms and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Trading Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that such Excess Ownership Position no longer exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment or delivery shall be made

 

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pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and Section 8(b) of this Confirmation as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Counterparty shall be the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (iii) such portion of the Transaction shall be the only Terminated Transaction. “Excess Ownership Position” means any of the following: (i) the Equity Percentage exceeds 9.0%, (ii) Dealer or any “affiliate” or “associate” of Dealer would own in excess of 14.0% of the outstanding Shares for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iii) Dealer, Dealer Group (as defined below) or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations (except for any filings of Form 13F, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act) or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination. The “Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer, for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or of any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part (Dealer and any such affiliates, persons and groups, collectively, “Dealer Group”), beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day (including, solely for such purpose, Shares that would be deemed outstanding pursuant to the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) if such sentence were applicable to the calculation of clause (B) of the definition of Equity Percentage).

(f) Staggered Settlement. If upon advice of counsel with respect to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including any requirements relating to Dealer’s hedging activities hereunder, Dealer reasonably determines that it would not be advisable to deliver, or to acquire Shares to deliver, any or all of the Shares to be delivered by Dealer on the relevant Settlement Date, Dealer may, by notice to Counterparty on or prior to any Settlement Date (a “Nominal Settlement Date”), elect to deliver the Shares on two or more dates (each, a “Staggered Settlement Date”) or at two or more times on the Nominal Settlement Date as follows:

(i) in such notice, Dealer will specify to Counterparty the related Staggered Settlement Dates (each of which will be on or prior to such Nominal Settlement Date, but not prior to the beginning of the related “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture)) and/or delivery times (during any single Staggered Settlement Date) and how it will allocate the Shares it is required to deliver under “Delivery Obligation” (above) among the Staggered Settlement Dates and/or delivery times; and

(ii) the aggregate number of Shares that Dealer will deliver to Counterparty hereunder on all such Staggered Settlement Dates (including on one or more delivery times on any single Staggered Settlement Date) will equal the number of Shares that Dealer would otherwise be required to deliver on such Nominal Settlement Date.

(g) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Exercise Date or Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer, with respect to some or all of the relevant Options (in which event the Calculation Agent shall make appropriate adjustments to the Delivery Obligation), if Dealer determines in its good faith and reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel in the case of the immediately following clause (ii), that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to (i) preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions in the cash market, the stock loan market or any other relevant market or (ii) to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer; provided that, no such Exercise Date, Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer may be postponed or extended more than 50 “Trading Days” (as defined in the Indenture) after the original Exercise Date, Settlement Date or other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer, as the case may be.

(h) Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent is called upon to make an

 

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adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party.

(i) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(j) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty solely to the extent of any such performance.

(k) No Netting and Set-off. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement (including without limitation Section 6(f) thereof, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction) and this Confirmation or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, neither party shall net or set off its obligations under the Transaction against its rights against the other party under any other transaction or instrument.

(l) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Counterparty’s bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Counterparty’s bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Counterparty of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is not secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Counterparty herein under or pursuant to any other agreement.

(m) Early Unwind. In the event the sale by Counterparty of the “Firm Securities” is not consummated with the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any reason by the close of business in New York on the Premium Payment Date (or such later date as agreed upon by the parties, which in no event shall be later than December 4, 2012) (the Premium Payment Date or such later date being the “Early Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate (the “Early Unwind”), on the Early Unwind Date and the Transaction and all of the respective rights and obligations of Dealer and Counterparty thereunder shall be cancelled and terminated. Following such termination and cancellation, each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of either party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Early Unwind Date; provided that, unless such Early Unwind Date occurred as a result of a breach of the Purchase Agreement by the Initial Purchasers, Counterparty shall purchase from Dealer on the Early Unwind Date all Shares purchased by Dealer or one or more of its affiliates in connection with the Transaction at the then prevailing market price. Dealer and Counterparty represent and acknowledge to the other that, subject to the proviso included in this Section 8(m), upon an Early Unwind, all obligations with respect to the Transaction shall be deemed fully and finally discharged.

(n) Payment by Counterparty. In the event that, following payment of the Premium, (i) an Early Termination Date occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction as a result of a Termination Event or an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement) and, as a result, Counterparty owes to Dealer an amount calculated under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, or (ii) Counterparty owes to Dealer, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, an amount calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.

(o) Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act. In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, nor any requirement under WSTAA or an amendment made by WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from Change in Law, an Excess Ownership Position or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

(p) Disclosure of Agency Relationship. Dealer has appointed as its agent, its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBCCM”), for purposes of conducting on the Dealer’s behalf, a business in

 

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privately negotiated transactions in options and other derivatives. You hereby are advised that Dealer, the principal and stated counterparty in such transactions, duly has authorized RBCCM to market, structure, negotiate, document, price, execute and hedge transactions in over-the-counter derivative products. RBCCM has full, complete and unconditional authority to undertake such activities on behalf of Dealer. RBCCM acts solely as agent and has no obligation, by way of issuance, endorsement, guarantee or otherwise with respect to the performance of either party under this Transaction. This Transaction is not insured or guaranteed by RBCCM.

(q) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF COUNTERPARTY AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

(r) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS CONFIRMATION AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

 

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Counterparty hereby agrees (a) to check this Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty with respect to the Transaction, by manually signing this Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to Dealer.

 

Yours faithfully,
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC, as agent for Royal Bank of Canada
By:  

/s/ Alex Rabaev

  Name: Alex Rabaev
  Title: Associate Director

Confirmed and Acknowledged as of the date first above written:

 

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ J. Brandon Black

  Name: J. Brandon Black
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


Annex A

 

Premium:    USD 7,756,000 (Premium per Option USD 6.12)
LETTER AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.3

 

   November 20, 2012
To:    Encore Capital Group, Inc.
   3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300
   San Diego, California 92108
   Attn:    Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer
   Telephone:    858-309-6904
   Facsimile:    858-309-6977
From:    LOGO
   Société Générale
   1221 Avenue of the Americas
   New York, NY 10020
Re:    Base Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction
   (Transaction Reference Number:             )

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between Société Générale (“Dealer”) and Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Counterparty”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below. Dealer is acting as principal and SG Americas Securities, LLC (“Agent”), its affiliate, is acting as agent for Dealer for the Transaction under this Confirmation.

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the definitions and provisions of the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “2006 Definitions”) and the definitions and provisions of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and together with the 2006 Definitions, the “Definitions”), in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). In the event of any inconsistency between the 2006 Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions will govern. Certain defined terms used herein are based on terms that are defined in the Offering Memorandum dated November 20, 2012, (the “Offering Memorandum”) relating to the 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017 (as originally issued by Counterparty, the “Convertible Securities” and each USD 1,000 principal amount of Convertible Securities, a “Convertible Security”) issued by Counterparty in an aggregate initial principal amount of USD 100,000,000 (as increased by up to an aggregate principal amount of USD 15,000,000 if and to the extent that the Initial Purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Convertible Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein)) pursuant to an Indenture to be dated November 27, 2012 between Counterparty and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Indenture”). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms defined in the Offering Memorandum, the Indenture and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern. The parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is entered into on the date hereof with the understanding that (i) definitions set forth in the Indenture which are also defined herein by reference to the Indenture and (ii) sections of the Indenture that are referred to herein will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum. If any such definitions in the Indenture or any such sections of the Indenture differ from the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum, the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum will govern for purposes of this Confirmation. The parties further acknowledge that the Indenture section numbers used herein are based on the draft of the Indenture last reviewed by Dealer as of the date of this Confirmation, and if any such section numbers are changed in the Indenture as executed, the parties will amend this Confirmation in good faith to preserve the intent of the parties. Subject to the foregoing, references to the Indenture herein are references to the Indenture as in effect on the date of its execution, and if the Indenture is amended following such date, any such amendment will be disregarded for purposes of this Confirmation unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed an


agreement in such form (without any Schedule except for (i) the elections set forth in this Confirmation and (ii) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement will apply to Dealer and to Counterparty as if (x) the phrase “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” were deleted from Section 5(a)(vi)(1) of the Agreement and (y) the “Threshold Amount” with respect to Dealer were three percent (3%) of shareholders’ equity of Société Générale as of the Trade Date and with respect to Counterparty were USD10,000,000). For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement.

All provisions contained in, or incorporated by reference to, the Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein. In the event of any inconsistency between this Confirmation and either the Definitions or the Agreement, this Confirmation shall govern.

2. The Transaction constitutes a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:

 

  Trade Date:    November 20, 2012
  Effective Date:    The closing date of the initial issuance of the Convertible Securities.
  Option Type:    Call
  Seller:    Dealer
  Buyer:    Counterparty
  Shares:    The common stock of Counterparty, par value USD0.01 per share (Ticker Symbol: “ECPG”).
  Number of Options:    100,000
  Number of Shares:    As of any date, the product of (i) the Number of Options, (ii) the Conversion Rate and (iii) the Applicable Percentage.
  Conversion Rate:    As of any date, the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) as of such date, but without regard to any adjustments to the “Conversion Rate” pursuant to Section 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture.
  Applicable Percentage:    20%
  Premium:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Premium Payment Date:    The Effective Date
  Exchange:    The NASDAQ Global Select Market
  Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Procedures for Exercise:   
  Exercise Dates:    Each Conversion Date.
  Conversion Date:    Each “Conversion Date”, as defined in the Indenture, occurring during the period from and excluding the Trade Date to and including the Expiration Date, for Convertible Securities, each in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount, that are submitted for conversion on such Conversion Date in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (such Convertible Securities, the “Relevant Convertible Securities” for such Conversion Date).
 

Required Exercise on Conversion Dates:

   On each Conversion Date, a number of Options equal to (i) the

 

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     number of Relevant Convertible Securities for such Conversion Date in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount minus (ii) the number of Relevant Conversion Options (as defined below), if any, corresponding to such Conversion Date shall be automatically exercised.
  Expiration Date:    The second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture), subject to the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Notice of Exercise” below.
  Automatic Exercise:    As provided above under “Required Exercise on Conversion Dates”.
  Exercise Notice Deadline:    In respect of any exercise of Options hereunder on any Conversion Date, the “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the first “Scheduled Trading Day” of the “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture) relating to the Convertible Securities converted on the Conversion Date occurring on the relevant Exercise Date (or, in the event there is no “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture) relating to such Convertible Securities, the second “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately following such Conversion Date); provided that in the case of any exercise of Options hereunder in connection with the conversion of any Relevant Convertible Securities on any Conversion Date occurring on or after May 27, 2017 (the “Free Convertibility Date”), the Exercise Notice Deadline shall be the “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture).
  Notice of Exercise:    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, Dealer shall have no obligation to make any payment or delivery in respect of any exercise of Options hereunder unless Counterparty notifies Dealer in writing prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Exercise Notice Deadline in respect of such exercise of (i) the number of Convertible Securities being converted on the relevant Conversion Date (including, if applicable, whether all or any portion of such Convertible Securities are Convertible Securities as to which additional Shares would be added to the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) pursuant to Section 13.03 of the Indenture (the “Make-Whole Convertible Securities”)), (ii) the scheduled settlement date under the Indenture for the Convertible Securities converted on the Conversion Date and (iii) the first “Scheduled Trading Day” of the “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture);, if any provided that in the case of any exercise of Options hereunder in connection with the conversion of any Relevant Convertible Securities on any Conversion Date occurring on or after the Free Convertibility Date, the contents of such notice shall be as set forth in clause (i) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if Counterparty fails to give such notice when due in respect of any exercise of Options hereunder, Dealer’s obligation to make any payment or delivery in respect of such exercise shall be permanently extinguished, and late notice shall not cure such failure; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Options relating to Relevant Convertible Securities with a “Conversion Date” (as defined in the Indenture) occurring prior to the Free Convertibility Date, such notice (and the related exercise or termination, as the

 

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     case may be, of Options hereunder) shall be effective if given after the Exercise Notice Deadline, but prior to 5:00 PM New York City time on the fifth Exchange Business Day following the Exercise Notice Deadline, in which event the Calculation Agent shall have the right to adjust the Delivery Obligation as appropriate to reflect the additional costs (including, but not limited to, hedging mismatches and market losses) and expenses incurred by Dealer in connection with its hedging activities (including the unwinding of any hedge position) as a result of Dealer not having received such notice on or prior to the Exercise Notice Deadline.
  Notice of Convertible Security Cash Percentage:    Unless Counterparty shall have notified Dealer in writing (i) in the case of Relevant Convertible Securities with a Conversion Date occurring prior to the Free Convertibility Date, in the related Notice of Exercise, within the applicable time period therefor set forth under “Notice of Exercise” above, of the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities or (ii) in the case of Relevant Convertible Securities with a Conversion Date occurring during the period beginning on and including the Free Convertibility Date and ending on and including the second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture) (the “Free Convertibility Period”), before 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately preceding the Free Convertibility Date of the irrevocable election by the Counterparty, in accordance with Section 13.02(a)(i) of the Indenture, of the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities, in either case of the immediately preceding clauses (i) or (ii), Counterparty shall be deemed to have notified Dealer of a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) of 0.00% applicable to such Relevant Convertible Securities, notwithstanding any different actual election by Counterparty with respect to the “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) applicable to such Convertible Securities. Counterparty acknowledges its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined below) and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of any election of a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Convertible Securities.
 

Dealer’s Telephone Number and Telex and/or Facsimile Number and Contact Details for purpose of Giving Notice:

   To be provided by Dealer.
Settlement Terms:   
  Settlement Date:    In respect of an Exercise Date occurring on a Conversion Date, the settlement date for the cash and/or Shares to be delivered in respect of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on such Conversion Date pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture; provided that the Settlement Date will not be prior to the “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) immediately following the date Counterparty provides the Notice of Delivery Obligation prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time.
  Delivery Obligation:    In lieu of the obligations set forth in Sections 8.1 and 9.1 of the

 

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     Equity Definitions, and subject to “Notice of Exercise” above, in respect of an Exercise Date occurring on a Conversion Date, Dealer will deliver to Counterparty, on the related Settlement Date, a number of Shares and/or amount of cash in USD equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Percentage and (ii) the aggregate number of Shares, if any, that Counterparty would be obligated to deliver to the holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on such Conversion Date pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture and/or the aggregate amount of cash, if any, in excess of USD1,000 per Convertible Security (in denominations of USD1,000) that Counterparty would be obligated to deliver to holder(s) pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture (except that such aggregate number of Shares shall be determined without taking into consideration any rounding pursuant to Section 13.02(j) of the Indenture and shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number) and cash in lieu of fractional Shares, if any, resulting from such rounding, as if Counterparty had elected to satisfy its conversion obligation in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities with a “Cash Percentage” (as defined in the Indenture) equal to the Convertible Security Cash Percentage, notwithstanding any different actual election by Counterparty with respect to the settlement of such Convertible Securities (the “Convertible Obligation”); provided that such obligation shall be determined excluding any Shares and/or cash that Counterparty is obligated to deliver to holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities as a result of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Delivery Obligation shall not include any interest payment on the Relevant Convertible Securities that the Counterparty is (or would have been) obligated to deliver to holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities for such Conversion Date); provided, further that if Counterparty or its board of directors is permitted or required to exercise discretion under the terms of the Indenture with respect to any determination, calculation or adjustment (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 13.05 of the Indenture or in connection with any proportional adjustments or the determination of the fair value of any securities, property, rights or other assets) (any such determination, calculation or adjustment, a “Counterparty Determination”), Counterparty shall consult with Dealer with respect thereto and, if the Calculation Agent disagrees in good faith with such Counterparty Determination, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Calculation Agent shall make the relevant determination, calculation or adjustment for purposes of this Transaction (and for the avoidance of doubt, such determination, calculation or adjustment shall be made (A) in accordance with the methodology set forth in the Indenture, except as set forth in this paragraph, and (B) using, where relevant, variables determined by the Calculation Agent).
  Applicable Limit:    Notwithstanding the provisions under “Delivery Obligation” above but subject to Section 8(a)(ii) below, in all events the Delivery Obligation for any Option shall be capped so that (i) an amount of cash in USD equal to the sum of (x) the number of Shares comprising such Delivery Obligation multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the Settlement Date for such Option and (y) the

 

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     amount of cash in USD comprising such Delivery Obligation does not exceed (ii) an amount of cash in USD equal to the Applicable Percentage multiplied by the excess of (x) the aggregate of (A) the amount of cash, if any, payable to the holder of the related Relevant Convertible Security and (B) the number of Shares, if any, deliverable to the holder of the related Relevant Convertible Security multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the Settlement Date for such Option over (y) USD 1,000.
  Applicable Limit Price:    On any day, the opening price as displayed under the heading “Op” on Bloomberg page ECPG <equity> (or any successor thereto).
  Convertible Security Cash Percentage:    For any Relevant Convertible Securities, the “Cash Percentage” of which Counterparty has notified, or is deemed to have notified, Dealer in accordance with “Notice of Convertible Security Cash Percentage” above that Counterparty has elected, or is deemed to have elected, to satisfy its conversion obligation in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities.
  Notice of Delivery Obligation:    No later than the Exchange Business Day immediately following the last day of the relevant “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture), Counterparty shall give Dealer notice of the final number of Shares and/or cash comprising the Convertible Obligation; provided that, with respect to any Exercise Date occurring during the Free Convertibility Period, Counterparty may provide Dealer with a single notice of an aggregate number of Shares and/or cash comprising the Convertible Obligations for all Exercise Dates occurring in such period prior to 12:00 noon New York City time on the second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately following the last day of the relevant “Observation Period” (each as defined in the Indenture) (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the requirement of Counterparty to deliver such notice shall not limit Counterparty’s obligations with respect to any Notice of Exercise or any Notice of Convertible Security Cash Percentage or Dealer’s obligations with respect to any Delivery Obligation, each as set forth above, in any way).
  Other Applicable Provisions:    To the extent Dealer is obligated to deliver Shares hereunder, the provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction.
Share Adjustments:   
  Method of Adjustment:    Notwithstanding Section 11.2 of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, upon the occurrence of any event or condition set forth in Sections 13.04(a)-(e) or 13.05 of the Indenture that results in an adjustment under the Indenture, the Calculation Agent shall make an analogous adjustment to the terms relevant to the exercise, settlement or payment of the Transaction. Reasonably promptly upon the occurrence of any such event or condition set forth in Sections 13.04(a)-(e) or 13.05 of the Indenture, Counterparty shall notify the Calculation Agent of such event or condition; and once the

 

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     adjustments to be made to the terms of the Indenture and the Convertible Securities in respect of such event or condition have been determined, Counterparty shall reasonably promptly notify the Calculation Agent in writing of the details of such adjustments.
Extraordinary Events:   
  Merger Events:    Notwithstanding Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, a “Merger Event” means the occurrence of any event or condition set forth in the definition of “Merger Event” under Section 13.07(a) of the Indenture.
  Consequences of Merger Events:    Notwithstanding Sections 12.2 and 12.3 of the Equity Definitions, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction, upon the occurrence of a Merger Event that results in an adjustment under the Indenture, the Calculation Agent shall make an analogous adjustment to the terms relevant to the exercise, settlement or payment of the Transaction; provided that such adjustment shall be made without regard to any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture; and provided further that if, with respect to a Merger Event, the consideration for the Shares includes (or, at the option of a holder of Shares, may include) shares of an entity or person not organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination) shall apply.
  Notice of Merger Consideration:    Upon the occurrence of a Merger Event that causes the Shares to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), Counterparty shall reasonably promptly (but, in any event prior to the relevant merger date) notify the Calculation Agent of (i) the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Shares entitled to receive cash, securities or other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for such Shares in any Merger Event who affirmatively make such an election and (ii) the details of the adjustment made under the Indenture in respect of such Merger Event.
  Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:    Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.
  Additional Disruption Events:   
 

(a) Change in Law:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”,

 

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     (ii) replacing the word “Shares” with the phrase “Hedge Positions” in clause (X) thereof, (iii) inserting the parenthetical “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” at the end of clause (A) thereof, (iv) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (v) adding the following proviso to the end of clause (Y) thereof: “provided that such party has used good faith efforts to avoid such increased cost on terms reasonably acceptable to such party, as long as (i) such party would not incur a materially increased cost (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position, or any increase in margin or capital requirements), as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (ii) such party would not violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or policy of such party, as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (iii) such party would not suffer a material penalty, injunction, non-financial burden, reputational harm or other material adverse consequence in doing so, (iv) such party would not incur any material operational or administrative burden in doing so and (v) such party would not, in doing so, be required to take any action that is contrary to the intent of the law or regulation that is subject to the Change in Law”.
 

(b) Failure to Deliver:

   Applicable
 

(c) Insolvency Filing:

   Applicable
 

(d) Hedging Disruption:

   Applicable; provided that:
    

(i)     Section 12.9(a)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting the following two phrases at the end of such Section:

    

“For the avoidance of doubt, the term “equity price risk” shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, stock price and volatility risk. And, for the further avoidance of doubt, any such transactions or assets referred to in phrases (A) or (B) above must be available on commercially reasonable pricing terms.”; and

    

(ii)    Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting in the third line thereof, after the words “to terminate the Transaction”, the words “or a portion of the Transaction affected by such Hedging Disruption”.

 

(e) Increased Cost of Hedging:

   Not Applicable
  Hedging Party:    For all applicable Potential Adjustment Events and Extraordinary Events, Dealer
  Determining Party:    For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer
  Non-Reliance:    Applicable
 

Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:

   Applicable
  Additional Acknowledgments:    Applicable

 

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3. Calculation Agent: Dealer, whose judgments, determinations and calculations shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a request by Company, the Calculation Agent shall promptly (but in any event within three Scheduled Trading Days) provide to Company by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Company in such request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation (including any assumptions used in making such determination or calculation), it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary models used by it for such determination or calculation.

4. Account Details:

 

    Dealer Payment Instructions:    Payments to:    SOCIÉTÉ    GENERALE
   Correspondent:    SOCIÉTÉ    GENERALE/New York SOGEUS33
   Beneficiary:    SOCIÉTÉ    GENERALE/Paris SOGEFRPPHCM
   Account Number:       00187011
    Counterparty Payment Instructions:    To be provided by Counterparty.
5. Offices:         
    The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: Paris      
    The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is: Not applicable   
6. Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:   

Address for notices or communications to Counterparty for purposes of this Confirmation:

 

To:   

Encore Capital Group, Inc.

3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300

San Diego, CA 92108

Attn:    Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer
Telephone:    858-309-6904
Facsimile:    858-309-6977
With a copy to:
Attn:    Greg Call, General Counsel
Telephone:    858-569-3978
Facsimile:    858-309-6998

Address for notices or communications to Dealer for purposes of this Confirmation:

 

To:   

Société Générale

c/o SG Americas Securities, LLC

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Attn:    Sanjay Garg
Telephone:    (212) 278-5187
Facsimile:    (212) 278-5624
With a copy to: Société Générale
  

c/o SG Americas Securities, LLC

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Attn:    Steve Milankov

 

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Telephone:    (212) 278-6985
Facsimile:    (212) 278-7365

7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

(a) Each of the representations and warranties of Counterparty set forth in Section 1 of the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 20, 2012, between Counterparty and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Barclays Capital Inc. as representatives of the initial purchasers party thereto (the “Initial Purchasers”), are true and correct and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Counterparty represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

(i) On the Trade Date (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) (A) On the Trade Date, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, are not, and shall not be, subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”) and (B) Counterparty shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in sections 101(b) and 102(b) of Regulation M, until the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Trade Date.

(iii) On the Trade Date, neither Counterparty nor any “affiliated purchaser” (each as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of any cash-settled or other derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or an equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, except for the Share repurchase transactions contemplated under “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Memorandum, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet.

(iv) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC Topic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(v) Without limiting the generality of Section 3(a)(iii) of the Agreement, the Transaction will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

(vi) On or prior to the Effective Date, Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer a resolution of Counterparty’s board of directors authorizing the Transaction.

(vii) Counterparty is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

(viii) Counterparty is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(ix) On each of the Trade Date and the Premium Payment Date, Counterparty is not, or will not be, “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the

 

10


United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) and Counterparty would be able to purchase the Shares hereunder in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

(x) To Counterparty’s knowledge, based on due inquiry, no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares.

(xi) Counterparty understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(b) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

(c) Each of Dealer and Counterparty acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof. Accordingly, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account and without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

(d) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of the Bankruptcy Code. The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge that it is the intent of the parties that (A) this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “payment or other transfer of property” within the meaning of Sections 362 and 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2), 555, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(e) Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement; provided that, such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including, without limitation, excepts and qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

8. Other Provisions:

(a) Additional Termination Events.

(i) The occurrence of an “Event of Default” with respect to Counterparty under the terms of the Convertible Securities as set forth in Section 6.01 of the Indenture that results in an acceleration of the Convertible Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction and Counterparty is the sole Affected Party and Dealer shall be the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation, the receipt by Dealer from Counterparty, within the applicable time period set forth under “Notice of Exercise” above, of any Notice of Exercise in respect of the exercise of any Options that, according to such Notice of Exercise, relate to Relevant Convertible Securities that are Make-Whole Convertible Securities shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this paragraph and shall not result in the exercise of any Options. Upon receipt of any such Notice of Exercise, Dealer shall designate an Exchange Business Day following such Additional Termination Event as an Early Termination Date (and Dealer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to

 

11


designate such Early Termination Date so that the related payment or delivery, as the case may be, hereunder in respect of the Relevant Conversion Options will occur on (or as promptly as reasonable practicable after) the related settlement for the conversion of the Relevant Convertible Securities) with respect to the portion of the Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Relevant Conversion Options”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Relevant Convertible Securities specified in such Notice of Exercise, divided by USD 1,000, and (B) the Number of Options as of the date Dealer designates such Early Termination Date and, as of such date, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Relevant Conversion Options. Any payment hereunder with respect to such termination (the “Conversion Unwind Payment”) shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction (except that, for purposes of this Section 8(a)(ii), the provisions opposite the caption “Applicable Limit” above shall be deemed to be deleted from this Confirmation) and a Number of Options equal to the number of Relevant Conversion Options, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction (and, in determining the amount payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement, the Calculation Agent shall not take into account any adjustments to the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) pursuant to Sections 13.03 or 13.04(g) of the Indenture); provided that, the Conversion Unwind Payment shall not be greater than (x) the Applicable Percentage multiplied by (y) the number of Relevant Conversion Options multiplied by (z) the excess of (I) the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture taking into account any adjustments thereto pursuant to Section 13.03 of the Indenture), multiplied by the Applicable Limit Price on the settlement date for the cash and/or Shares to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.02 of the Indenture in respect of the Relevant Convertible Securities relating to such Conversion Unwind Payment, over (II) USD 1,000.

(iii) Within five Scheduled Trading Days promptly following any Repayment Event (as defined below), Counterparty shall notify Dealer of such Repayment Event and the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Securities subject to such Repayment Event (any such notice, a “Repayment Notice”); provided that such Repayment Notice shall contain an acknowledgement by Counterparty of its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and 10(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and shall remake the representations set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A), in each case in respect of such repurchase and delivery of such Repayment Notice. The receipt by Dealer from Counterparty of any Repayment Notice shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this paragraph. Upon receipt of any such Repayment Notice, Dealer shall designate an Exchange Business Day following receipt of such Repayment Notice as an Early Termination Date with respect to the portion of the Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Repayment Options”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate principal amount of such Convertible Securities specified in such Repayment Notice, divided by USD 1,000, and (B) the Number of Options as of the date Dealer designates such Early Termination Date and, as of such date, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Repayment Options. Any payment hereunder with respect to such termination (the “Repayment Unwind Payment”) shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction and a Number of Options equal to the number of Repayment Options, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction. “Repayment Event” means that (i) any Convertible Securities are repurchased (whether in connection with or as a result of a fundamental change, howsoever defined, or for any other reason) by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any Convertible Securities are delivered to Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries in exchange for delivery of any property or assets of such party (howsoever described), (iii) any principal of any of the Convertible Securities is repaid prior to the final maturity date of the Convertible Securities (for any reason other than as a result of an acceleration of the Convertible Securities that results in an Additional Termination Event pursuant to the preceding Section 8(a)(i)), or (iv) any Convertible Securities are exchanged by or for the benefit of the holders thereof for any other securities of Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries (or any other property, or any combination thereof) pursuant to any exchange offer or similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, any conversion of Convertible Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall not constitute a Repayment Event.

(b) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If Dealer shall owe Counterparty any amount pursuant to “Consequences of Merger Events” above or Sections 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, including, without limitation, any

 

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Conversion Unwind Payment and any Repayment Unwind Payment (a “Payment Obligation”), Dealer shall satisfy any such Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below) unless either (i) Counterparty shall have elected for Dealer to satisfy such Payment Obligation in cash in USD by (x) giving irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the relevant merger date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable and (y) remaking the representation set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation on the date of such notice, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day or (ii) in the event of (x) an Insolvency, a Nationalization or a Merger Event, in each case, in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash or (y) an Event of Default in which Counterparty is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Counterparty is the Affected Party, which Event of Default or Termination Event resulted from an event or events within Counterparty’s control (other than any Additional Termination Event pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) or Section 8(a)(iii)), in either of which cases under the immediately preceding clauses (i) or (ii), the provisions of “Consequences of Merger Events” above, Sections 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply in lieu of the provisions of this Section 8(b) in respect of such Payment Obligation. In the case of any such settlement by the Share Termination Alternative, the following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant merger date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable:

 

Share Termination Alternative:    Applicable and means that Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to “Consequences of Merger Events and Tender Offers” above, Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable, or such later date as the Calculation Agent may reasonably determine (the “Share Termination Payment Date”), in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.

Share Termination Delivery

Property:

   A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of the aggregate amount of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.
Share Termination Unit Price:    The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit on the date such Share Termination Delivery Units are to be delivered as Share Termination Delivery Property, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Dealer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.
Share Termination Delivery Unit:    In the case of a Termination Event, Event of Default, Delisting or Additional Disruption Event, one Share or, in the case of an Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event, one Share or a unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event, as applicable. If such Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.
Failure to Deliver:    Applicable
Other applicable provisions:    If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the issuer of the Shares or any portion of the Share Termination Delivery Units) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the

 

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   Transaction, except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units.”

(c) Disposition of Hedge Shares. Counterparty hereby agrees that if, in the good faith reasonable judgment of Dealer, based on advice of counsel, any Shares acquired by Dealer for the purpose of hedging its obligations pursuant to the Transaction, other than any such Shares that were, at the time of acquisition by Dealer, “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (any such Shares, the “Hedge Shares”), cannot be sold in the public market by Dealer without registration under the Securities Act, Counterparty shall, at its election: (i) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a registered offering, make available to Dealer an effective registration statement under the Securities Act to cover the resale of such Hedge Shares and (A) enter into an agreement substantially similar to underwriting agreements for registered secondary offerings of a substantially similar size, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, (B) provide accountant’s “comfort” letters in customary form for registered offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size, (C) provide disclosure opinions of nationally recognized outside counsel to Counterparty reasonably acceptable to Dealer, (D) provide other customary opinions, certificates and closing documents customary in form for registered offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size and (E) afford Dealer a reasonable opportunity to conduct a “due diligence” investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size; provided, however, that if Dealer, in its reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with access to due diligence materials, the results of its due diligence investigation, or the procedures and documentation for the registered offering referred to above, then clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this Section 8(c) shall apply at the election of Counterparty; (ii) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a private placement, enter into a private placement agreement substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of a substantially similar size, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, including customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Dealer, due diligence rights (for Dealer or any designated buyer of the Hedge Shares from Dealer), opinions and certificates and such other documentation as is customary for private placements agreements for private placements of equity securities of a substantially similar size, all reasonably acceptable to Dealer (in which case, the Calculation Agent shall make any adjustments to the terms of the Transaction that are necessary, in its reasonable judgment, to compensate Dealer for any discount from the public market price of the Shares incurred on the sale of Hedge Shares in a private placement); or (iii) purchase the Hedge Shares from Dealer at the VWAP Price on such Exchange Business Days, and in the amounts, requested by Dealer. “VWAP Price” means, on any Exchange Business Day, the per Share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “ECPG <equity> AQR” (or any successor thereto) in respect of the period from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Exchange Business Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one Share on such Exchange Business Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent using a volume-weighted method).

(d) Repurchase Notices. Counterparty shall, on or prior to any day on which Counterparty effects any repurchase of Shares, give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”) if, following such repurchase, the Notice Percentage as determined on the date of such Repurchase Notice is (i) greater than 9.0% and (ii) greater by 0.5% than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of the first such Repurchase Notice, greater than the Notice Percentage as of the date hereof). The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the Number of Shares and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Counterparty fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(d) then Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Counterparty) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction

 

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made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer.

(e) Transfer and Assignment.

(i) Either party may transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction with the prior written consent of the non-transferring party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. For the avoidance of doubt, Dealer may condition its consent on any of the following, without limitation: (i) the receipt by Dealer of opinions and documents reasonably satisfactory to Dealer in connection with such assignment, (ii) such assignment being effected on terms reasonably satisfactory to Dealer with respect to any legal and regulatory requirements relevant to Dealer, (iii) Counterparty continuing to be obligated to provide notices hereunder relating to the Convertible Securities and continuing to be obligated with respect to “Disposition of Hedge Shares” and “Repurchase Notices” above, (iv) Counterparty not being released from its indemnification obligations under Section 8(d) of this Confirmation, (v) such assignment only being to a third party that is a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), (vi) Dealer not being, as a result of such assignment, required to pay the transferee on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than an amount Dealer would have been required to pay to Counterparty in the absence of such assignment, (vii) there not being an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event as a result of such assignment, (viii) without limiting the generality of clause (v), Counterparty causing the transferee to make such Payee Tax Representations and to provide such tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by Dealer to permit Dealer to determine that the results described in clauses (vi) and (vii) will not occur upon or after such assignment and (ix) Counterparty being responsible for all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, incurred by Dealer in connection with such assignment. In addition, Dealer may transfer or assign without any consent of the Counterparty its rights and obligations hereunder and under the Agreement (1) in whole or in part to any affiliate of Dealer of credit quality at least equivalent to that of Dealer as of the Trade Date, (2) in whole or in part to any other affiliate of Dealer with respect to which Counterparty shall have received a full guaranty of such affiliate’s obligations from Dealer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Counterparty or (3) if at the time of such transfer or assignment an Excess Ownership Position exists, in part to any other third party with a rating for its long term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness equal to or better than the lesser of (I) the credit rating of Dealer at the time of the transfer and (II) A- by Standard and Poor’s Rating Group, Inc. or its successor (“S&P”), or A3 by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or, if either S&P or Moody’s ceases to rate such debt, at least an equivalent or better rating by a substitute rating agency mutually agreed by Counterparty and Dealer, in the case of this clause (3), to the extent that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists after giving effect to such partial transfer or assignment, in each case of the immediately preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3), only if an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event will not occur as a result of such transfer or assignment.

(ii) At any time at which any Excess Ownership Position exists, if Dealer, in its discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party in accordance with the requirements set forth above after using its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing terms and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Trading Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that such Excess Ownership Position no longer exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment or delivery shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and Section 8(b) of this Confirmation as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Counterparty shall be the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (iii) such portion of the Transaction shall be the only Terminated Transaction. “Excess Ownership Position” means any of the following: (i) the Equity Percentage exceeds 9.0%, (ii) Dealer or any “affiliate” or “associate” of Dealer would own in excess of 14.0% of the outstanding Shares for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iii) Dealer, Dealer Group (as defined below) or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations (except for any filings of Form 13F, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act) or other requirements (including obtaining prior

 

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approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination. The “Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer, for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or of any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part (Dealer and any such affiliates, persons and groups, collectively, “Dealer Group”), beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day (including, solely for such purpose, Shares that would be deemed outstanding pursuant to the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) if such sentence were applicable to the calculation of clause (B) of the definition of Equity Percentage).

(f) Staggered Settlement. If upon advice of counsel with respect to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including any requirements relating to Dealer’s hedging activities hereunder, Dealer reasonably determines that it would not be advisable to deliver, or to acquire Shares to deliver, any or all of the Shares to be delivered by Dealer on the relevant Settlement Date, Dealer may, by notice to Counterparty on or prior to any Settlement Date (a “Nominal Settlement Date”), elect to deliver the Shares on two or more dates (each, a “Staggered Settlement Date”) or at two or more times on the Nominal Settlement Date as follows:

(i) in such notice, Dealer will specify to Counterparty the related Staggered Settlement Dates (each of which will be on or prior to such Nominal Settlement Date, but not prior to the beginning of the related “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture)) and/or delivery times (during any single Staggered Settlement Date) and how it will allocate the Shares it is required to deliver under “Delivery Obligation” (above) among the Staggered Settlement Dates and/or delivery times; and

(ii) the aggregate number of Shares that Dealer will deliver to Counterparty hereunder on all such Staggered Settlement Dates (including on one or more delivery times on any single Staggered Settlement Date) will equal the number of Shares that Dealer would otherwise be required to deliver on such Nominal Settlement Date.

(g) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Exercise Date or Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer, with respect to some or all of the relevant Options (in which event the Calculation Agent shall make appropriate adjustments to the Delivery Obligation), if Dealer determines in its good faith and reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel in the case of the immediately following clause (ii), that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to (i) preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions in the cash market, the stock loan market or any other relevant market or (ii) to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer; provided that, no such Exercise Date, Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer may be postponed or extended more than 50 “Trading Days” (as defined in the Indenture) after the original Exercise Date, Settlement Date or other date of valuation or delivery by Dealer, as the case may be.

(h) Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party.

(i) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(j) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty solely to the extent of any such performance.

 

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(k) No Netting and Set-off. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement (including without limitation Section 6(f) thereof, which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction) and this Confirmation or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, neither party shall net or set off its obligations under the Transaction against its rights against the other party under any other transaction or instrument.

(l) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Counterparty’s bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Counterparty’s bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Counterparty of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is not secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Counterparty herein under or pursuant to any other agreement.

(m) Early Unwind. In the event the sale by Counterparty of the “Firm Securities” is not consummated with the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any reason by the close of business in New York on the Premium Payment Date (or such later date as agreed upon by the parties, which in no event shall be later than December 4, 2012) (the Premium Payment Date or such later date being the “Early Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate (the “Early Unwind”), on the Early Unwind Date and the Transaction and all of the respective rights and obligations of Dealer and Counterparty thereunder shall be cancelled and terminated. Following such termination and cancellation, each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of either party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Early Unwind Date; provided that, unless such Early Unwind Date occurred as a result of a breach of the Purchase Agreement by the Initial Purchasers, Counterparty shall purchase from Dealer on the Early Unwind Date all Shares purchased by Dealer or one or more of its affiliates in connection with the Transaction at the then prevailing market price. Dealer and Counterparty represent and acknowledge to the other that, subject to the proviso included in this Section 8(m), upon an Early Unwind, all obligations with respect to the Transaction shall be deemed fully and finally discharged.

(n) Payment by Counterparty. In the event that, following payment of the Premium, (i) an Early Termination Date occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction as a result of a Termination Event or an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement) and, as a result, Counterparty owes to Dealer an amount calculated under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, or (ii) Counterparty owes to Dealer, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, an amount calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.

(o) Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act. In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, nor any requirement under WSTAA or an amendment made by WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from Change in Law, an Excess Ownership Position or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

(p) Regulatory Provisions. Counterparty represents and warrants that it has received and read and understands the document titled “Risk Disclosure Statement for Over-The Counter Derivative Option Transactions” heretofore provided by Dealer to Counterparty.

(q) Terms relating to the Agent. Dealer is not registered as a broker or dealer under the Exchange Act. Agent has acted solely as agent for Dealer and Counterparty to the extent required by law in connection with the Transaction and has no obligations, by way of issuance, endorsement, guarantee or otherwise, with respect to the performance of either party under the Transaction. The parties agree to proceed solely against each other, and not against Agent, in seeking enforcement of their rights and obligations with respect to the Transaction, including their rights and obligations with respect to payment of funds and delivery of securities.

(r) Broker. Agent may have been paid a fee by Dealer in connection with the Transaction. Further details will be furnished upon written request.

(s) Time of Dealing. The time of the Transaction will be furnished by Agent upon written request.

 

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(t) Hedging and Market Activity of Dealer. Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that:

(i) During the term of the Transaction, Dealer and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to adjust Dealer’s hedge position with respect to the Transaction.

(ii) Dealer and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction.

(iii) Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Counterparty’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems in good faith to be appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the price at which this Transaction settles.

(iv) Any market activities of Dealer and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the price at which this Transaction settles, each in a manner that may be adverse to Counterparty.

(u) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF COUNTERPARTY AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

(v) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS CONFIRMATION AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

 

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Counterparty hereby agrees (a) to check this Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty with respect to the Transaction, by manually signing this Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to Steve Milankov, Equity Derivatives Legal Department, Facsimile No. 212-278-7365.

 

Yours faithfully,
SOCIETE GENERALE
By:  

/s/ July Liu

 

Name: July Liu

Title: OTC Documentation Manager

Confirmed and Acknowledged as of the date first above written:

 

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ J. Brandon Black

 

Name: J. Brandon Black

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


Annex A

 

Premium:    USD 3,878,000 (Premium per Option USD 6.12)
LETTER AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.4

 

   November 20, 2012
To:    Encore Capital Group, Inc.
   3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300
   San Diego, California 92108
   Attn:    Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer
   Telephone:    858-309-6904
   Facsimile:    858-309-6977
From:    Deutsche Bank LOGO
   Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
   Winchester House
   1 Great Winchester St, London EC2N 2DB
   Telephone:    44 20 7545 8000
   c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
   60 Wall Street
   New York, NY 10005
   Telephone:    212-250-2500
Re:    Base Issuer Warrant Transaction
   (Transaction Reference Number:513652)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (“Dealer”) and Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Issuer”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below.

DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH IS NOT REGISTERED AS A BROKER DEALER UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. (“DBSI”) HAS ACTED SOLELY AS AGENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION AND HAS NO OBLIGATION, BY WAY OF ISSUANCE, ENDORSEMENT, GUARANTEE OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE PERFORMANCE OF EITHER PARTY UNDER THE TRANSACTION. AS SUCH, ALL DELIVERY OF FUNDS, ASSETS, NOTICES, DEMANDS AND COMMUNICATIONS OF ANY KIND RELATING TO THIS TRANSACTION BETWEEN DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH, AND ISSUER SHALL BE TRANSMITTED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE SECURITIES INVESTOR PROTECTION CORPORATION (SIPC).

 

 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dr. Paul Achleitner.

 

Management Board: Jürgen Fitschen (Co-Chairman), Anshu Jain (Co-Chairman), Stefan Krause, Stephan Leithner, Stuart Lewis, Rainer Neske and Henry Ritchotte.

   Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: BaFin – Federal Financial Supervising Authority) and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business; a member of the London Stock Exchange. Deutsche Bank AG is a joint stock corporation with limited liability incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany HRB No. 30 000 District Court of Frankfurt am Main; Branch Registration in England and Wales BR000005; Registered address: Winchester House, 1 Great Winchester Street, London EC2N 2DB. Deutsche Bank Group online: http://www.deutsche-bank.com


1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the definitions and provisions of the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “2006 Definitions”) and the definitions and provisions of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and together with the 2006 Definitions, the “Definitions”), in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). In the event of any inconsistency between the 2006 Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions will govern. For purposes of the Equity Definitions, each reference herein to a Warrant shall be deemed to be a reference to a Call Option or an Option, as context requires.

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Issuer as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement as if Dealer and Issuer had executed an agreement in such form (without any Schedule but with the elections set forth in this Confirmation). For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement.

All provisions contained in, or incorporated by reference to, the Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein. In the event of any inconsistency between this Confirmation and either the Definitions or the Agreement, this Confirmation shall govern.

2. The Transaction is a Warrant Transaction, which shall be considered a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

General Terms:   
  Trade Date:    November 20, 2012
  Effective Date:    November 27, 2012, or such other date as agreed between the parties, subject to Section 8(o) below.
  Components:    The Transaction will be divided into individual Components, each with the terms set forth in this Confirmation, and, in particular, with the Number of Warrants and Expiration Date set forth in this Confirmation. The payments and deliveries to be made upon settlement of the Transaction will be determined separately for each Component as if each Component were a separate Transaction under the Agreement.
  Warrant Style:    European
  Warrant Type:    Call
  Seller:    Issuer
  Buyer:    Dealer
  Shares:    The common stock of Issuer, par value USD 0.01 per share (Ticker Symbol: “ECPG”).
  Number of Warrants:    For each Component, as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Warrant Entitlement:    One Share per Warrant
  Strike Price:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, this Confirmation or the Definitions, in no event shall the Strike Price be subject to adjustment to the extent that, after giving effect to such adjustment, the Strike Price would be less than USD 25.24, except for any adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation and the Equity Definitions in connection with stock splits or similar changes to Issuer’s capitalization.

 

2


  Premium:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Premium Payment Date:    The Effective Date
  Exchange:    The NASDAQ Global Select Market
  Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Procedures for Exercise:   

In respect of any Component:

  
  Expiration Time:    Valuation Time
  Expiration Date:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day that is not already an Expiration Date for another Component); provided that if that date is a Disrupted Day, the Expiration Date for such Component shall be the first succeeding Scheduled Trading Day that is not a Disrupted Day and is not or is not deemed to be an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component of the Transaction hereunder; and provided further that if the Expiration Date has not occurred pursuant to the preceding proviso as of the Final Disruption Date, the Final Disruption Date shall be the Expiration Date (irrespective of whether such date is an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component for the Transaction) and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation or the Definitions, the Relevant Price for such Expiration Date shall be the prevailing market value per Share determined by the Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable manner. “Final Disruption Date” means October 10, 2018. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if a Market Disruption Event occurs on any Expiration Date, the Calculation Agent may determine that such Expiration Date is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case (i) the Calculation Agent shall make adjustments to the Number of Warrants for the relevant Component for which such day shall be the Expiration Date and shall designate the Scheduled Trading Day determined in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence as the Expiration Date for the remaining Warrants for such Component, and (ii) the Settlement Price for such Disrupted Day shall be determined by the Calculation Agent based on transactions in the Shares on such Disrupted Day taking into account the nature and duration of such Market Disruption Event on such day. Any Scheduled Trading Day on which, as of the date hereof, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal close of trading shall be deemed not to be a Scheduled Trading Day; if a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading on any Scheduled Trading Day is scheduled following the date hereof, then such Scheduled Trading Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date occurring on an Expiration Date.
  Market Disruption Event:    Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) deleting the words “during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be,” in clause (ii) thereof, (ii) deleting the word “or” before clause

 

3


     (iii) thereof and (iii) inserting after clause (iii) thereof “or (iv) a Regulatory Disruption”.
     Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.
  Regulatory Disruption:    Any event that Dealer, in good faith and in its reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel, determines makes it appropriate with regard to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures, for Dealer to refrain from or decrease any market activity in connection with the Transaction and that the Calculation Agent determines is material. Dealer shall notify Issuer as soon as reasonably practicable that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred and the Expiration Dates affected by it.
  Automatic Exercise:    Applicable; and means that the Number of Warrants for each Component will be deemed to be automatically exercised at the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date for such Component unless Dealer notifies Seller (by telephone or in writing) prior to the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date that it does not wish Automatic Exercise to occur, in which case Automatic Exercise will not apply.
  Issuer’s Telephone Number and Telex and/or Facsimile Number and Contact Details for purpose of Giving Notice:    To be provided by Issuer.
  Valuation Time:    Scheduled Closing Time; provided that if the principal trading session is extended, the Calculation Agent shall determine the Valuation Time in its reasonable discretion.
Settlement Terms:   

In respect of any Component:

  
  Settlement Method Election:    Applicable; provided that, (i) any such election by the Electing Party shall apply only with respect to the Component or Components specified by the Electing Party thereunder and (ii) for any particular Component hereunder, the same Settlement Method shall apply to each Warrant under such Component; and provided further that references to “Physical Settlement” in section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions shall be replaced with “Net Share Settlement”; and provided further that Issuer may elect Cash Settlement only if at the time of such election (i) it provides to Dealer a written acknowledgment of its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of such election and (ii) in such written acknowledgement Issuer remakes to Dealer the representations set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation as of the date of such written acknowledgement.
  Electing Party:    Issuer

 

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  Settlement Method Election Date:    For any Component, the eighth Scheduled Trading Day prior to the scheduled Expiration Date for such Component.
  Default Settlement Method:    Net Share Settlement
  Settlement Currency:    USD
  Net Share Settlement:    If Net Share Settlement is applicable to the Component, on the Settlement Date, Issuer shall deliver to Dealer a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Settlement Date to the account specified by Dealer and cash in lieu of any fractional Share (resulting from the rounding set forth under “Number of Shares to be Delivered” below) valued at the Settlement Price on the Valuation Date corresponding to such Settlement Date. The Number of Shares to be Delivered shall be delivered by Issuer to Dealer no later than 5:00 P.M. (local time in New York City) on the relevant Settlement Date.
  Number of Shares to be Delivered:    In respect of any Exercise Date, notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 9.5 of the Equity Definitions (which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction), a number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share), if any, equal to the product of (i) the number of Warrants exercised or deemed exercised on such Exercise Date, (ii) the Warrant Entitlement and (iii) the Strike Price Differential for the relevant Valuation Date divided by (B) the Settlement Price for the relevant Valuation Date.
  Cash Settlement:    If Cash Settlement is applicable to the Component, on the Cash Settlement Payment Date, Issuer shall pay to Dealer an amount of cash in USD equal to the Option Cash Settlement Amount, if any, for such Cash Settlement Payment Date.
  Option Cash Settlement Amount:    For any Cash Settlement Payment Date, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Number of Warrants exercised or deemed exercised on the relevant Exercise Date, (ii) the Warrant Entitlement and (iii) the Strike Price Differential for the relevant Valuation Date.
  Cash Settlement Payment Date:    The third Currency Business Day after the relevant Valuation Date.
  Settlement Price:    For any Valuation Date, the volume-weighted average price per Share for the period from the scheduled opening time of the Exchange to the Scheduled Closing Time on such Valuation Date, as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “ECPG <equity> AQR” (or any successor thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such Valuation Date for any reason, as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent.
  Other Applicable Provisions:    The provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Seller is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction.
Adjustments:   

In respect of any Component:

  

 

5


  Method of Adjustment:    Calculation Agent Adjustment
  Extraordinary Dividend:    Any Dividend (i) that has an ex-dividend date occurring on or after the Trade Date and on or prior to the date on which Issuer satisfies all of its delivery obligations hereunder and (ii) the amount or value of which differs from the Ordinary Dividend Amount for such Dividend, as determined by the Calculation Agent.
  Dividend:    Any dividend or distribution on the Shares (other than any dividend or distribution of the type described in Sections 11.2(e)(i), 11.2(e)(ii)(A) or 11.2(e)(ii)(B) of the Equity Definitions).
  Ordinary Dividend Amount:    USD 0.00.
Extraordinary Events:   
  Consequences of Merger Events:   
 

(a) Share-for-Share:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
 

(b) Share-for-Other:

   Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination)
 

(c) Share-for-Combined:

   Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that Dealer may elect, in its commercially reasonable judgment, Component Adjustment (Calculation Agent Determination).
  Tender Offer:    Applicable
  Consequences of Tender Offers:   
 

(a) Share-for-Share:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
 

(b) Share-for-Other:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
 

(c) Share-for-Combined:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
  Announcement Event:    If an Announcement Date occurs in respect of a Merger Event or Tender Offer (such occurrence, an “Announcement Event”), then on the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which the transaction described in any Announcement Event (as amended or modified) is cancelled, withdrawn, discontinued or otherwise terminated and (ii) the Expiration Date, Early Termination Date or other date of cancellation or termination in respect of each Component (the “Announcement Event Adjustment Date”), the Calculation Agent will determine the cumulative economic effect on such Component of the Announcement Event (without duplication in respect of any other adjustment or cancellation valuation made pursuant to this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions or the Agreement, regardless of whether the Announcement Event actually results in a Merger Event or Tender Offer, and taking into account such factors as the Calculation Agent may determine, including, without limitation, changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relevant to the Shares or the Transaction during the period from the Announcement Event to the Announcement Event Adjustment Date); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt (x) in no event shall the modification or amendment of the terms of a transaction described in an Announcement Event constitute a new, additional or different Announcement Event hereunder (but any such modification or amendment may be taken into account in determining the cumulative economic effect on such Component of

 

6


     the Announcement Event) and (y) the occurrence of an Announcement Event Adjustment Date in respect of the cancellation, withdrawal, discontinuation or other termination of the transaction described in an Announcement Event (as amended or modified) shall not preclude the occurrence of a later Announcement Date with respect to such transaction. If the Calculation Agent determines that such cumulative economic effect on any Component is material, then on the Announcement Event Adjustment Date for such Component, the Calculation Agent may make such adjustment to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of such Component as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to account for such economic effect, which adjustment shall be effective immediately prior to the exercise, termination or cancellation of such Component, as the case may be.
  Announcement Date:    The definition of “Announcement Date” in Section 12.1 of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the words “a firm” with the word “any” in the second and fourth lines thereof, (ii) replacing the word “leads to the” with the words “, if completed, would lead to a” in the third and the fifth lines thereof, (iii) replacing the words “voting shares” with the word “Shares” in the fifth line thereof, and (iv) inserting the words “by any entity” after the word “announcement” in the second and the fourth lines thereof.
  New Shares:    In the definition of New Shares in Section 12.1(i) of the Equity Definitions, (a) the text in clause (i) thereof shall be deleted in its entirety (including the word “and” following such clause (i)) and replaced with “publicly quoted, traded or listed on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors),” and (b) the phrase “and (iii) issued by a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that either (x) also becomes Seller under the relevant Transaction following such Merger Event or Tender Offer or (y) wholly owns the Seller under the relevant Transaction following such Merger Event or Tender Offer (which Seller is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia) and fully and unconditionally guarantees the obligations of Seller under the Transaction with the result that for purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act Dealer is able to tack its holding period in the Warrants to its holding period in the Shares issuable thereunder” shall be inserted immediately prior to the period.
 

Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:

   Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.

 

7


  Additional Disruption Events:   
 

(a) Change in Law:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the word “Shares” with the phrase “Hedge Positions” in clause (X) thereof, (iii) inserting the parenthetical “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” at the end of clause (A) thereof, (iv) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (v) adding the following proviso to the end of clause (Y) thereof: “provided that such party has used good faith efforts to avoid such increased cost on terms reasonably acceptable to such party, as long as (i) such party would not incur a materially increased cost (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position, or any increase in margin or capital requirements), as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (ii) such party would not violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or policy of such party, as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (iii) such party would not suffer a material penalty, injunction, non-financial burden, reputational harm or other material adverse consequence in doing so, (iv) such party would not incur any material operational or administrative burden in doing so and (v) such party would not, in doing so, be required to take any action that is contrary to the intent of the law or regulation that is subject to the Change in Law”.
 

(b) Failure to Deliver:

   Not Applicable
 

(c) Insolvency Filing:

   Applicable
 

(d) Hedging Disruption:

   Applicable; provided that:
    

(i)     Section 12.9(a)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting the following two phrases at the end of such Section:

    

“For the avoidance of doubt, the term “equity price risk” shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, stock price and volatility risk. And, for the further avoidance of doubt, any such transactions or assets referred to in phrases (A) or (B) above must be available on commercially reasonable pricing terms.”; and

    

(ii)    Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting in the third line thereof, after the words “to terminate the Transaction”, the words “or a portion of the Transaction affected by such Hedging Disruption”.

 

(e) Increased Cost of Hedging:

  

Not  Applicable

 

(f) Loss of Stock Borrow:

  

Applicable

 

     Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

   As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.

 

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(g) Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:

   Applicable
 

     Initial Stock Loan Rate:

   As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Hedging Party:    Dealer for all applicable Potential Adjustment Events and Extraordinary Events
  Determining Party:    Dealer for all applicable Extraordinary Events
  Non-Reliance:    Applicable
  Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:    Applicable
  Additional Acknowledgments:    Applicable
    

3. Calculation Agent: Dealer, whose judgments, determinations and calculations shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a request by Issuer, the Calculation Agent shall promptly (but in any event within three Scheduled Trading Days) provide to Issuer by email to the email address provided by Issuer in such request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation (including any assumptions used in making such determination or calculation), it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary models used by it for such determination or calculation.

4. Account Details:

 

Dealer Payment Instructions:

      Bank:    The Bank of New York
      ABA#:    021-000-018
      Acct. No.:    8900327634
      Acct. Name:    Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
Issuer Payment Instructions:       To be provided by Issuer.

5. Offices:

 

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: London         
The Office of Issuer for the Transaction is: Not applicable

6. Notices:

 

(a)    Address for notices or communications to Issuer for purposes of this Confirmation:

To:

   Encore Capital Group, Inc.
   3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300
   San Diego, CA 92108

Attn:

   Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer

Telephone:

   858-309-6904

Facsimile:

   858-309-6977

With a copy to:

Attn:

   Greg Call, General Counsel

Telephone:

   858-569-3978

Facsimile:

   858-309-6998
(b)     Address for notices or communications to Dealer for purposes of this Confirmation:

Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch

c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

 

9


New York, NY 10005
Attention:    Andrew Yaeger
Telephone:    212-250-2717
Email:    Andrew.Yaeger@db.com
With a copy to:
(same address as above)
Attn:    Paul Stowell
Telephone:    212-250-6270
Email:    Paul.Stowell@db.com
Attention:    Faiz Khan
Telephone:    212-250-0668
Email:    Faiz.Khan@db.com

7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

(a) Each of the representations and warranties of Issuer set forth in Section 1 of the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 20, 2012, between Issuer and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Barclays Capital Inc. as representatives of the initial purchasers party thereto (the “Initial Purchasers”), are true and correct and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Issuer represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

(i) On the Trade Date (A) Issuer it not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Issuer or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Issuer with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Issuer acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(iii) Prior to or on the Effective Date, Issuer shall deliver to Dealer a resolution of Issuer’s board of directors authorizing the Transaction.

(iv) Issuer is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

(v) Issuer is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(vi) On the Trade Date, (A) the assets of Issuer at their fair valuation exceed the liabilities of Issuer, including contingent liabilities, (B) the capital of Issuer is adequate to conduct the business of Issuer and (C) Issuer has the ability to pay its debts and obligations as such debts mature and does not intend to, or does not believe that it will, incur debt beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature.

(vii) Issuer shall not take any action to decrease the number of Available Shares below the Capped Number (each as defined below).

 

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(viii) Issuer understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any Affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(ix) (A) On the Trade Date, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, are not, and shall not be, subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”), (B) Issuer shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in sections 101(b) and 102(b) of Regulation M, until the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Trade Date and (C) during the period starting on the first Expiration Date and ending on the last Expiration Date (the “Settlement Period”), the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Shares will not be subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M.

(x) During the Settlement Period, neither Issuer nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of any cash-settled or other derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or an equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, except through Dealer (or, with prior notice to Dealer by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding such a transaction, Royal Bank of Canada or Société Générale); provided that, this clause (x) shall not apply to any of the following: (A) purchases of Shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options granted to former or current employees, officers, directors, or other affiliates of Issuer or its subsidiaries, including the withholding and/or purchase of Shares from holders of such options to satisfy payment of the option exercise price and/or to satisfy tax withholding requirements in connection with the exercise of such options; (B) purchases of Shares from holders of performance shares or units or restricted shares or units to satisfy tax withholding requirements in connection with vesting; or (C) purchases of Shares effected by or for a plan by an agent independent of Issuer that satisfy the requirements of Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(ii).

(xi) A number of Shares equal to the Capped Number (as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation) (the “Warrant Shares”) have been reserved for issuance by all required corporate action of Issuer. The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and, when delivered against payment therefor (which may include Net Share Settlement in lieu of cash) and otherwise as contemplated by the terms of the Warrant following the exercise of the Warrant in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warrant, will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Warrant Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(xii) To Issuer’s knowledge, based on due inquiry, no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares.

(b) Each of Dealer and Issuer agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

(c) Each of Dealer and Issuer acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof. Accordingly, Dealer represents and warrants to Issuer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

(d) Each of Dealer and Issuer agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge that it is the intent of the parties that (A) this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a

 

11


“termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “payment or other transfer of property” within the meaning of Sections 362 and 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2), 555, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(e) Issuer shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date, to Dealer with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement and Section 7(a)(xi) of this Confirmation; provided that such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including, without limitation, exceptions and qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

8. Other Provisions:

(a) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If Issuer shall owe Dealer any amount (i) pursuant to Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or (ii) pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement (a “Payment Obligation”), Issuer shall satisfy any such Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below), unless either (x) Issuer shall have elected to satisfy any such Payment Obligation by delivering cash in USD by (1) giving irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Merger Date, Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable and (2) remaking the representation set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation on the date of such notice, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, or (y) in the event of (1) an Insolvency, a Nationalization, a Tender Offer or a Merger Event, in each case, in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash or (2) an Event of Default in which Issuer is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Issuer is the Affected Party, which Event of Default or Termination Event resulted from an event or events within Issuer’s control, in either of which cases under the immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), the provisions of Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply in lieu of the provisions of this paragraph 8(a). In the case of any such settlement by the Share Termination Alternative, the following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the Merger Date, the Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable:

 

Share Termination Alternative:

Applicable and means that Issuer shall deliver to Dealer the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable (the “Share Termination Payment Date”), in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.

 

Share Termination Delivery Property:

A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of the aggregate amount of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.

 

Share Termination Unit Price:

The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit on the date such Share Termination Delivery Units are to be delivered as Share Termination Delivery Property, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Issuer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.

 

Share Termination Delivery Unit:

In the case of a Termination Event, Event of Default, Delisting or Additional Disruption Event, one Share or, in the case of an Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer, one Share or a unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of

 

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any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer, as applicable. If such Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.

 

Failure to Deliver:

Applicable

 

Other applicable provisions:

If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Seller is the issuer of the Shares or any portion of the Share Termination Delivery Units) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction, except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units”.

(b) Registration/Private Placement Procedures. (i) If, in the reasonable judgment of Dealer, based on the advice of counsel, for any reason, any Shares or any securities of Issuer or its affiliates comprising any Share Termination Delivery Units deliverable to Dealer hereunder (any such Shares or securities, “Delivered Securities”) would not be immediately freely transferable by Dealer under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, then the provisions set forth in this Section 8(b) shall apply. At the election of Issuer, if applicable, by notice to Dealer within three Exchange Business Day after the relevant delivery obligation arises (or, if later, by the third Exchange Business Day following the date of notification by Dealer of the need for such settlement procedures), either (A) all Delivered Securities delivered by Issuer to Dealer shall be, at the time of such delivery, covered by an effective registration statement of Issuer for immediate resale by Dealer (such registration statement and the corresponding prospectus (the “Prospectus”) (including, without limitation, any sections describing the plan of distribution) in form and content commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer) or (B) Issuer shall deliver additional Delivered Securities so that the value of such Delivered Securities, as determined by the Calculation Agent to reflect an appropriate liquidity discount, equals the value of the number of Delivered Securities that would otherwise be deliverable if such Delivered Securities were freely tradeable (without prospectus delivery) upon receipt by Dealer (such value, the “Freely Tradeable Value”); provided that Issuer may not make the election described in this clause (B) if, on the date of its election, it has taken, or caused to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the delivery by Issuer to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Delivered Securities or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(1) or Section 4(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Delivered Securities by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer). (For the avoidance of doubt, as used in this paragraph (b) only, the term “Issuer” shall mean the issuer of the relevant securities, as the context shall require.)

(ii) If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(A) above:

(A) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Issuer that is customary in scope for registered secondary offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size and that yields results that are commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer or such Affiliate, as the case may be, in its discretion; and

(B) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and Issuer shall enter into an agreement (a “Registration Agreement”) on commercially reasonable terms in connection with the public resale of such Delivered Securities by Dealer or such Affiliate substantially similar to underwriting agreements customary for registered secondary offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer or such Affiliate and Issuer, which Registration Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such underwriting agreements relating to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and Issuer, shall provide for the payment by Issuer of all expenses in connection with such resale, including all registration costs and all fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, and shall provide for the delivery of accountants’ “comfort letters” to Dealer or such Affiliate with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus; provided that if Dealer, in its sole reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with the procedures or documentation described in this

 

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Section 8(b)(ii), the procedures set forth in Section 8(b)(iii) shall apply as if Issuer had so elected in clause (b)(i)(B) above.

(iii) If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(B) above:

(A) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and any potential institutional purchaser of any such Delivered Securities from Dealer or such Affiliate identified by Dealer shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation in compliance with applicable law with respect to Issuer customary in scope for private placements of equity offerings of substantially similar size (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them);

(B) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and Issuer shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) on commercially reasonable terms in connection with the private placement of such Delivered Securities by Issuer to Dealer or such Affiliate and the private resale of such shares by Dealer or such Affiliate, substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity offerings of substantially similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer and Issuer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and Issuer, shall provide for the payment by Issuer of all expenses in connection with such resale, including all fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, shall contain representations, warranties and agreements of Issuer reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales, and shall use best efforts to provide for the delivery of accountants’ “comfort letters” to Dealer or such Affiliate with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the offering memorandum prepared for the resale of such Shares; and

(C) Issuer agrees that any Delivered Securities so delivered to Dealer, (i) may be transferred by and among Dealer and its Affiliates, and Issuer shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer and (ii) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed with respect to such Delivered Securities, Issuer shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for such Shares or securities to remove, any legends referring to any such restrictions or requirements from such Delivered Securities upon delivery by Dealer (or such Affiliate of Dealer) to Issuer or such transfer agent of seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer).

(D) Issuer shall not take, or cause to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the sale by Issuer to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(1) or Section 4(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer).

(iii) If in respect of any Delivered Securities subject to this Section 8(b) neither the public resale contemplated by clause (ii) of this subsection nor the private placement contemplated by clause (iii) of this subsection shall be effected, then such failure to effect a public resale or private placement of such Delivered Securities shall constitute an Event of Default with respect to which Issuer shall be the Defaulting Party.

(c) Make-whole. If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(B) of paragraph (b) of this Section 8, then Dealer or its affiliate may sell such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, during a period (the “Resale Period”) commencing on the Exchange Business Day following delivery of such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, and ending on the Exchange Business Day on which Dealer completes the sale of all such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, or a sufficient number of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, so that the realized net proceeds of such sales exceed the Freely Tradeable Value (such amount of the Freely Tradeable Value, the “Required Proceeds”). If any of such delivered Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units remain after such realized net proceeds exceed the Required Proceeds, Dealer shall return such remaining Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units to Issuer. If the Required Proceeds

 

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exceed the realized net proceeds from such resale, Issuer shall transfer to Dealer by the open of the regular trading session on the Exchange on the Exchange Trading Day immediately following the last day of the Resale Period the amount of such excess (the “Additional Amount”) in cash or in a number of additional Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, (“Make-whole Shares”) in an amount that, based on the Relevant Price on the last day of the Resale Period (as if such day was the “Valuation Date” for purposes of computing such Relevant Price), has a dollar value equal to the Additional Amount. The Resale Period shall continue to enable the sale of the Make-whole Shares in the manner contemplated by this Section 8(c). This provision shall be applied successively until the Additional Amount is equal to zero, subject to Section 8(e).

(d) Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or this Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be entitled to receive, or shall be deemed to receive, any Shares in connection with this Transaction if, immediately upon giving effect to such receipt of such Shares, (i) Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership would be equal to or greater than 9.0% of the outstanding Shares, (ii) Dealer, or any “affiliate” or “associate” of Dealer, would be an “interested stockholder” of Issuer, as all such terms are defined in Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iii) Dealer, Dealer Group (as defined below) or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations (except for any filings of Form 13F, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act) or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (each of clause (i), (ii) and (iii) above, an “Ownership Limitation”). If any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of an Ownership Limitation, Dealer’s right to receive such delivery shall not be extinguished and Issuer shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Issuer that such delivery would not result in any of such Ownership Limitations being breached. “Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer, for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or of any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part (Dealer and any such affiliates, persons and groups, collectively, “Dealer Group”), beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day (including, solely for such purpose, Shares that would be deemed outstanding pursuant to the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) as if such sentence were applicable to the calculation of clause (B) of the definition of Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership). Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement or this Confirmation to the contrary, Dealer (or the affiliate designated by Dealer pursuant to Section 8(l) below) shall not become the record or beneficial owner, or otherwise have any rights as a holder, of any Shares that Dealer (or such affiliate) is not entitled to receive at any time pursuant to this Section 8(d), until such time as such Shares are delivered pursuant to this Section 8(d).

(e) Limitations on Settlement by Issuer. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Issuer be required to deliver Shares in connection with the Transaction in excess of the Capped Number (as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation), subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Confirmation or the Definitions resulting from actions of Issuer or events within Issuer’s control (the “Capped Number”). Issuer represents and warrants to Dealer (which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that the Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares of the Issuer that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transaction) on the date of the determination of the Capped Number (such Shares, the “Available Shares”). In the event Issuer shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable as a result of this Section 8(e) (the resulting deficit, the “Deficit Shares”), Issuer shall be continually obligated to deliver, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, Shares when, and to the extent, that (i) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Issuer or any of its subsidiaries after the Trade Date (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (ii) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved or (iii) Issuer additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions. At such time as there may be Deficit Shares, Issuer shall promptly notify Dealer of the

 

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occurrence of any of the foregoing events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered) and promptly deliver such Shares thereafter.

(f) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Exercise Date or Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery with respect to some or all of the relevant Warrants (in which event the Calculation Agent shall make appropriate adjustments to the Number of Shares to be Delivered with respect to one or more Components), if Dealer determines, in its good faith and reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel in the case of the immediately following clause (ii), that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to (i) preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions in the cash market, the stock loan market or any other relevant market or (ii) to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Issuer or an affiliated purchaser of Issuer, be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer; provided that, no such Exercise Date, Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery may be postponed or extended more than 50 Exchange Business Days after the original Exercise Date, Settlement Date or other date of valuation or delivery, as the case may be.

(g) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Issuer’s bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Issuer’s bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Issuer of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is not secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Issuer herein under or pursuant to any other agreement.

(h) Amendments to Equity Definitions. The following amendments shall be made to the Equity Definitions:

(i) Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “a material”; and adding the phrase “or Warrants” at the end of the sentence;

(ii) Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) deleting the words “diluting or concentrative” (in both instances) and replacing each instance with the word “material”, (B) adding the phrase “or Warrants” after the word “Shares” in the sixth line thereof and (C) deleting the phrase “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing it with the phrase “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)”;

(iii) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions are hereby amended by deleting the words “that may have a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “that is the result of a corporate event involving Issuer or its securities that may have a material” and adding the phrase “or Warrants” at the end of the sentence;

(iv) [Reserved.];

(v) Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) deleting (1) subsection (A) in its entirety, (2) the phrase “or (B)” following subsection (A) and (3) the phrase “in each case” in subsection (B); and (B) deleting the phrase “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares or” in the penultimate sentence; and

(vi) Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); and (B)(1) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety, (2) deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C) and (3) replacing in the penultimate sentence the words “either party” with “the Hedging Party” and (4) deleting clause (X) in the final sentence.

(i) Transfer and Assignment. Subject to applicable law, Dealer may transfer or assign all of its rights and obligations hereunder and under the Transaction and Agreement, in whole or in part, without the consent of Issuer to any affiliate of Dealer only if an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event will not occur as a result

 

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of such transfer or assignment. Issuer may not transfer or assign any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction or the Agreement without the prior written consent of Dealer. At any time at which any Ownership Limitation exists, if Dealer, in its discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party after using its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing terms and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Ownership Limitation no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Trading Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that such Ownership Limitation no longer exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment or delivery shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and Section 8(b) of this Confirmation as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Issuer shall be the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (iii) such portion of the Transaction shall be the only Terminated Transaction.

(j) Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party.

(k) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Issuer and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Issuer relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(l) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Issuer, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Issuer solely to the extent of any such performance.

(m) Additional Termination Events. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction shall be the sole Affected Transaction and Issuer shall be the sole Affected Party; provided that with respect to any Additional Termination Event, Dealer may choose to treat part of the Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction, and, upon the termination of the Affected Transaction, a Transaction with terms identical to those set forth herein except with a Number of Warrants equal to the unaffected number of Warrants shall be treated for all purposes as the Transaction, which shall remain in full force and effect:

(i) Dealer reasonably determines, based on advice of counsel, that it is advisable to terminate a portion of the Transaction so that Dealer’s related hedging activities will comply with applicable securities laws, rules or regulations or related policies and procedures of Dealer (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer);

(ii) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than Issuer, Issuer’s employee benefit plans, Issuer’s subsidiaries and Issuer’s subsidiaries’ employee benefit plans, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of Shares representing more than 50% of the voting power of all shares of Issuer’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors; or

(iii) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of Shares (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) pursuant to which the Shares would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of Issuer pursuant to which Shares will be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a merger of Issuer solely for the purpose of changing Issuer’s jurisdiction of incorporation that results in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding Shares solely into shares of common stock of the surviving entity; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of Issuer’s subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction set forth in clause (ii) or (iii) above will not constitute an

 

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Additional Termination Event if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by holders of the Shares, excluding cash payments for fractional Shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock or ordinary shares that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions.

(n) No Netting and Set-off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set off obligations arising under the Agreement and the Transaction against other obligations between the parties, whether arising under any other agreement, applicable law or otherwise.

(o) Early Unwind. In the event the sale by Issuer of the “Firm Securities” is not consummated with the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any reason by the close of business in New York on the Premium Payment Date (or such later date as agreed upon by the parties, which in no event shall be later than December 4, 2012) (the Premium Payment Date or such later date being the “Early Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate (the “Early Unwind”), on the Early Unwind Date and the Transaction and all of the respective rights and obligations of Dealer and Issuer thereunder shall be cancelled and terminated. Following such termination and cancellation, each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of either party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Early Unwind Date; provided that, unless such Early Unwind Date occurred as a result of a breach of the Purchase Agreement by the Initial Purchasers, Issuer shall purchase from Dealer on the Early Unwind Date all Shares purchased by Dealer or one or more of its affiliates in connection with the Transaction at the then prevailing market price. Dealer and Issuer represent and acknowledge to the other that, subject to the proviso included in this Section 8(o), upon an Early Unwind, all obligations with respect to the Transaction shall be deemed fully and finally discharged.

(p) Repurchase Notices. Issuer shall, on or prior to any day on which Issuer effects any repurchase of Shares, give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”) if, following such repurchase, the Notice Percentage as determined on the date of such Repurchase Notice is (i) greater than 9.0% and (ii) greater by 0.5% than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of the first such Repurchase Notice, greater than the Notice Percentage as of the date hereof). The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the Number of Shares and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Issuer fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(p) then Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Issuer shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Issuer will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Issuer) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Issuer. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer.

(q) Share Deliveries. Issuer acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the holder of these Warrants is not then an affiliate and has not been an affiliate for 90 days (it being understood that Dealer will not be considered an affiliate under this paragraph solely by reason of its receipt of Shares pursuant to the Transaction), and otherwise satisfies all holding period and other requirements of Rule 144 of the Securities Act applicable to it, any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property hereunder at any time after 6 months from the Trade Date (or 1 year from the Trade Date if, at such time, informational requirements of Rule 144(c) are not satisfied with respect to Issuer) shall be eligible for resale under Rule 144 of the Securities Act and Issuer agrees to promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property, to remove, any legends referring to any restrictions on

 

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resale under the Securities Act from the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property. Issuer further agrees that any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property prior to the date that is 6 months from the Trade Date (or 1 year from the Trade Date if, at such time, informational requirements of Rule 144(c) are not satisfied with respect to Issuer), may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and Issuer shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Issuer agrees that any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property shall be effected by book-entry transfer through the facilities of DTC, or any successor depositary, if at the time of delivery, such class of Shares or class of Share Termination Delivery Property is in book-entry form at DTC or such successor depositary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent the provisions of Rule 144 of the Securities Act or any successor rule are amended, or the applicable interpretation thereof by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any court change after the Trade Date, the agreements of Issuer herein shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary, in the opinion of outside counsel of Issuer, to comply with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, as in effect at the time of delivery of the relevant Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property.

(r) Payment by Dealer. In the event that, following payment of the Premium, (i) an Early Termination Date occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction as a result of a Termination Event or an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement) and, as a result, Dealer owes to Issuer an amount calculated under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, or (ii) Dealer owes to Issuer, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, an amount calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.

(s) Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010. The parties hereby agree that none of (v) Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), (w) any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (x) the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, (y) any requirement under WSTAA nor (z) an amendment made by WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from Change in Law, Loss of Stock Borrow, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow, an Ownership Limitation or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

(t) Method of Delivery. Whenever delivery of funds or other assets is required hereunder by or to Issuer, such delivery shall be effected through DBSI. In addition, all notices, demands and communications of any kind relating to the Transaction between Dealer and Issuer shall be transmitted exclusively through DBSI.

(u) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF ISSUER AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

(v) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS CONFIRMATION AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

 

19


Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by sending to us a letter or telex substantially similar to this facsimile, which letter or telex sets forth the material terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates and indicates your agreement to those terms. Dealer will make the time of execution of the Transaction available upon request.

Dealer is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

 

Yours faithfully,
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH
By:  

/s/ Andrew Yaeger

  Name: Andrew Yaeger
  Title: Managing Director

 

By:  

/s/ Natalie Hurton

  Name: Natalie Hurton
  Title: Managing Director

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., acting solely as Agent in connection with the Transaction
By:  

/s/ Andrew Yaeger

  Name: Andrew Yaeger
  Title: Managing Director

 

By:  

/s/ Natalie Hurton

  Name: Natalie Hurton
  Title: Managing Director

Confirmed and Acknowledged as of the date first above written:

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ J. Brandon Black

  Name: J. Brandon Black
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dr. Paul Achleitner.

 

Management Board: Jürgen Fitschen (Co-Chairman), Anshu Jain (Co-Chairman), Stefan Krause, Stephan Leithner, Stuart Lewis, Rainer Neske and Henry Ritchotte.

   Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: BaFin – Federal Financial Supervising Authority) and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business; a member of the London Stock Exchange. Deutsche Bank AG is a joint stock corporation with limited liability incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany HRB No. 30 000 District Court of Frankfurt am Main; Branch Registration in England and Wales BR000005; Registered address: Winchester House, 1 Great Winchester Street, London EC2N 2DB. Deutsche Bank Group online: http://www.deutsche-bank.com


Annex A

For each Component of the Transaction, the Number of Warrants and Expiration Date is set forth below.

 

Component Number

   Number of Warrants    Expiration Date

1.

   8,449    26-Feb-18

2.

   8,449    27-Feb-18

3.

   8,449    28-Feb-18

4.

   8,449    1-Mar-18

5.

   8,449    2-Mar-18

6.

   8,449    5-Mar-18

7.

   8,449    6-Mar-18

8.

   8,449    7-Mar-18

9.

   8,449    8-Mar-18

10.

   8,449    9-Mar-18

11.

   8,449    12-Mar-18

12.

   8,449    13-Mar-18

13.

   8,449    14-Mar-18

14.

   8,449    15-Mar-18

15.

   8,449    16-Mar-18

16.

   8,449    19-Mar-18

17.

   8,449    20-Mar-18

18.

   8,449    21-Mar-18

19.

   8,449    22-Mar-18

20.

   8,449    23-Mar-18

21.

   8,449    26-Mar-18

22.

   8,449    27-Mar-18

23.

   8,449    28-Mar-18

24.

   8,449    29-Mar-18

25.

   8,449    2-Apr-18

26.

   8,449    3-Apr-18

27.

   8,449    4-Apr-18

28.

   8,449    5-Apr-18

29.

   8,449    6-Apr-18

30.

   8,449    9-Apr-18

31.

   8,449    10-Apr-18

32.

   8,449    11-Apr-18

33.

   8,449    12-Apr-18

34.

   8,449    13-Apr-18

35.

   8,449    16-Apr-18

36.

   8,449    17-Apr-18

37.

   8,449    18-Apr-18

38.

   8,449    19-Apr-18

39.

   8,449    20-Apr-18

40.

   8,449    23-Apr-18

41.

   8,449    24-Apr-18

42.

   8,449    25-Apr-18

43.

   8,449    26-Apr-18

44.

   8,449    27-Apr-18

45.

   8,449    30-Apr-18

46.

   8,449    1-May-18

47.

   8,449    2-May-18

48.

   8,449    3-May-18

49.

   8,449    4-May-18

50.

   8,449    7-May-18

51.

   8,449    8-May-18


52.    8,449    9-May-18
53.    8,449    10-May-18
54.    8,449    11-May-18
55.    8,449    14-May-18
56.    8,449    15-May-18
57.    8,449    16-May-18
58.    8,449    17-May-18
59.    8,449    18-May-18
60.    8,449    21-May-18
61.    8,449    22-May-18
62.    8,449    23-May-18
63.    8,449    24-May-18
64.    8,449    25-May-18
65.    8,449    29-May-18
66.    8,449    30-May-18
67.    8,449    31-May-18
68.    8,449    1-Jun-18
69.    8,449    4-Jun-18
70.    8,449    5-Jun-18
71.    8,449    6-Jun-18
72.    8,449    7-Jun-18
73.    8,449    8-Jun-18
74.    8,449    11-Jun-18
75.    8,449    12-Jun-18
76.    8,449    13-Jun-18
77.    8,449    14-Jun-18
78.    8,449    15-Jun-18
79.    8,449    18-Jun-18
80.    8,449    19-Jun-18
81.    8,449    20-Jun-18
82.    8,449    21-Jun-18
83.    8,449    22-Jun-18
84.    8,449    25-Jun-18
85.    8,449    26-Jun-18
86.    8,449    27-Jun-18
87.    8,449    28-Jun-18
88.    8,449    29-Jun-18
89.    8,449    2-Jul-18
90.    8,449    3-Jul-18
91.    8,449    5-Jul-18
92.    8,449    6-Jul-18
93.    8,449    9-Jul-18
94.    8,449    10-Jul-18
95.    8,449    11-Jul-18
96.    8,449    12-Jul-18
97.    8,449    13-Jul-18
98.    8,449    16-Jul-18
99.    8,449    17-Jul-18
100.    8,449    18-Jul-18
101.    8,449    19-Jul-18
102.    8,449    20-Jul-18
103.    8,449    23-Jul-18
104.    8,449    24-Jul-18
105.    8,449    25-Jul-18
106.    8,449    26-Jul-18
107.    8,449    27-Jul-18

 

2


108.    8,449    30-Jul-18
109.    8,449    31-Jul-18
110.    8,449    1-Aug-18
111.    8,449    2-Aug-18
112.    8,449    3-Aug-18
113.    8,449    6-Aug-18
114.    8,449    7-Aug-18
115.    8,449    8-Aug-18
116.    8,449    9-Aug-18
117.    8,449    10-Aug-18
118.    8,449    13-Aug-18
119.    8,449    14-Aug-18
120.    8,449    15-Aug-18
121.    8,449    16-Aug-18
122.    8,449    17-Aug-18
123.    8,449    20-Aug-18
124.    8,449    21-Aug-18
125.    8,449    22-Aug-18
126.    8,449    23-Aug-18
127.    8,449    24-Aug-18
128.    8,449    27-Aug-18
129.    8,449    28-Aug-18
130.    8,449    29-Aug-18
131.    8,449    30-Aug-18
132.    8,449    31-Aug-18
133.    8,449    4-Sep-18
134.    8,449    5-Sep-18
135.    8,449    6-Sep-18
136.    8,449    7-Sep-18
137.    8,449    10-Sep-18
138.    8,449    11-Sep-18
139.    8,449    12-Sep-18
140.    8,449    13-Sep-18
141.    8,449    14-Sep-18
142.    8,449    17-Sep-18
143.    8,449    18-Sep-18
144.    8,449    19-Sep-18
145.    8,449    20-Sep-18
146.    8,449    21-Sep-18
147.    8,449    24-Sep-18
148.    8,449    25-Sep-18
149.    8,449    26-Sep-18
150.    8,427    27-Sep-18

 

Strike Price:    USD 44.1875
Premium:    USD 3,708,000
Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    100 basis points
Initial Stock Loan Rate:    25 basis points
Capped Number:    2,534,656

 

3

LETTER AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.5

 

   November 20, 2012
To:    Encore Capital Group, Inc.
   3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300
   San Diego, California 92108
   Attn:    Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer
   Telephone:    858-309-6904
   Facsimile:    858-309-6977
From:    RBC Capital Markets, LLC
   as agent for Royal Bank of Canada
   3 World Financial Center – 8th Floor
   200 Vesey Street
   New York, NY 10281-8089
   Telephone:    212-858-7000
   Facsimile:    212-428-3053
Re:    Base Issuer Warrant Transaction
   (Transaction Reference Number:            )

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between Royal Bank of Canada (“Dealer”), through its agent RBC Capital Markets, LLC (the “Agent”) and Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Issuer”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below.

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the definitions and provisions of the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “2006 Definitions”) and the definitions and provisions of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and together with the 2006 Definitions, the “Definitions”), in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). In the event of any inconsistency between the 2006 Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions will govern. For purposes of the Equity Definitions, each reference herein to a Warrant shall be deemed to be a reference to a Call Option or an Option, as context requires.

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Issuer as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement as if Dealer and Issuer had executed an agreement in such form (without any Schedule but with the elections set forth in this Confirmation). For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement.

All provisions contained in, or incorporated by reference to, the Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein. In the event of any inconsistency between this Confirmation and either the Definitions or the Agreement, this Confirmation shall govern.

2. The Transaction is a Warrant Transaction, which shall be considered a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:

 

Trade Date:      November 20, 2012
Effective Date:      November 27, 2012, or such other date as agreed between the parties, subject to Section 8(o) below.


  Components:    The Transaction will be divided into individual Components, each with the terms set forth in this Confirmation, and, in particular, with the Number of Warrants and Expiration Date set forth in this Confirmation. The payments and deliveries to be made upon settlement of the Transaction will be determined separately for each Component as if each Component were a separate Transaction under the Agreement.
  Warrant Style:    European
  Warrant Type:    Call
  Seller:    Issuer
  Buyer:    Dealer
  Shares:    The common stock of Issuer, par value USD 0.01 per share (Ticker Symbol: “ECPG”).
  Number of Warrants:    For each Component, as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Warrant Entitlement:    One Share per Warrant
  Strike Price:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, this Confirmation or the Definitions, in no event shall the Strike Price be subject to adjustment to the extent that, after giving effect to such adjustment, the Strike Price would be less than USD 25.24, except for any adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation and the Equity Definitions in connection with stock splits or similar changes to Issuer’s capitalization.
  Premium:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Premium Payment Date:    The Effective Date
  Exchange:    The NASDAQ Global Select Market
  Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Procedures for Exercise:   

In respect of any Component:

 

  Expiration Time:    Valuation Time
  Expiration Date:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day that is not already an Expiration Date for another Component); provided that if that date is a Disrupted Day, the Expiration Date for such Component shall be the first succeeding Scheduled Trading Day that is not a Disrupted Day and is not or is not deemed to be an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component of the Transaction hereunder; and provided further that if the Expiration Date has not occurred pursuant to the preceding proviso as of the Final Disruption Date, the Final Disruption Date shall be the Expiration Date (irrespective of whether such date is an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component for the Transaction) and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation or the Definitions, the Relevant Price for such Expiration Date shall be the prevailing market value per Share determined by the Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable

 

2


     manner. “Final Disruption Date” means October 10, 2018. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if a Market Disruption Event occurs on any Expiration Date, the Calculation Agent may determine that such Expiration Date is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case (i) the Calculation Agent shall make adjustments to the Number of Warrants for the relevant Component for which such day shall be the Expiration Date and shall designate the Scheduled Trading Day determined in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence as the Expiration Date for the remaining Warrants for such Component, and (ii) the Settlement Price for such Disrupted Day shall be determined by the Calculation Agent based on transactions in the Shares on such Disrupted Day taking into account the nature and duration of such Market Disruption Event on such day. Any Scheduled Trading Day on which, as of the date hereof, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal close of trading shall be deemed not to be a Scheduled Trading Day; if a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading on any Scheduled Trading Day is scheduled following the date hereof, then such Scheduled Trading Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date occurring on an Expiration Date.
  Market Disruption Event:   

Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) deleting the words “during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be,” in clause (ii) thereof, (ii) deleting the word “or” before clause (iii) thereof and (iii) inserting after clause (iii) thereof “or (iv) a Regulatory Disruption”.

 

Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

  Regulatory Disruption:    Any event that Dealer, in good faith and in its reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel, determines makes it appropriate with regard to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures, for Dealer to refrain from or decrease any market activity in connection with the Transaction and that the Calculation Agent determines is material. Dealer shall notify Issuer as soon as reasonably practicable that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred and the Expiration Dates affected by it.
  Automatic Exercise:    Applicable; and means that the Number of Warrants for each Component will be deemed to be automatically exercised at the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date for such Component unless Dealer notifies Seller (by telephone or in writing) prior to the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date that it does not wish Automatic Exercise to occur, in which case Automatic Exercise will not apply.
 

Issuer’s Telephone Number and Telex and/or Facsimile Number and Contact Details for purpose of Giving Notice:

   To be provided by Issuer.

 

3


 

Valuation Time:

   Scheduled Closing Time; provided that if the principal trading session is extended, the Calculation Agent shall determine the Valuation Time in its reasonable discretion.

Settlement Terms:

In respect of any Component:

 

 

Settlement Method Election:

   Applicable; provided that, (i) any such election by the Electing Party shall apply only with respect to the Component or Components specified by the Electing Party thereunder and (ii) for any particular Component hereunder, the same Settlement Method shall apply to each Warrant under such Component; and provided further that references to “Physical Settlement” in section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions shall be replaced with “Net Share Settlement”; and provided further that Issuer may elect Cash Settlement only if at the time of such election (i) it provides to Dealer a written acknowledgment of its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of such election and (ii) in such written acknowledgement Issuer remakes to Dealer the representations set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation as of the date of such written acknowledgement.
 

Electing Party:

   Issuer
 

Settlement Method Election Date:

   For any Component, the eighth Scheduled Trading Day prior to the scheduled Expiration Date for such Component.
 

Default Settlement Method:

   Net Share Settlement
 

Settlement Currency:

   USD
 

Net Share Settlement:

   If Net Share Settlement is applicable to the Component, on the Settlement Date, Issuer shall deliver to Dealer a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Settlement Date to the account specified by Dealer and cash in lieu of any fractional Share (resulting from the rounding set forth under “Number of Shares to be Delivered” below) valued at the Settlement Price on the Valuation Date corresponding to such Settlement Date. The Number of Shares to be Delivered shall be delivered by Issuer to Dealer no later than 5:00 P.M. (local time in New York City) on the relevant Settlement Date.
 

Number of Shares to be Delivered:

   In respect of any Exercise Date, notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 9.5 of the Equity Definitions (which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction), a number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share), if any, equal to the product of (i) the number of Warrants exercised or deemed exercised on such Exercise Date, (ii) the Warrant Entitlement and (iii) the Strike Price Differential for the relevant Valuation Date divided by (B) the Settlement Price for the relevant Valuation Date.
 

Cash Settlement:

   If Cash Settlement is applicable to the Component, on the Cash Settlement Payment Date, Issuer shall pay to Dealer an amount of

 

4


     cash in USD equal to the Option Cash Settlement Amount, if any, for such Cash Settlement Payment Date.
 

Option Cash Settlement Amount:

   For any Cash Settlement Payment Date, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Number of Warrants exercised or deemed exercised on the relevant Exercise Date, (ii) the Warrant Entitlement and (iii) the Strike Price Differential for the relevant Valuation Date.
 

Cash Settlement Payment Date:

   The third Currency Business Day after the relevant Valuation Date.
 

Settlement Price:

   For any Valuation Date, the volume-weighted average price per Share for the period from the scheduled opening time of the Exchange to the Scheduled Closing Time on such Valuation Date, as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “ECPG <equity> AQR” (or any successor thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such Valuation Date for any reason, as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent.
 

Other Applicable Provisions:

   The provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Seller is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction.

Adjustments:

In respect of any Component:

 

  Method of Adjustment:    Calculation Agent Adjustment
  Extraordinary Dividend:    Any Dividend (i) that has an ex-dividend date occurring on or after the Trade Date and on or prior to the date on which Issuer satisfies all of its delivery obligations hereunder and (ii) the amount or value of which differs from the Ordinary Dividend Amount for such Dividend, as determined by the Calculation Agent.
  Dividend:    Any dividend or distribution on the Shares (other than any dividend or distribution of the type described in Sections 11.2(e)(i), 11.2(e)(ii)(A) or 11.2(e)(ii)(B) of the Equity Definitions).
  Ordinary Dividend Amount:    USD 0.00.

Extraordinary Events:

Consequences of Merger Events:

 

      (a) Share-for-Share:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
      (b) Share-for-Other:    Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination)
      (c) Share-for-Combined:    Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that Dealer may elect, in its commercially reasonable judgment, Component Adjustment (Calculation Agent Determination).
  Tender Offer:    Applicable
  Consequences of Tender Offers:   

 

5


       (a) Share-for-Share:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
       (b) Share-for-Other:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
       (c) Share-for-Combined:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

Announcement Event:

   If an Announcement Date occurs in respect of a Merger Event or Tender Offer (such occurrence, an “Announcement Event”), then on the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which the transaction described in any Announcement Event (as amended or modified) is cancelled, withdrawn, discontinued or otherwise terminated and (ii) the Expiration Date, Early Termination Date or other date of cancellation or termination in respect of each Component (the “Announcement Event Adjustment Date”), the Calculation Agent will determine the cumulative economic effect on such Component of the Announcement Event (without duplication in respect of any other adjustment or cancellation valuation made pursuant to this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions or the Agreement, regardless of whether the Announcement Event actually results in a Merger Event or Tender Offer, and taking into account such factors as the Calculation Agent may determine, including, without limitation, changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relevant to the Shares or the Transaction during the period from the Announcement Event to the Announcement Event Adjustment Date); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt (x) in no event shall the modification or amendment of the terms of a transaction described in an Announcement Event constitute a new, additional or different Announcement Event hereunder (but any such modification or amendment may be taken into account in determining the cumulative economic effect on such Component of the Announcement Event) and (y) the occurrence of an Announcement Event Adjustment Date in respect of the cancellation, withdrawal, discontinuation or other termination of the transaction described in an Announcement Event (as amended or modified) shall not preclude the occurrence of a later Announcement Date with respect to such transaction. If the Calculation Agent determines that such cumulative economic effect on any Component is material, then on the Announcement Event Adjustment Date for such Component, the Calculation Agent may make such adjustment to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of such Component as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to account for such economic effect, which adjustment shall be effective immediately prior to the exercise, termination or cancellation of such Component, as the case may be.

Announcement Date:

   The definition of “Announcement Date” in Section 12.1 of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the words “a firm” with the word “any” in the second and fourth lines thereof, (ii) replacing the word “leads to the” with the words “, if completed, would lead to a” in the third and the fifth lines thereof, (iii) replacing the words “voting shares” with the word “Shares” in the fifth line thereof, and (iv) inserting the words “by any entity” after the word “announcement” in the second and the fourth lines thereof.

New Shares:

   In the definition of New Shares in Section 12.1(i) of the Equity Definitions, (a) the text in clause (i) thereof shall be deleted in its entirety (including the word “and” following such clause (i)) and

 

6


   replaced with “publicly quoted, traded or listed on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors),” and (b) the phrase “and (iii) issued by a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that either (x) also becomes Seller under the relevant Transaction following such Merger Event or Tender Offer or (y) wholly owns the Seller under the relevant Transaction following such Merger Event or Tender Offer (which Seller is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia) and fully and unconditionally guarantees the obligations of Seller under the Transaction with the result that for purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act Dealer is able to tack its holding period in the Warrants to its holding period in the Shares issuable thereunder” shall be inserted immediately prior to the period.

Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:

   Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.

Additional Disruption Events:

  
       (a) Change in Law:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the word “Shares” with the phrase “Hedge Positions” in clause (X) thereof, (iii) inserting the parenthetical “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” at the end of clause (A) thereof, (iv) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (v) adding the following proviso to the end of clause (Y) thereof: “provided that such party has used good faith efforts to avoid such increased cost on terms reasonably acceptable to such party, as long as (i) such party would not incur a materially increased cost (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position, or any increase in margin or capital requirements), as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (ii) such party would not violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or policy of such party, as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (iii) such party would not suffer a material penalty, injunction, non-financial burden, reputational harm or other material adverse consequence in doing so, (iv) such party would not incur any material operational or administrative burden in doing so and (v)

 

7


      such party would not, in doing so, be required to take any action that is contrary to the intent of the law or regulation that is subject to the Change in Law”.
       (b) Failure to Deliver:    Not Applicable
       (c) Insolvency Filing:    Applicable
       (d) Hedging Disruption:    Applicable; provided that:
     

(i)     Section 12.9(a)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting the following two phrases at the end of such Section:

 

         “For the avoidance of doubt, the term “equity price risk” shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, stock price and volatility risk. And, for the further avoidance of doubt, any such transactions or assets referred to in phrases (A) or (B) above must be available on commercially reasonable pricing terms.”; and

 

(ii)    Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting in the third line thereof, after the words “to terminate the Transaction”, the words “or a portion of the Transaction affected by such Hedging Disruption”.

       (e) Increased Cost of Hedging:    Not Applicable
       (f) Loss of Stock Borrow:    Applicable
            Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
       (g) Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:    Applicable
             Initial Stock Loan Rate:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.

Hedging Party:

   Dealer for all applicable Potential Adjustment Events and Extraordinary Events

Determining Party:

   Dealer for all applicable Extraordinary Events

Non-Reliance:

   Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:

   Applicable

Additional Acknowledgments:

   Applicable

3. Calculation Agent: Dealer, whose judgments, determinations and calculations shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a request by Issuer, the Calculation Agent shall promptly (but in any event within three Scheduled Trading Days) provide to Issuer by email to the email address provided by Issuer in such request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation (including any assumptions used in making such determination or calculation), it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary models used by it for such determination or calculation.

4. Account Details:

 

      Dealer Payment Instructions:   

Royal Bank of Canada

JP Morgan Chase NY (CHASUS33)

ABA#:             021-000-021

Royal Bank of Canada (ROYCUS3X)

 

8


    

A/C #:             920-1-033363

Ref:                 US Transit

A/C                 204-1499

 

Issuer Payment Instructions:

   To be provided by Issuer.

 

5. Offices:

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: New York

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

3 World Financial Center

200 Vesey Street

New York, NY 10281

Telephone: 212-858-7000

  

The Office of Issuer for the Transaction is: Not applicable

6. Notices:

(a) Address for notices or communications to Issuer for purposes of this Confirmation:

 

To:   

Encore Capital Group, Inc.

3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300

San Diego, CA 92108

Attn:

   Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer

Telephone:

   858-309-6904

Facsimile:

   858-309-6977
With a copy to:   
Attn:    Greg Call, General Counsel
Telephone:    858-569-3978
Facsimile:    858-309-6998
  

(b) Address for notices or communications to Dealer for purposes of this Confirmation:

 

Trade Affirmations and Settlements:

To:

   RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Attn:

  

Structured Derivatives Documentation

3 World Financial Center

200 Vesey Street

New York, NY 10281

Facsimile:

   212-858-7033

Email:

   geda@rbccm.com
Trade Confirmations:

To:

   RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Attn:

  

Structured Derivatives Documentation

3 World Financial Center

200 Vesey Street

New York, NY 10281

Facsimile:

   212-428-3053

Email:

   SEDDOC@rbccm.com

 

9


7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

(a) Each of the representations and warranties of Issuer set forth in Section 1 of the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 20, 2012, between Issuer and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Barclays Capital Inc. as representatives of the initial purchasers party thereto (the “Initial Purchasers”), are true and correct and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Issuer represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

(i) On the Trade Date (A) Issuer it not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Issuer or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Issuer with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Issuer acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(iii) Prior to or on the Effective Date, Issuer shall deliver to Dealer a resolution of Issuer’s board of directors authorizing the Transaction.

(iv) Issuer is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

(v) Issuer is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(vi) On the Trade Date, (A) the assets of Issuer at their fair valuation exceed the liabilities of Issuer, including contingent liabilities, (B) the capital of Issuer is adequate to conduct the business of Issuer and (C) Issuer has the ability to pay its debts and obligations as such debts mature and does not intend to, or does not believe that it will, incur debt beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature.

(vii) Issuer shall not take any action to decrease the number of Available Shares below the Capped Number (each as defined below).

(viii) Issuer understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any Affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(ix) (A) On the Trade Date, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, are not, and shall not be, subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”), (B) Issuer shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in sections 101(b) and 102(b) of Regulation M, until the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Trade Date and (C) during the period starting on the first Expiration Date and ending on the last Expiration Date (the “Settlement Period”), the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Shares will not be subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M.

(x) During the Settlement Period, neither Issuer nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of any cash-settled or other derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit

 

10


order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or an equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, except through Dealer (or, with prior notice to Dealer by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding such a transaction, Deutsche Bank AG or Société Générale); provided that, this clause (x) shall not apply to any of the following: (A) purchases of Shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options granted to former or current employees, officers, directors, or other affiliates of Issuer or its subsidiaries, including the withholding and/or purchase of Shares from holders of such options to satisfy payment of the option exercise price and/or to satisfy tax withholding requirements in connection with the exercise of such options; (B) purchases of Shares from holders of performance shares or units or restricted shares or units to satisfy tax withholding requirements in connection with vesting; or (C) purchases of Shares effected by or for a plan by an agent independent of Issuer that satisfy the requirements of Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(ii).

(xi) A number of Shares equal to the Capped Number (as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation) (the “Warrant Shares”) have been reserved for issuance by all required corporate action of Issuer. The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and, when delivered against payment therefor (which may include Net Share Settlement in lieu of cash) and otherwise as contemplated by the terms of the Warrant following the exercise of the Warrant in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warrant, will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Warrant Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(xii) To Issuer’s knowledge, based on due inquiry, no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares.

(b) Each of Dealer and Issuer agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

(c) Each of Dealer and Issuer acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof. Accordingly, Dealer represents and warrants to Issuer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

(d) Each of Dealer and Issuer agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge that it is the intent of the parties that (A) this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “payment or other transfer of property” within the meaning of Sections 362 and 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2), 555, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(e) Issuer shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date, to Dealer with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement and Section 7(a)(xi) of this Confirmation; provided that such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including, without limitation, exceptions and qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

8. Other Provisions:

 

11


(a) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If Issuer shall owe Dealer any amount (i) pursuant to Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or (ii) pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement (a “Payment Obligation”), Issuer shall satisfy any such Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below), unless either (x) Issuer shall have elected to satisfy any such Payment Obligation by delivering cash in USD by (1) giving irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Merger Date, Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable and (2) remaking the representation set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation on the date of such notice, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, or (y) in the event of (1) an Insolvency, a Nationalization, a Tender Offer or a Merger Event, in each case, in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash or (2) an Event of Default in which Issuer is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Issuer is the Affected Party, which Event of Default or Termination Event resulted from an event or events within Issuer’s control, in either of which cases under the immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), the provisions of Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply in lieu of the provisions of this paragraph 8(a). In the case of any such settlement by the Share Termination Alternative, the following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the Merger Date, the Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable:

 

Share Termination Alternative:

Applicable and means that Issuer shall deliver to Dealer the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable (the “Share Termination Payment Date”), in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.

 

Share Termination Delivery Property:

A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of the aggregate amount of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.

 

Share Termination Unit Price:

The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit on the date such Share Termination Delivery Units are to be delivered as Share Termination Delivery Property, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Issuer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.

 

Share Termination Delivery Unit:

In the case of a Termination Event, Event of Default, Delisting or Additional Disruption Event, one Share or, in the case of an Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer, one Share or a unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer, as applicable. If such Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.

 

Failure to Deliver:

Applicable

 

Other applicable provisions:

If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Seller is the issuer of the Shares or any portion of the Share Termination Delivery Units) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction,

 

12


 

except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units”.

(b) Registration/Private Placement Procedures. (i) If, in the reasonable judgment of Dealer, based on the advice of counsel, for any reason, any Shares or any securities of Issuer or its affiliates comprising any Share Termination Delivery Units deliverable to Dealer hereunder (any such Shares or securities, “Delivered Securities”) would not be immediately freely transferable by Dealer under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, then the provisions set forth in this Section 8(b) shall apply. At the election of Issuer, if applicable, by notice to Dealer within three Exchange Business Day after the relevant delivery obligation arises (or, if later, by the third Exchange Business Day following the date of notification by Dealer of the need for such settlement procedures), either (A) all Delivered Securities delivered by Issuer to Dealer shall be, at the time of such delivery, covered by an effective registration statement of Issuer for immediate resale by Dealer (such registration statement and the corresponding prospectus (the “Prospectus”) (including, without limitation, any sections describing the plan of distribution) in form and content commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer) or (B) Issuer shall deliver additional Delivered Securities so that the value of such Delivered Securities, as determined by the Calculation Agent to reflect an appropriate liquidity discount, equals the value of the number of Delivered Securities that would otherwise be deliverable if such Delivered Securities were freely tradeable (without prospectus delivery) upon receipt by Dealer (such value, the “Freely Tradeable Value”); provided that Issuer may not make the election described in this clause (B) if, on the date of its election, it has taken, or caused to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the delivery by Issuer to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Delivered Securities or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(1) or Section 4(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Delivered Securities by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer). (For the avoidance of doubt, as used in this paragraph (b) only, the term “Issuer” shall mean the issuer of the relevant securities, as the context shall require.)

(ii) If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(A) above:

(A) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Issuer that is customary in scope for registered secondary offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size and that yields results that are commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer or such Affiliate, as the case may be, in its discretion; and

(B) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and Issuer shall enter into an agreement (a “Registration Agreement”) on commercially reasonable terms in connection with the public resale of such Delivered Securities by Dealer or such Affiliate substantially similar to underwriting agreements customary for registered secondary offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer or such Affiliate and Issuer, which Registration Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such underwriting agreements relating to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and Issuer, shall provide for the payment by Issuer of all expenses in connection with such resale, including all registration costs and all fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, and shall provide for the delivery of accountants’ “comfort letters” to Dealer or such Affiliate with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus; provided that if Dealer, in its sole reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with the procedures or documentation described in this Section 8(b)(ii), the procedures set forth in Section 8(b)(iii) shall apply as if Issuer had so elected in clause (b)(i)(B) above.

(iii) If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(B) above:

(A) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and any potential institutional purchaser of any such Delivered Securities from Dealer or such Affiliate identified by Dealer shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation in compliance with applicable law with respect to Issuer customary in scope for private placements of equity offerings of substantially similar size (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them);

(B) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and Issuer shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) on commercially reasonable terms in connection with the private placement of such Delivered Securities by Issuer to Dealer or such Affiliate and the private resale of such shares by Dealer or such Affiliate, substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements

 

13


customary for private placements of equity offerings of substantially similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer and Issuer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and Issuer, shall provide for the payment by Issuer of all expenses in connection with such resale, including all fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, shall contain representations, warranties and agreements of Issuer reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales, and shall use best efforts to provide for the delivery of accountants’ “comfort letters” to Dealer or such Affiliate with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the offering memorandum prepared for the resale of such Shares; and

(C) Issuer agrees that any Delivered Securities so delivered to Dealer, (i) may be transferred by and among Dealer and its Affiliates, and Issuer shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer and (ii) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed with respect to such Delivered Securities, Issuer shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for such Shares or securities to remove, any legends referring to any such restrictions or requirements from such Delivered Securities upon delivery by Dealer (or such Affiliate of Dealer) to Issuer or such transfer agent of seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer).

(D) Issuer shall not take, or cause to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the sale by Issuer to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(1) or Section 4(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer).

(iii) If in respect of any Delivered Securities subject to this Section 8(b) neither the public resale contemplated by clause (ii) of this subsection nor the private placement contemplated by clause (iii) of this subsection shall be effected, then such failure to effect a public resale or private placement of such Delivered Securities shall constitute an Event of Default with respect to which Issuer shall be the Defaulting Party.

(c) Make-whole. If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(B) of paragraph (b) of this Section 8, then Dealer or its affiliate may sell such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, during a period (the “Resale Period”) commencing on the Exchange Business Day following delivery of such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, and ending on the Exchange Business Day on which Dealer completes the sale of all such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, or a sufficient number of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, so that the realized net proceeds of such sales exceed the Freely Tradeable Value (such amount of the Freely Tradeable Value, the “Required Proceeds”). If any of such delivered Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units remain after such realized net proceeds exceed the Required Proceeds, Dealer shall return such remaining Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units to Issuer. If the Required Proceeds exceed the realized net proceeds from such resale, Issuer shall transfer to Dealer by the open of the regular trading session on the Exchange on the Exchange Trading Day immediately following the last day of the Resale Period the amount of such excess (the “Additional Amount”) in cash or in a number of additional Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, (“Make-whole Shares”) in an amount that, based on the Relevant Price on the last day of the Resale Period (as if such day was the “Valuation Date” for purposes of computing such Relevant Price), has a dollar value equal to the Additional Amount. The Resale Period shall continue to enable the sale of the Make-whole Shares in the manner contemplated by this Section 8(c). This provision shall be applied successively until the Additional Amount is equal to zero, subject to Section 8(e).

(d) Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or this Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be entitled to receive, or shall be deemed to receive, any Shares in connection with this Transaction if, immediately upon giving effect to such receipt of such Shares, (i) Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership would be equal to or greater than 9.0% of the outstanding Shares, (ii) Dealer, or any “affiliate” or “associate” of Dealer, would be an “interested stockholder” of Issuer, as all such terms are defined in Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iii) Dealer, Dealer Group (as defined below) or any person whose ownership position

 

14


would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations (except for any filings of Form 13F, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act) or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (each of clause (i), (ii) and (iii) above, an “Ownership Limitation”). If any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of an Ownership Limitation, Dealer’s right to receive such delivery shall not be extinguished and Issuer shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Issuer that such delivery would not result in any of such Ownership Limitations being breached. “Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer, for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or of any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part (Dealer and any such affiliates, persons and groups, collectively, “Dealer Group”), beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day (including, solely for such purpose, Shares that would be deemed outstanding pursuant to the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) as if such sentence were applicable to the calculation of clause (B) of the definition of Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership). Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement or this Confirmation to the contrary, Dealer (or the affiliate designated by Dealer pursuant to Section 8(l) below) shall not become the record or beneficial owner, or otherwise have any rights as a holder, of any Shares that Dealer (or such affiliate) is not entitled to receive at any time pursuant to this Section 8(d), until such time as such Shares are delivered pursuant to this Section 8(d).

(e) Limitations on Settlement by Issuer. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Issuer be required to deliver Shares in connection with the Transaction in excess of the Capped Number (as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation), subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Confirmation or the Definitions resulting from actions of Issuer or events within Issuer’s control (the “Capped Number”). Issuer represents and warrants to Dealer (which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that the Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares of the Issuer that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transaction) on the date of the determination of the Capped Number (such Shares, the “Available Shares”). In the event Issuer shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable as a result of this Section 8(e) (the resulting deficit, the “Deficit Shares”), Issuer shall be continually obligated to deliver, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, Shares when, and to the extent, that (i) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Issuer or any of its subsidiaries after the Trade Date (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (ii) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved or (iii) Issuer additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions. At such time as there may be Deficit Shares, Issuer shall promptly notify Dealer of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered) and promptly deliver such Shares thereafter.

(f) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Exercise Date or Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery with respect to some or all of the relevant Warrants (in which event the Calculation Agent shall make appropriate adjustments to the Number of Shares to be Delivered with respect to one or more Components), if Dealer determines, in its good faith and reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel in the case of the immediately following clause (ii), that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to (i) preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions in the cash market, the stock loan market or any other relevant market or (ii) to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Issuer or an affiliated purchaser of Issuer, be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer; provided that, no such Exercise Date, Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery may be postponed or extended more than 50 Exchange Business Days after the original Exercise Date, Settlement Date or other date of valuation or delivery, as the case may be.

 

15


(g) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Issuer’s bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Issuer’s bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Issuer of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is not secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Issuer herein under or pursuant to any other agreement.

(h) Amendments to Equity Definitions. The following amendments shall be made to the Equity Definitions:

(i) Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “a material”; and adding the phrase “or Warrants” at the end of the sentence;

(ii) Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) deleting the words “diluting or concentrative” (in both instances) and replacing each instance with the word “material”, (B) adding the phrase “or Warrants” after the word “Shares” in the sixth line thereof and (C) deleting the phrase “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing it with the phrase “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)”;

(iii) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions are hereby amended by deleting the words “that may have a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “that is the result of a corporate event involving Issuer or its securities that may have a material” and adding the phrase “or Warrants” at the end of the sentence;

(iv) [Reserved.];

(v) Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) deleting (1) subsection (A) in its entirety, (2) the phrase “or (B)” following subsection (A) and (3) the phrase “in each case” in subsection (B); and (B) deleting the phrase “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares or” in the penultimate sentence; and

(vi) Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); and (B)(1) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety, (2) deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C) and (3) replacing in the penultimate sentence the words “either party” with “the Hedging Party” and (4) deleting clause (X) in the final sentence.

(i) Transfer and Assignment. Subject to applicable law, Dealer may transfer or assign all of its rights and obligations hereunder and under the Transaction and Agreement, in whole or in part, without the consent of Issuer to any affiliate of Dealer only if an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event will not occur as a result of such transfer or assignment. Issuer may not transfer or assign any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction or the Agreement without the prior written consent of Dealer. At any time at which any Ownership Limitation exists, if Dealer, in its discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party after using its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing terms and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Ownership Limitation no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Trading Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that such Ownership Limitation no longer exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment or delivery shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and Section 8(b) of this Confirmation as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Issuer shall be the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (iii) such portion of the Transaction shall be the only Terminated Transaction.

(j) Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party.

 

16


(k) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Issuer and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Issuer relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(l) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Issuer, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Issuer solely to the extent of any such performance.

(m) Additional Termination Events. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction shall be the sole Affected Transaction and Issuer shall be the sole Affected Party; provided that with respect to any Additional Termination Event, Dealer may choose to treat part of the Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction, and, upon the termination of the Affected Transaction, a Transaction with terms identical to those set forth herein except with a Number of Warrants equal to the unaffected number of Warrants shall be treated for all purposes as the Transaction, which shall remain in full force and effect:

(i) Dealer reasonably determines, based on advice of counsel, that it is advisable to terminate a portion of the Transaction so that Dealer’s related hedging activities will comply with applicable securities laws, rules or regulations or related policies and procedures of Dealer (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer);

(ii) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than Issuer, Issuer’s employee benefit plans, Issuer’s subsidiaries and Issuer’s subsidiaries’ employee benefit plans, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of Shares representing more than 50% of the voting power of all shares of Issuer’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors; or

(iii) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of Shares (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) pursuant to which the Shares would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of Issuer pursuant to which Shares will be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a merger of Issuer solely for the purpose of changing Issuer’s jurisdiction of incorporation that results in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding Shares solely into shares of common stock of the surviving entity; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of Issuer’s subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction set forth in clause (ii) or (iii) above will not constitute an Additional Termination Event if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by holders of the Shares, excluding cash payments for fractional Shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock or ordinary shares that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions.

(n) No Netting and Set-off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set off obligations arising under the Agreement and the Transaction against other obligations between the parties, whether arising under any other agreement, applicable law or otherwise.

(o) Early Unwind. In the event the sale by Issuer of the “Firm Securities” is not consummated with the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any reason by the close of business in New York on the Premium Payment Date (or such later date as agreed upon by the parties, which in no event shall be later than December 4, 2012) (the Premium Payment Date or such later date being the “Early Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate (the “Early Unwind”), on the Early Unwind Date and the Transaction and all of the respective

 

17


rights and obligations of Dealer and Issuer thereunder shall be cancelled and terminated. Following such termination and cancellation, each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of either party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Early Unwind Date; provided that, unless such Early Unwind Date occurred as a result of a breach of the Purchase Agreement by the Initial Purchasers, Issuer shall purchase from Dealer on the Early Unwind Date all Shares purchased by Dealer or one or more of its affiliates in connection with the Transaction at the then prevailing market price. Dealer and Issuer represent and acknowledge to the other that, subject to the proviso included in this Section 8(o), upon an Early Unwind, all obligations with respect to the Transaction shall be deemed fully and finally discharged.

(p) Repurchase Notices. Issuer shall, on or prior to any day on which Issuer effects any repurchase of Shares, give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”) if, following such repurchase, the Notice Percentage as determined on the date of such Repurchase Notice is (i) greater than 9.0% and (ii) greater by 0.5% than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of the first such Repurchase Notice, greater than the Notice Percentage as of the date hereof). The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the Number of Shares and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Issuer fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(p) then Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Issuer shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Issuer will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Issuer) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Issuer. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer.

(q) Share Deliveries. Issuer acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the holder of these Warrants is not then an affiliate and has not been an affiliate for 90 days (it being understood that Dealer will not be considered an affiliate under this paragraph solely by reason of its receipt of Shares pursuant to the Transaction), and otherwise satisfies all holding period and other requirements of Rule 144 of the Securities Act applicable to it, any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property hereunder at any time after 6 months from the Trade Date (or 1 year from the Trade Date if, at such time, informational requirements of Rule 144(c) are not satisfied with respect to Issuer) shall be eligible for resale under Rule 144 of the Securities Act and Issuer agrees to promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property, to remove, any legends referring to any restrictions on resale under the Securities Act from the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property. Issuer further agrees that any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property prior to the date that is 6 months from the Trade Date (or 1 year from the Trade Date if, at such time, informational requirements of Rule 144(c) are not satisfied with respect to Issuer), may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and Issuer shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Issuer agrees that any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property shall be effected by book-entry transfer through the facilities of DTC, or any successor depositary, if at the time of delivery, such class of Shares or class of Share Termination Delivery Property is in book-entry form at DTC or such successor depositary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent the provisions of Rule 144 of the Securities Act or any successor rule are amended, or the applicable interpretation thereof by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any court change after the Trade Date, the agreements of Issuer herein shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary, in the opinion of outside counsel of Issuer, to comply with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, as in effect at the time of delivery of the relevant Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property.

(r) Payment by Dealer. In the event that, following payment of the Premium, (i) an Early Termination Date occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction as a result of a Termination Event or an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement) and, as a result, Dealer owes

 

18


to Issuer an amount calculated under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, or (ii) Dealer owes to Issuer, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, an amount calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.

(s) Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010. The parties hereby agree that none of (v) Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), (w) any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (x) the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, (y) any requirement under WSTAA nor (z) an amendment made by WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from Change in Law, Loss of Stock Borrow, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow, an Ownership Limitation or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

(t) Disclosure of Agency Relationship. Dealer has appointed as its agent, its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBCCM”), for purposes of conducting on the Dealer’s behalf, a business in privately negotiated transactions in options and other derivatives. You hereby are advised that Dealer, the principal and stated counterparty in such transactions, duly has authorized RBCCM to market, structure, negotiate, document, price, execute and hedge transactions in over-the-counter derivative products. RBCCM has full, complete and unconditional authority to undertake such activities on behalf of Dealer. RBCCM acts solely as agent and has no obligation, by way of issuance, endorsement, guarantee or otherwise with respect to the performance of either party under this Transaction. This Transaction is not insured or guaranteed by RBCCM.

(u) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF ISSUER AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

(v) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS CONFIRMATION AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

 

19


Issuer hereby agrees (a) to check this Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer ) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Issuer with respect to the Transaction, by manually signing this Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to Dealer.

 

Yours faithfully,
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC, as agent for Royal Bank of Canada
By:  

/s/ Alex Rabaev

  Name: Alex Rabaev
  Title: Associate Director

Confirmed and Acknowledged as of the date first above written:

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ J. Brandon Black

  Name: J. Brandon Black
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


Annex A

For each Component of the Transaction, the Number of Warrants and Expiration Date is set forth below.

 

Component Number

   Number of Warrants    Expiration Date

1.

   8,449    26-Feb-18

2.

   8,449    27-Feb-18

3.

   8,449    28-Feb-18

4.

   8,449    1-Mar-18

5.

   8,449    2-Mar-18

6.

   8,449    5-Mar-18

7.

   8,449    6-Mar-18

8.

   8,449    7-Mar-18

9.

   8,449    8-Mar-18

10.

   8,449    9-Mar-18

11.

   8,449    12-Mar-18

12.

   8,449    13-Mar-18

13.

   8,449    14-Mar-18

14.

   8,449    15-Mar-18

15.

   8,449    16-Mar-18

16.

   8,449    19-Mar-18

17.

   8,449    20-Mar-18

18.

   8,449    21-Mar-18

19.

   8,449    22-Mar-18

20.

   8,449    23-Mar-18

21.

   8,449    26-Mar-18

22.

   8,449    27-Mar-18

23.

   8,449    28-Mar-18

24.

   8,449    29-Mar-18

25.

   8,449    2-Apr-18

26.

   8,449    3-Apr-18

27.

   8,449    4-Apr-18

28.

   8,449    5-Apr-18

29.

   8,449    6-Apr-18

30.

   8,449    9-Apr-18

31.

   8,449    10-Apr-18

32.

   8,449    11-Apr-18

33.

   8,449    12-Apr-18

34.

   8,449    13-Apr-18

35.

   8,449    16-Apr-18

36.

   8,449    17-Apr-18

37.

   8,449    18-Apr-18

38.

   8,449    19-Apr-18

39.

   8,449    20-Apr-18

40.

   8,449    23-Apr-18

41.

   8,449    24-Apr-18

42.

   8,449    25-Apr-18

43.

   8,449    26-Apr-18

44.

   8,449    27-Apr-18

45.

   8,449    30-Apr-18

46.

   8,449    1-May-18

47.

   8,449    2-May-18

48.

   8,449    3-May-18

49.

   8,449    4-May-18

50.

   8,449    7-May-18

51.

   8,449    8-May-18


52.

   8,449    9-May-18

53.

   8,449    10-May-18

54.

   8,449    11-May-18

55.

   8,449    14-May-18

56.

   8,449    15-May-18

57.

   8,449    16-May-18

58.

   8,449    17-May-18

59.

   8,449    18-May-18

60.

   8,449    21-May-18

61.

   8,449    22-May-18

62.

   8,449    23-May-18

63.

   8,449    24-May-18

64.

   8,449    25-May-18

65.

   8,449    29-May-18

66.

   8,449    30-May-18

67.

   8,449    31-May-18

68.

   8,449    1-Jun-18

69.

   8,449    4-Jun-18

70.

   8,449    5-Jun-18

71.

   8,449    6-Jun-18

72.

   8,449    7-Jun-18

73.

   8,449    8-Jun-18

74.

   8,449    11-Jun-18

75.

   8,449    12-Jun-18

76.

   8,449    13-Jun-18

77.

   8,449    14-Jun-18

78.

   8,449    15-Jun-18

79.

   8,449    18-Jun-18

80.

   8,449    19-Jun-18

81.

   8,449    20-Jun-18

82.

   8,449    21-Jun-18

83.

   8,449    22-Jun-18

84.

   8,449    25-Jun-18

85.

   8,449    26-Jun-18

86.

   8,449    27-Jun-18

87.

   8,449    28-Jun-18

88.

   8,449    29-Jun-18

89.

   8,449    2-Jul-18

90.

   8,449    3-Jul-18

91.

   8,449    5-Jul-18

92.

   8,449    6-Jul-18

93.

   8,449    9-Jul-18

94.

   8,449    10-Jul-18

95.

   8,449    11-Jul-18

96.

   8,449    12-Jul-18

97.

   8,449    13-Jul-18

98.

   8,449    16-Jul-18

99.

   8,449    17-Jul-18

100.

   8,449    18-Jul-18

101.

   8,449    19-Jul-18

102.

   8,449    20-Jul-18

103.

   8,449    23-Jul-18

104.

   8,449    24-Jul-18

105.

   8,449    25-Jul-18

106.

   8,449    26-Jul-18

107.

   8,449    27-Jul-18

 

2


108.

   8,449    30-Jul-18

109.

   8,449    31-Jul-18

110.

   8,449    1-Aug-18

111.

   8,449    2-Aug-18

112.

   8,449    3-Aug-18

113.

   8,449    6-Aug-18

114.

   8,449    7-Aug-18

115.

   8,449    8-Aug-18

116.

   8,449    9-Aug-18

117.

   8,449    10-Aug-18

118.

   8,449    13-Aug-18

119.

   8,449    14-Aug-18

120.

   8,449    15-Aug-18

121.

   8,449    16-Aug-18

122.

   8,449    17-Aug-18

123.

   8,449    20-Aug-18

124.

   8,449    21-Aug-18

125.

   8,449    22-Aug-18

126.

   8,449    23-Aug-18

127.

   8,449    24-Aug-18

128.

   8,449    27-Aug-18

129.

   8,449    28-Aug-18

130.

   8,449    29-Aug-18

131.

   8,449    30-Aug-18

132.

   8,449    31-Aug-18

133.

   8,449    4-Sep-18

134.

   8,449    5-Sep-18

135.

   8,449    6-Sep-18

136.

   8,449    7-Sep-18

137.

   8,449    10-Sep-18

138.

   8,449    11-Sep-18

139.

   8,449    12-Sep-18

140.

   8,449    13-Sep-18

141.

   8,449    14-Sep-18

142.

   8,449    17-Sep-18

143.

   8,449    18-Sep-18

144.

   8,449    19-Sep-18

145.

   8,449    20-Sep-18

146.

   8,449    21-Sep-18

147.

   8,449    24-Sep-18

148.

   8,449    25-Sep-18

149.

   8,449    26-Sep-18

150.

   8,427    27-Sep-18

 

Strike Price:    USD 44.1875   
Premium:    USD 3,708,000   
Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    100 basis points   
Initial Stock Loan Rate:    25 basis points   
Capped Number:    2,534,656   

 

3

LETTER AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.6

 

   November 20, 2012
To:    Encore Capital Group, Inc.
   3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300
   San Diego, California 92108
   Attn:    Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer
   Telephone:    858-309-6904
   Facsimile:    858-309-6977
From:    LOGO
   Société Générale
   1221 Avenue of the Americas
   New York, NY 10020
Re:    Base Issuer Warrant Transaction
   (Transaction Reference Number:            )

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between Société Générale (“Dealer”) and Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Issuer”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below. Dealer is acting as principal and SG Americas Securities, LLC (“Agent”), its affiliate, is acting as agent for Dealer for the Transaction under this Confirmation.

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the definitions and provisions of the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “2006 Definitions”) and the definitions and provisions of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and together with the 2006 Definitions, the “Definitions”), in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). In the event of any inconsistency between the 2006 Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions will govern. For purposes of the Equity Definitions, each reference herein to a Warrant shall be deemed to be a reference to a Call Option or an Option, as context requires.

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Issuer as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement as if Dealer and Issuer had executed an agreement in such form (without any Schedule but with the elections set forth in this Confirmation). For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement.

All provisions contained in, or incorporated by reference to, the Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein. In the event of any inconsistency between this Confirmation and either the Definitions or the Agreement, this Confirmation shall govern.

2. The Transaction is a Warrant Transaction, which shall be considered a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

General Terms:
  Trade Date:    November 20, 2012
  Effective Date:    November 27, 2012, or such other date as agreed between the parties, subject to Section 8(o) below.


  Components:    The Transaction will be divided into individual Components, each with the terms set forth in this Confirmation, and, in particular, with the Number of Warrants and Expiration Date set forth in this Confirmation. The payments and deliveries to be made upon settlement of the Transaction will be determined separately for each Component as if each Component were a separate Transaction under the Agreement.
  Warrant Style:    European
  Warrant Type:    Call
  Seller:    Issuer
  Buyer:    Dealer
  Shares:    The common stock of Issuer, par value USD 0.01 per share (Ticker Symbol: “ECPG”).
  Number of Warrants:    For each Component, as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Warrant Entitlement:    One Share per Warrant
  Strike Price:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, this Confirmation or the Definitions, in no event shall the Strike Price be subject to adjustment to the extent that, after giving effect to such adjustment, the Strike Price would be less than USD 25.24, except for any adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation and the Equity Definitions in connection with stock splits or similar changes to Issuer’s capitalization.
  Premium:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
  Premium Payment Date:    The Effective Date
  Exchange:    The NASDAQ Global Select Market
  Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Procedures for Exercise:   

In respect of any Component:

  
  Expiration Time:    Valuation Time
  Expiration Date:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day that is not already an Expiration Date for another Component); provided that if that date is a Disrupted Day, the Expiration Date for such Component shall be the first succeeding Scheduled Trading Day that is not a Disrupted Day and is not or is not deemed to be an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component of the Transaction hereunder; and provided further that if the Expiration Date has not occurred pursuant to the preceding proviso as of the Final Disruption Date, the Final Disruption Date shall be the Expiration Date (irrespective of whether such date is an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component for the Transaction) and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation or the Definitions, the Relevant Price for such Expiration Date shall be the prevailing market value per Share determined by the Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable

 

2


     manner. “Final Disruption Date” means October 10, 2018. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if a Market Disruption Event occurs on any Expiration Date, the Calculation Agent may determine that such Expiration Date is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case (i) the Calculation Agent shall make adjustments to the Number of Warrants for the relevant Component for which such day shall be the Expiration Date and shall designate the Scheduled Trading Day determined in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence as the Expiration Date for the remaining Warrants for such Component, and (ii) the Settlement Price for such Disrupted Day shall be determined by the Calculation Agent based on transactions in the Shares on such Disrupted Day taking into account the nature and duration of such Market Disruption Event on such day. Any Scheduled Trading Day on which, as of the date hereof, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal close of trading shall be deemed not to be a Scheduled Trading Day; if a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading on any Scheduled Trading Day is scheduled following the date hereof, then such Scheduled Trading Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date occurring on an Expiration Date.
  Market Disruption Event:    Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) deleting the words “during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be,” in clause (ii) thereof, (ii) deleting the word “or” before clause (iii) thereof and (iii) inserting after clause (iii) thereof “or (iv) a Regulatory Disruption”.
     Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.
  Regulatory Disruption:    Any event that Dealer, in good faith and in its reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel, determines makes it appropriate with regard to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures, for Dealer to refrain from or decrease any market activity in connection with the Transaction and that the Calculation Agent determines is material. Dealer shall notify Issuer as soon as reasonably practicable that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred and the Expiration Dates affected by it.
  Automatic Exercise:    Applicable; and means that the Number of Warrants for each Component will be deemed to be automatically exercised at the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date for such Component unless Dealer notifies Seller (by telephone or in writing) prior to the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date that it does not wish Automatic Exercise to occur, in which case Automatic Exercise will not apply.
 

Issuer’s Telephone Number

and Telex and/or Facsimile Number

and Contact Details for purpose of

Giving Notice:

   To be provided by Issuer.

 

3


  Valuation Time:    Scheduled Closing Time; provided that if the principal trading session is extended, the Calculation Agent shall determine the Valuation Time in its reasonable discretion.
Settlement Terms:   

In respect of any Component:

  
  Settlement Method Election:    Applicable; provided that, (i) any such election by the Electing Party shall apply only with respect to the Component or Components specified by the Electing Party thereunder and (ii) for any particular Component hereunder, the same Settlement Method shall apply to each Warrant under such Component; and provided further that references to “Physical Settlement” in section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions shall be replaced with “Net Share Settlement”; and provided further that Issuer may elect Cash Settlement only if at the time of such election (i) it provides to Dealer a written acknowledgment of its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of such election and (ii) in such written acknowledgement Issuer remakes to Dealer the representations set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation as of the date of such written acknowledgement.
  Electing Party:    Issuer
  Settlement Method Election Date:    For any Component, the eighth Scheduled Trading Day prior to the scheduled Expiration Date for such Component.
  Default Settlement Method:    Net Share Settlement
  Settlement Currency:    USD
  Net Share Settlement:    If Net Share Settlement is applicable to the Component, on the Settlement Date, Issuer shall deliver to Dealer a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Settlement Date to the account specified by Dealer and cash in lieu of any fractional Share (resulting from the rounding set forth under “Number of Shares to be Delivered” below) valued at the Settlement Price on the Valuation Date corresponding to such Settlement Date. The Number of Shares to be Delivered shall be delivered by Issuer to Dealer no later than 5:00 P.M. (local time in New York City) on the relevant Settlement Date.
  Number of Shares to be Delivered:    In respect of any Exercise Date, notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 9.5 of the Equity Definitions (which shall not apply with respect to the Transaction), a number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share), if any, equal to the product of (i) the number of Warrants exercised or deemed exercised on such Exercise Date, (ii) the Warrant Entitlement and (iii) the Strike Price Differential for the relevant Valuation Date divided by (B) the Settlement Price for the relevant Valuation Date.
  Cash Settlement:    If Cash Settlement is applicable to the Component, on the Cash Settlement Payment Date, Issuer shall pay to Dealer an amount of

 

4


     cash in USD equal to the Option Cash Settlement Amount, if any, for such Cash Settlement Payment Date.
  Option Cash Settlement Amount:    For any Cash Settlement Payment Date, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Number of Warrants exercised or deemed exercised on the relevant Exercise Date, (ii) the Warrant Entitlement and (iii) the Strike Price Differential for the relevant Valuation Date.
  Cash Settlement Payment Date:    The third Currency Business Day after the relevant Valuation Date.
  Settlement Price:    For any Valuation Date, the volume-weighted average price per Share for the period from the scheduled opening time of the Exchange to the Scheduled Closing Time on such Valuation Date, as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “ECPG <equity> AQR” (or any successor thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such Valuation Date for any reason, as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent.
  Other Applicable Provisions:    The provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Seller is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction.
Adjustments:   

In respect of any Component:

  
  Method of Adjustment:    Calculation Agent Adjustment
  Extraordinary Dividend:    Any Dividend (i) that has an ex-dividend date occurring on or after the Trade Date and on or prior to the date on which Issuer satisfies all of its delivery obligations hereunder and (ii) the amount or value of which differs from the Ordinary Dividend Amount for such Dividend, as determined by the Calculation Agent.
  Dividend:    Any dividend or distribution on the Shares (other than any dividend or distribution of the type described in Sections 11.2(e)(i), 11.2(e)(ii)(A) or 11.2(e)(ii)(B) of the Equity Definitions).
  Ordinary Dividend Amount:    USD 0.00.
Extraordinary Events:   
  Consequences of Merger Events:   
      (a) Share-for-Share:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
      (b) Share-for-Other:    Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination)
      (c) Share-for-Combined:    Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that Dealer may elect, in its commercially reasonable judgment, Component Adjustment (Calculation Agent Determination).
  Tender Offer:    Applicable
  Consequences of Tender Offers:   

 

5


      (a) Share-for-Share:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
      (b) Share-for-Other:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
      (c) Share-for-Combined:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
  Announcement Event:    If an Announcement Date occurs in respect of a Merger Event or Tender Offer (such occurrence, an “Announcement Event”), then on the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which the transaction described in any Announcement Event (as amended or modified) is cancelled, withdrawn, discontinued or otherwise terminated and (ii) the Expiration Date, Early Termination Date or other date of cancellation or termination in respect of each Component (the “Announcement Event Adjustment Date”), the Calculation Agent will determine the cumulative economic effect on such Component of the Announcement Event (without duplication in respect of any other adjustment or cancellation valuation made pursuant to this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions or the Agreement, regardless of whether the Announcement Event actually results in a Merger Event or Tender Offer, and taking into account such factors as the Calculation Agent may determine, including, without limitation, changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relevant to the Shares or the Transaction during the period from the Announcement Event to the Announcement Event Adjustment Date); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt (x) in no event shall the modification or amendment of the terms of a transaction described in an Announcement Event constitute a new, additional or different Announcement Event hereunder (but any such modification or amendment may be taken into account in determining the cumulative economic effect on such Component of the Announcement Event) and (y) the occurrence of an Announcement Event Adjustment Date in respect of the cancellation, withdrawal, discontinuation or other termination of the transaction described in an Announcement Event (as amended or modified) shall not preclude the occurrence of a later Announcement Date with respect to such transaction. If the Calculation Agent determines that such cumulative economic effect on any Component is material, then on the Announcement Event Adjustment Date for such Component, the Calculation Agent may make such adjustment to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of such Component as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to account for such economic effect, which adjustment shall be effective immediately prior to the exercise, termination or cancellation of such Component, as the case may be.
  Announcement Date:    The definition of “Announcement Date” in Section 12.1 of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the words “a firm” with the word “any” in the second and fourth lines thereof, (ii) replacing the word “leads to the” with the words “, if completed, would lead to a” in the third and the fifth lines thereof, (iii) replacing the words “voting shares” with the word “Shares” in the fifth line thereof, and (iv) inserting the words “by any entity” after the word “announcement” in the second and the fourth lines thereof.
  New Shares:    In the definition of New Shares in Section 12.1(i) of the Equity Definitions, (a) the text in clause (i) thereof shall be deleted in its entirety (including the word “and” following such clause (i)) and

 

6


     replaced with “publicly quoted, traded or listed on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors),” and (b) the phrase “and (iii) issued by a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that either (x) also becomes Seller under the relevant Transaction following such Merger Event or Tender Offer or (y) wholly owns the Seller under the relevant Transaction following such Merger Event or Tender Offer (which Seller is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia) and fully and unconditionally guarantees the obligations of Seller under the Transaction with the result that for purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act Dealer is able to tack its holding period in the Warrants to its holding period in the Shares issuable thereunder” shall be inserted immediately prior to the period.
 

Nationalization, Insolvency

    or Delisting:

   Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.
  Additional Disruption Events:   
      (a) Change in Law:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the word “Shares” with the phrase “Hedge Positions” in clause (X) thereof, (iii) inserting the parenthetical “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” at the end of clause (A) thereof, (iv) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (v) adding the following proviso to the end of clause (Y) thereof: “provided that such party has used good faith efforts to avoid such increased cost on terms reasonably acceptable to such party, as long as (i) such party would not incur a materially increased cost (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position, or any increase in margin or capital requirements), as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (ii) such party would not violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or policy of such party, as reasonably determined by such party, in doing so, (iii) such party would not suffer a material penalty, injunction, non-financial burden, reputational harm or other material adverse consequence in doing so, (iv) such party would not incur any material operational or administrative burden in doing so and (v)

 

7


     such party would not, in doing so, be required to take any action that is contrary to the intent of the law or regulation that is subject to the Change in Law”.
      (b) Failure to Deliver:    Not Applicable
      (c) Insolvency Filing:    Applicable
      (d) Hedging Disruption:    Applicable; provided that:
    

(i)     Section 12.9(a)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting the following two phrases at the end of such Section:

    

“For the avoidance of doubt, the term “equity price risk” shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, stock price and volatility risk. And, for the further avoidance of doubt, any such transactions or assets referred to in phrases (A) or (B) above must be available on commercially reasonable pricing terms.”; and

    

(ii)    Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting in the third line thereof, after the words “to terminate the Transaction”, the words “or a portion of the Transaction affected by such Hedging Disruption”.

      (e) Increased Cost of Hedging:    Not Applicable
      (f) Loss of Stock Borrow:    Applicable
           Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
      (g) Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:    Applicable
            Initial Stock Loan Rate:    As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.

Hedging Party:

   Dealer for all applicable Potential Adjustment Events and Extraordinary Events

Determining Party:

   Dealer for all applicable Extraordinary Events

Non-Reliance:

   Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgments

Regarding Hedging Activities: Applicable

   Additional

Acknowledgments:

   Applicable

3. Calculation Agent: Dealer, whose judgments, determinations and calculations shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a request by Issuer, the Calculation Agent shall promptly (but in any event within three Scheduled Trading Days) provide to Issuer by email to the email address provided by Issuer in such request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation (including any assumptions used in making such determination or calculation), it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary models used by it for such determination or calculation.

4. Account Details:

 

Dealer Payment Instructions:    Payments to:    SOCIÉTÉ GENERALE
   Correspondent:    SOCIÉTÉ GENERALE/New York SOGEUS33
   Beneficiary:    SOCIÉTÉ GENERALE/Paris SOGEFRPPHCM
   Account Number:    00187011

 

8


  Issuer Payment Instructions:   To be provided by Issuer.   

5. Offices:

    
  The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: Paris   
  The Office of Issuer for the Transaction is: Not applicable   

6. Notices:

    

(a)    Address for notices or communications to Issuer for purposes of this Confirmation:

       To:   Encore Capital Group, Inc.   
    3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300   
    San Diego, CA 92108   
       Attn:   Paul Grinberg, Chief Financial Officer   
       Telephone:   858-309-6904   
       Facsimile:   858-309-6977   
       With a copy to:   
       Attn:   Greg Call, General Counsel   
       Telephone:   858-569-3978   
       Facsimile:   858-309-6998   

(b) Address for notices or communications to Dealer for purposes of this Confirmation:

       To:  

Société Générale

c/o SG Americas Securities, LLC

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

  
       Attn:   Sanjay Garg   
       Telephone:   (212) 278-5187   
       Facsimile:   (212) 278-5624   
       With a copy to: Société Générale   
   

c/o SG Americas Securities, LLC

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

  
       Attn:   Steve Milankov   
       Telephone:   (212) 278-6985   
       Facsimile:   (212) 278-7365   

7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

(a) Each of the representations and warranties of Issuer set forth in Section 1 of the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of November 20, 2012, between Issuer and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Barclays Capital Inc. as representatives of the initial purchasers party thereto (the “Initial Purchasers”), are true and correct and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Issuer represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

 

9


(i) On the Trade Date (A) Issuer it not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Issuer or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Issuer with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Issuer acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(iii) Prior to or on the Effective Date, Issuer shall deliver to Dealer a resolution of Issuer’s board of directors authorizing the Transaction.

(iv) Issuer is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

(v) Issuer is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(vi) On the Trade Date, (A) the assets of Issuer at their fair valuation exceed the liabilities of Issuer, including contingent liabilities, (B) the capital of Issuer is adequate to conduct the business of Issuer and (C) Issuer has the ability to pay its debts and obligations as such debts mature and does not intend to, or does not believe that it will, incur debt beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature.

(vii) Issuer shall not take any action to decrease the number of Available Shares below the Capped Number (each as defined below).

(viii) Issuer understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any Affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(ix) (A) On the Trade Date, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, are not, and shall not be, subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”), (B) Issuer shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in sections 101(b) and 102(b) of Regulation M, until the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Trade Date and (C) during the period starting on the first Expiration Date and ending on the last Expiration Date (the “Settlement Period”), the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Shares will not be subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M.

(x) During the Settlement Period, neither Issuer nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of any cash-settled or other derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or an equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, except through Dealer (or, with prior notice to Dealer by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding such a transaction, Deutsche Bank AG or Royal Bank of Canada); provided that, this clause (x) shall not apply to any of the following: (A) purchases of Shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options granted to former or current employees, officers, directors, or other affiliates of Issuer or its subsidiaries, including the withholding and/or purchase of Shares from holders of such options to satisfy payment of the option exercise price and/or to satisfy tax withholding requirements in connection with the exercise of such options; (B) purchases of Shares from

 

10


holders of performance shares or units or restricted shares or units to satisfy tax withholding requirements in connection with vesting; or (C) purchases of Shares effected by or for a plan by an agent independent of Issuer that satisfy the requirements of Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(ii).

(xi) A number of Shares equal to the Capped Number (as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation) (the “Warrant Shares”) have been reserved for issuance by all required corporate action of Issuer. The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and, when delivered against payment therefor (which may include Net Share Settlement in lieu of cash) and otherwise as contemplated by the terms of the Warrant following the exercise of the Warrant in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warrant, will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Warrant Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(xii) To Issuer’s knowledge, based on due inquiry, no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares.

(b) Each of Dealer and Issuer agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

(c) Each of Dealer and Issuer acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof. Accordingly, Dealer represents and warrants to Issuer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

(d) Each of Dealer and Issuer agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge that it is the intent of the parties that (A) this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “payment or other transfer of property” within the meaning of Sections 362 and 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2), 555, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(e) Issuer shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date, to Dealer with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement and Section 7(a)(xi) of this Confirmation; provided that such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including, without limitation, exceptions and qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

8. Other Provisions:

(a) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If Issuer shall owe Dealer any amount (i) pursuant to Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or (ii) pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement (a “Payment Obligation”), Issuer shall satisfy any such Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below), unless either (x) Issuer shall have elected to satisfy any such Payment Obligation by delivering cash in USD by (1) giving irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Merger Date, Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable and (2) remaking the representation set forth in Section 7(a)(i)(A) of this Confirmation on the date of such notice, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, or (y) in the event of

 

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(1) an Insolvency, a Nationalization, a Tender Offer or a Merger Event, in each case, in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash or (2) an Event of Default in which Issuer is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Issuer is the Affected Party, which Event of Default or Termination Event resulted from an event or events within Issuer’s control, in either of which cases under the immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), the provisions of Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply in lieu of the provisions of this paragraph 8(a). In the case of any such settlement by the Share Termination Alternative, the following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the Merger Date, the Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Extraordinary Event, as applicable:

 

Share Termination Alternative:

  Applicable and means that Issuer shall deliver to Dealer the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable (the “Share Termination Payment Date”), in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.

Share Termination Delivery

Property:

  A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of the aggregate amount of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.

Share Termination Unit Price:

  The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit on the date such Share Termination Delivery Units are to be delivered as Share Termination Delivery Property, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Issuer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.

Share Termination Delivery Unit:

  In the case of a Termination Event, Event of Default, Delisting or Additional Disruption Event, one Share or, in the case of an Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer, one Share or a unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer, as applicable. If such Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.

Failure to Deliver:

  Applicable

Other applicable provisions:

  If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Seller is the issuer of the Shares or any portion of the Share Termination Delivery Units) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction, except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units”.

(b) Registration/Private Placement Procedures. (i) If, in the reasonable judgment of Dealer, based on the advice of counsel, for any reason, any Shares or any securities of Issuer or its affiliates comprising any Share Termination Delivery Units deliverable to Dealer hereunder (any such Shares or securities, “Delivered Securities”) would not be immediately freely transferable by Dealer under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, then the provisions set forth in this Section 8(b) shall apply. At the election of Issuer, if applicable, by notice to Dealer within three Exchange Business Day after the relevant delivery obligation arises (or, if later, by the third Exchange Business Day following the date of notification by Dealer of the need for such settlement procedures), either (A) all Delivered Securities delivered by

 

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Issuer to Dealer shall be, at the time of such delivery, covered by an effective registration statement of Issuer for immediate resale by Dealer (such registration statement and the corresponding prospectus (the “Prospectus”) (including, without limitation, any sections describing the plan of distribution) in form and content commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer) or (B) Issuer shall deliver additional Delivered Securities so that the value of such Delivered Securities, as determined by the Calculation Agent to reflect an appropriate liquidity discount, equals the value of the number of Delivered Securities that would otherwise be deliverable if such Delivered Securities were freely tradeable (without prospectus delivery) upon receipt by Dealer (such value, the “Freely Tradeable Value”); provided that Issuer may not make the election described in this clause (B) if, on the date of its election, it has taken, or caused to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the delivery by Issuer to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Delivered Securities or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(1) or Section 4(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Delivered Securities by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer). (For the avoidance of doubt, as used in this paragraph (b) only, the term “Issuer” shall mean the issuer of the relevant securities, as the context shall require.)

(ii) If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(A) above:

(A) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Issuer that is customary in scope for registered secondary offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size and that yields results that are commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer or such Affiliate, as the case may be, in its discretion; and

(B) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and Issuer shall enter into an agreement (a “Registration Agreement”) on commercially reasonable terms in connection with the public resale of such Delivered Securities by Dealer or such Affiliate substantially similar to underwriting agreements customary for registered secondary offerings of equity securities of a substantially similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer or such Affiliate and Issuer, which Registration Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such underwriting agreements relating to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and Issuer, shall provide for the payment by Issuer of all expenses in connection with such resale, including all registration costs and all fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, and shall provide for the delivery of accountants’ “comfort letters” to Dealer or such Affiliate with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus; provided that if Dealer, in its sole reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with the procedures or documentation described in this Section 8(b)(ii), the procedures set forth in Section 8(b)(iii) shall apply as if Issuer had so elected in clause (b)(i)(B) above.

(iii) If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(B) above:

(A) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and any potential institutional purchaser of any such Delivered Securities from Dealer or such Affiliate identified by Dealer shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation in compliance with applicable law with respect to Issuer customary in scope for private placements of equity offerings of substantially similar size (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them);

(B) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and Issuer shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) on commercially reasonable terms in connection with the private placement of such Delivered Securities by Issuer to Dealer or such Affiliate and the private resale of such shares by Dealer or such Affiliate, substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity offerings of substantially similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer and Issuer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and Issuer, shall provide for the payment by Issuer of all expenses in connection with such resale, including all fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, shall contain representations, warranties and agreements of Issuer reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales, and shall use best efforts to provide for the delivery of accountants’ “comfort letters” to Dealer or such Affiliate with respect to the financial statements and

 

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certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the offering memorandum prepared for the resale of such Shares; and

(C) Issuer agrees that any Delivered Securities so delivered to Dealer, (i) may be transferred by and among Dealer and its Affiliates, and Issuer shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer and (ii) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed with respect to such Delivered Securities, Issuer shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for such Shares or securities to remove, any legends referring to any such restrictions or requirements from such Delivered Securities upon delivery by Dealer (or such Affiliate of Dealer) to Issuer or such transfer agent of seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer).

(D) Issuer shall not take, or cause to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the sale by Issuer to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(1) or Section 4(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer).

(iii) If in respect of any Delivered Securities subject to this Section 8(b) neither the public resale contemplated by clause (ii) of this subsection nor the private placement contemplated by clause (iii) of this subsection shall be effected, then such failure to effect a public resale or private placement of such Delivered Securities shall constitute an Event of Default with respect to which Issuer shall be the Defaulting Party.

(c) Make-whole. If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(B) of paragraph (b) of this Section 8, then Dealer or its affiliate may sell such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, during a period (the “Resale Period”) commencing on the Exchange Business Day following delivery of such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, and ending on the Exchange Business Day on which Dealer completes the sale of all such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, or a sufficient number of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, so that the realized net proceeds of such sales exceed the Freely Tradeable Value (such amount of the Freely Tradeable Value, the “Required Proceeds”). If any of such delivered Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units remain after such realized net proceeds exceed the Required Proceeds, Dealer shall return such remaining Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units to Issuer. If the Required Proceeds exceed the realized net proceeds from such resale, Issuer shall transfer to Dealer by the open of the regular trading session on the Exchange on the Exchange Trading Day immediately following the last day of the Resale Period the amount of such excess (the “Additional Amount”) in cash or in a number of additional Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, (“Make-whole Shares”) in an amount that, based on the Relevant Price on the last day of the Resale Period (as if such day was the “Valuation Date” for purposes of computing such Relevant Price), has a dollar value equal to the Additional Amount. The Resale Period shall continue to enable the sale of the Make-whole Shares in the manner contemplated by this Section 8(c). This provision shall be applied successively until the Additional Amount is equal to zero, subject to Section 8(e).

(d) Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or this Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be entitled to receive, or shall be deemed to receive, any Shares in connection with this Transaction if, immediately upon giving effect to such receipt of such Shares, (i) Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership would be equal to or greater than 9.0% of the outstanding Shares, (ii) Dealer, or any “affiliate” or “associate” of Dealer, would be an “interested stockholder” of Issuer, as all such terms are defined in Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iii) Dealer, Dealer Group (as defined below) or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Laws”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations (except for any filings of Form 13F, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act) or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (each of clause (i), (ii) and (iii) above, an “Ownership Limitation”). If any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in

 

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part, as a result of an Ownership Limitation, Dealer’s right to receive such delivery shall not be extinguished and Issuer shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Issuer that such delivery would not result in any of such Ownership Limitations being breached. “Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer, for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or of any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part (Dealer and any such affiliates, persons and groups, collectively, “Dealer Group”), beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day (including, solely for such purpose, Shares that would be deemed outstanding pursuant to the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) as if such sentence were applicable to the calculation of clause (B) of the definition of Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership). Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement or this Confirmation to the contrary, Dealer (or the affiliate designated by Dealer pursuant to Section 8(l) below) shall not become the record or beneficial owner, or otherwise have any rights as a holder, of any Shares that Dealer (or such affiliate) is not entitled to receive at any time pursuant to this Section 8(d), until such time as such Shares are delivered pursuant to this Section 8(d).

(e) Limitations on Settlement by Issuer. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Issuer be required to deliver Shares in connection with the Transaction in excess of the Capped Number (as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation), subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Confirmation or the Definitions resulting from actions of Issuer or events within Issuer’s control (the “Capped Number”). Issuer represents and warrants to Dealer (which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that the Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares of the Issuer that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transaction) on the date of the determination of the Capped Number (such Shares, the “Available Shares”). In the event Issuer shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable as a result of this Section 8(e) (the resulting deficit, the “Deficit Shares”), Issuer shall be continually obligated to deliver, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, Shares when, and to the extent, that (i) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Issuer or any of its subsidiaries after the Trade Date (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (ii) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved or (iii) Issuer additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions. At such time as there may be Deficit Shares, Issuer shall promptly notify Dealer of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered) and promptly deliver such Shares thereafter.

(f) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Exercise Date or Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery with respect to some or all of the relevant Warrants (in which event the Calculation Agent shall make appropriate adjustments to the Number of Shares to be Delivered with respect to one or more Components), if Dealer determines, in its good faith and reasonable discretion, based on advice of counsel in the case of the immediately following clause (ii), that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to (i) preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions in the cash market, the stock loan market or any other relevant market or (ii) to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Issuer or an affiliated purchaser of Issuer, be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer; provided that, no such Exercise Date, Settlement Date or any other date of valuation or delivery may be postponed or extended more than 50 Exchange Business Days after the original Exercise Date, Settlement Date or other date of valuation or delivery, as the case may be.

(g) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Issuer’s bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Issuer’s bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Issuer of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is not secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Issuer herein under or pursuant to any other agreement.

 

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(h) Amendments to Equity Definitions. The following amendments shall be made to the Equity Definitions:

(i) Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “a material”; and adding the phrase “or Warrants” at the end of the sentence;

(ii) Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) deleting the words “diluting or concentrative” (in both instances) and replacing each instance with the word “material”, (B) adding the phrase “or Warrants” after the word “Shares” in the sixth line thereof and (C) deleting the phrase “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing it with the phrase “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)”;

(iii) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions are hereby amended by deleting the words “that may have a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “that is the result of a corporate event involving Issuer or its securities that may have a material” and adding the phrase “or Warrants” at the end of the sentence;

(iv) [Reserved.];

(v) Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) deleting (1) subsection (A) in its entirety, (2) the phrase “or (B)” following subsection (A) and (3) the phrase “in each case” in subsection (B); and (B) deleting the phrase “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares or” in the penultimate sentence; and

(vi) Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); and (B)(1) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety, (2) deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C) and (3) replacing in the penultimate sentence the words “either party” with “the Hedging Party” and (4) deleting clause (X) in the final sentence.

(i) Transfer and Assignment. Subject to applicable law, Dealer may transfer or assign all of its rights and obligations hereunder and under the Transaction and Agreement, in whole or in part, without the consent of Issuer to any affiliate of Dealer only if an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event will not occur as a result of such transfer or assignment. Issuer may not transfer or assign any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction or the Agreement without the prior written consent of Dealer. At any time at which any Ownership Limitation exists, if Dealer, in its discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party after using its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing terms and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Ownership Limitation no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Trading Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that such Ownership Limitation no longer exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment or delivery shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and Section 8(b) of this Confirmation as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Issuer shall be the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (iii) such portion of the Transaction shall be the only Terminated Transaction.

(j) Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party.

(k) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Issuer and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Issuer relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(l) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Issuer, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such shares or other securities and otherwise to

 

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perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Issuer solely to the extent of any such performance.

(m) Additional Termination Events. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction shall be the sole Affected Transaction and Issuer shall be the sole Affected Party; provided that with respect to any Additional Termination Event, Dealer may choose to treat part of the Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction, and, upon the termination of the Affected Transaction, a Transaction with terms identical to those set forth herein except with a Number of Warrants equal to the unaffected number of Warrants shall be treated for all purposes as the Transaction, which shall remain in full force and effect:

(i) Dealer reasonably determines, based on advice of counsel, that it is advisable to terminate a portion of the Transaction so that Dealer’s related hedging activities will comply with applicable securities laws, rules or regulations or related policies and procedures of Dealer (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer);

(ii) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than Issuer, Issuer’s employee benefit plans, Issuer’s subsidiaries and Issuer’s subsidiaries’ employee benefit plans, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of Shares representing more than 50% of the voting power of all shares of Issuer’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors; or

(iii) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of Shares (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) pursuant to which the Shares would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of Issuer pursuant to which Shares will be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a merger of Issuer solely for the purpose of changing Issuer’s jurisdiction of incorporation that results in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding Shares solely into shares of common stock of the surviving entity; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of Issuer’s subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction set forth in clause (ii) or (iii) above will not constitute an Additional Termination Event if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by holders of the Shares, excluding cash payments for fractional Shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock or ordinary shares that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions.

(n) No Netting and Set-off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set off obligations arising under the Agreement and the Transaction against other obligations between the parties, whether arising under any other agreement, applicable law or otherwise.

(o) Early Unwind. In the event the sale by Issuer of the “Firm Securities” is not consummated with the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any reason by the close of business in New York on the Premium Payment Date (or such later date as agreed upon by the parties, which in no event shall be later than December 4, 2012) (the Premium Payment Date or such later date being the “Early Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate (the “Early Unwind”), on the Early Unwind Date and the Transaction and all of the respective rights and obligations of Dealer and Issuer thereunder shall be cancelled and terminated. Following such termination and cancellation, each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of either party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Early Unwind Date; provided that, unless such Early Unwind Date occurred as a result of a breach of the Purchase Agreement by the Initial Purchasers, Issuer shall purchase from Dealer on the Early Unwind Date all Shares purchased by Dealer or one or more of its affiliates in connection with the Transaction at the then prevailing market price. Dealer and Issuer represent and acknowledge to the other that, subject to

 

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the proviso included in this Section 8(o), upon an Early Unwind, all obligations with respect to the Transaction shall be deemed fully and finally discharged.

(p) Repurchase Notices. Issuer shall, on or prior to any day on which Issuer effects any repurchase of Shares, give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”) if, following such repurchase, the Notice Percentage as determined on the date of such Repurchase Notice is (i) greater than 9.0% and (ii) greater by 0.5% than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of the first such Repurchase Notice, greater than the Notice Percentage as of the date hereof). The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the Number of Shares and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Issuer fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(p) then Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Issuer shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Issuer will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Issuer) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Issuer. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer.

(q) Share Deliveries. Issuer acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the holder of these Warrants is not then an affiliate and has not been an affiliate for 90 days (it being understood that Dealer will not be considered an affiliate under this paragraph solely by reason of its receipt of Shares pursuant to the Transaction), and otherwise satisfies all holding period and other requirements of Rule 144 of the Securities Act applicable to it, any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property hereunder at any time after 6 months from the Trade Date (or 1 year from the Trade Date if, at such time, informational requirements of Rule 144(c) are not satisfied with respect to Issuer) shall be eligible for resale under Rule 144 of the Securities Act and Issuer agrees to promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property, to remove, any legends referring to any restrictions on resale under the Securities Act from the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property. Issuer further agrees that any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property prior to the date that is 6 months from the Trade Date (or 1 year from the Trade Date if, at such time, informational requirements of Rule 144(c) are not satisfied with respect to Issuer), may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and Issuer shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Issuer agrees that any delivery of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property shall be effected by book-entry transfer through the facilities of DTC, or any successor depositary, if at the time of delivery, such class of Shares or class of Share Termination Delivery Property is in book-entry form at DTC or such successor depositary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent the provisions of Rule 144 of the Securities Act or any successor rule are amended, or the applicable interpretation thereof by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any court change after the Trade Date, the agreements of Issuer herein shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary, in the opinion of outside counsel of Issuer, to comply with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, as in effect at the time of delivery of the relevant Shares or Share Termination Delivery Property.

(r) Payment by Dealer. In the event that, following payment of the Premium, (i) an Early Termination Date occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction as a result of a Termination Event or an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement) and, as a result, Dealer owes to Issuer an amount calculated under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, or (ii) Dealer owes to Issuer, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, an amount calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.

(s) Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010. The parties hereby agree that none of (v) Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), (w) any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (x) the

 

18


enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, (y) any requirement under WSTAA nor (z) an amendment made by WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from Change in Law, Loss of Stock Borrow, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow, an Ownership Limitation or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

(t) Regulatory Provisions. Issuer represents and warrants that it has received and read and understands the document titled “Risk Disclosure Statement for Over-The Counter Derivative Option Transactions” heretofore provided by Dealer to Issuer.

(u) Terms relating to the Agent. Dealer is not registered as a broker or dealer under the Exchange Act. Agent has acted solely as agent for Dealer and Issuer to the extent required by law in connection with the Transaction and has no obligations, by way of issuance, endorsement, guarantee or otherwise, with respect to the performance of either party under the Transaction. The parties agree to proceed solely against each other, and not against Agent, in seeking enforcement of their rights and obligations with respect to the Transaction, including their rights and obligations with respect to payment of funds and delivery of securities.

(v) Broker. Agent may have been paid a fee by Dealer in connection with the Transaction. Further details will be furnished upon written request.

(w) Time of Dealing. The time of the Transaction will be furnished by Agent upon written request.

(x) Hedging and Market Activity of Dealer. Issuer acknowledges and agrees that:

(i) During the term of the Transaction, Dealer and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to adjust Dealer’s hedge position with respect to the Transaction.

(ii) Dealer and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction.

(iii) Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Issuer’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems in good faith to be appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the price at which this Transaction settles.

(iv) Any market activities of Dealer and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the price at which this Transaction settles, each in a manner that may be adverse to Issuer.

(y) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF ISSUER AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

(z) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS CONFIRMATION AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

 

19


Issuer hereby agrees (a) to check this Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer ) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Issuer with respect to the Transaction, by manually signing this Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to Steve Milankov, Equity Derivatives Legal Department, Facsimile No. 212-278-7365.

 

Yours faithfully,
SOCIETE GENERALE
By:  

/s/ Judy Liu

  Name: Judy Liu
  Title: OTC Documentation Manager

Confirmed and Acknowledged as of the date first above written:

 

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ J. Brandon Black

  Name: J. Brandon Black
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


Annex A

For each Component of the Transaction, the Number of Warrants and Expiration Date is set forth below.

 

Component Number

  

Number of Warrants

  

Expiration Date

1.

   4,224    26-Feb-18

2.

   4,224    27-Feb-18

3.

   4,224    28-Feb-18

4.

   4,224    1-Mar-18

5.

   4,224    2-Mar-18

6.

   4,224    5-Mar-18

7.

   4,224    6-Mar-18

8.

   4,224    7-Mar-18

9.

   4,224    8-Mar-18

10.

   4,224    9-Mar-18

11.

   4,224    12-Mar-18

12.

   4,224    13-Mar-18

13.

   4,224    14-Mar-18

14.

   4,224    15-Mar-18

15.

   4,224    16-Mar-18

16.

   4,224    19-Mar-18

17.

   4,224    20-Mar-18

18.

   4,224    21-Mar-18

19.

   4,224    22-Mar-18

20.

   4,224    23-Mar-18

21.

   4,224    26-Mar-18

22.

   4,224    27-Mar-18

23.

   4,224    28-Mar-18

24.

   4,224    29-Mar-18

25.

   4,224    2-Apr-18

26.

   4,224    3-Apr-18

27.

   4,224    4-Apr-18

28.

   4,224    5-Apr-18

29.

   4,224    6-Apr-18

30.

   4,224    9-Apr-18

31.

   4,224    10-Apr-18

32.

   4,224    11-Apr-18

33.

   4,224    12-Apr-18

34.

   4,224    13-Apr-18

35.

   4,224    16-Apr-18

36.

   4,224    17-Apr-18

37.

   4,224    18-Apr-18

38.

   4,224    19-Apr-18

39.

   4,224    20-Apr-18

40.

   4,224    23-Apr-18

41.

   4,224    24-Apr-18

42.

   4,224    25-Apr-18

43.

   4,224    26-Apr-18

44.

   4,224    27-Apr-18

45.

   4,224    30-Apr-18

46.

   4,224    1-May-18

47.

   4,224    2-May-18

48.

   4,224    3-May-18

49.

   4,224    4-May-18

50.

   4,224    7-May-18

51.

   4,224    8-May-18


52.

   4,224    9-May-18

53.

   4,224    10-May-18

54.

   4,224    11-May-18

55.

   4,224    14-May-18

56.

   4,224    15-May-18

57.

   4,224    16-May-18

58.

   4,224    17-May-18

59.

   4,224    18-May-18

60.

   4,224    21-May-18

61.

   4,224    22-May-18

62.

   4,224    23-May-18

63.

   4,224    24-May-18

64.

   4,224    25-May-18

65.

   4,224    29-May-18

66.

   4,224    30-May-18

67.

   4,224    31-May-18

68.

   4,224    1-Jun-18

69.

   4,224    4-Jun-18

70.

   4,224    5-Jun-18

71.

   4,224    6-Jun-18

72.

   4,224    7-Jun-18

73.

   4,224    8-Jun-18

74.

   4,224    11-Jun-18

75.

   4,224    12-Jun-18

76.

   4,224    13-Jun-18

77.

   4,224    14-Jun-18

78.

   4,224    15-Jun-18

79.

   4,224    18-Jun-18

80.

   4,224    19-Jun-18

81.

   4,224    20-Jun-18

82.

   4,224    21-Jun-18

83.

   4,224    22-Jun-18

84.

   4,224    25-Jun-18

85.

   4,224    26-Jun-18

86.

   4,224    27-Jun-18

87.

   4,224    28-Jun-18

88.

   4,224    29-Jun-18

89.

   4,224    2-Jul-18

90.

   4,224    3-Jul-18

91.

   4,224    5-Jul-18

92.

   4,224    6-Jul-18

93.

   4,224    9-Jul-18

94.

   4,224    10-Jul-18

95.

   4,224    11-Jul-18

96.

   4,224    12-Jul-18

97.

   4,224    13-Jul-18

98.

   4,224    16-Jul-18

99.

   4,224    17-Jul-18

100.

   4,224    18-Jul-18

101.

   4,224    19-Jul-18

102.

   4,224    20-Jul-18

103.

   4,224    23-Jul-18

104.

   4,224    24-Jul-18

105.

   4,224    25-Jul-18

106.

   4,224    26-Jul-18

107.

   4,224    27-Jul-18

 

2


108.

   4,224    30-Jul-18

109.

   4,224    31-Jul-18

110.

   4,224    1-Aug-18

111.

   4,224    2-Aug-18

112.

   4,224    3-Aug-18

113.

   4,224    6-Aug-18

114.

   4,224    7-Aug-18

115.

   4,224    8-Aug-18

116.

   4,224    9-Aug-18

117.

   4,224    10-Aug-18

118.

   4,224    13-Aug-18

119.

   4,224    14-Aug-18

120.

   4,224    15-Aug-18

121.

   4,224    16-Aug-18

122.

   4,224    17-Aug-18

123.

   4,224    20-Aug-18

124.

   4,224    21-Aug-18

125.

   4,224    22-Aug-18

126.

   4,224    23-Aug-18

127.

   4,224    24-Aug-18

128.

   4,224    27-Aug-18

129.

   4,224    28-Aug-18

130.

   4,224    29-Aug-18

131.

   4,224    30-Aug-18

132.

   4,224    31-Aug-18

133.

   4,224    4-Sep-18

134.

   4,224    5-Sep-18

135.

   4,224    6-Sep-18

136.

   4,224    7-Sep-18

137.

   4,224    10-Sep-18

138.

   4,224    11-Sep-18

139.

   4,224    12-Sep-18

140.

   4,224    13-Sep-18

141.

   4,224    14-Sep-18

142.

   4,224    17-Sep-18

143.

   4,224    18-Sep-18

144.

   4,224    19-Sep-18

145.

   4,224    20-Sep-18

146.

   4,224    21-Sep-18

147.

   4,224    24-Sep-18

148.

   4,224    25-Sep-18

149.

   4,224    26-Sep-18

150.

   4,288    27-Sep-18

 

Strike Price:

   USD 44.1875   

Premium:

   USD 1,854,000   

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

   100 basis points   

Initial Stock Loan Rate:

   25 basis points   

Capped Number:

   1,267,328   

 

3