Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL

AND

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

as Trustee

 

 

TWELFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of August 2, 2024

to the

INDENTURE

Dated as of August 11, 2014

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

Section 1.01.

  

Relation to Base Indenture

     2  

Section 1.02.

  

Definition of Terms

     2  
ARTICLE II

 

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES

 

 

Section 2.01.

  

Designation and Principal Amount

     7  

Section 2.02.

  

Maturity

     7  

Section 2.03.

  

Form, Payment and Appointment

     7  

Section 2.04.

  

Global Notes

     8  

Section 2.05.

  

Interest

     8  

Section 2.06.

  

No Sinking Fund

     11  

Section 2.07.

  

Satisfaction and Discharge

     11  
ARTICLE III

 

REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES

 

 

Section 3.01.

  

Optional Redemption by Company

     11  

Section 3.02.

  

Notice of Redemption; Selection of Notes to be Redeemed

     11  

Section 3.03.

  

Payment of Redemption Price

     12  

Section 3.04.

  

No Other Redemption

     12  
ARTICLE IV

 

FORMS OF NOTES

 

 

Section 4.01.

  

Forms of Notes

     12  
ARTICLE V

 

ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES

 

 

Section 5.01.

  

Original Issue of Notes

     12  
ARTICLE VI

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE

 

 

Section 6.01.

  

Amendment of Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture

     12  

Section 6.02.

  

Amendment of Section 2.02(n) of the Base Indenture

     13  

Section 6.03.

  

Amendment of Section 2.05 of the Base Indenture relating to the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     13  

Section 6.04.

  

Amendment of Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture

     13  

Section 6.05.

  

Amendment of Section 6.02 of the Base Indenture

     14  

Section 6.06.

  

Amendment of Section 6.04 of the Base Indenture

     14  

Section 6.07.

  

Amendment of Section 6.05 of the Base Indenture

     14  

Section 6.08.

  

Amendment of Section 6.06 of the Base Indenture

     14  

Section 6.09.

  

Amendment of Section 6.07 of the Base Indenture

     15  

Section 6.10.

  

Amendment of Section 6.08 of the Base Indenture

     15  

Section 6.11.

  

Amendment of Section 7.01 of the Base Indenture

     15  


Section 6.12.

  

Amendment of Section 10.01(b) of the Base Indenture

     15  

Section 6.13.

  

Amendment of Section 11.01 of the Base Indenture

     15  

Section 6.14.

  

Amendment of Section 11.01(b) of the Base Indenture

     15  

Section 6.15.

  

Amendment of Section 12.03 of the Base Indenture

     15  

Section 6.16.

  

Amendment of Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture

     15  

Section 6.17.

  

Amendment of the Base Indenture to add new Sections 14.13, 14.14 and 14.15

     16  
ARTICLE VII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

Section 7.01.

  

Ratification of Indenture

     17  

Section 7.02.

  

Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals

     17  

Section 7.03.

  

Governing Law

     17  

Section 7.04.

  

Waiver of Trial by Jury

     17  

Section 7.05.

  

Table of Contents, Headings, etc

     17  

Section 7.06.

  

Execution in Counterparts

     17  

Section 7.07.

  

Separability; Benefits

     17  

EXHIBIT A

  

Form of 5.935% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2030

     A-1  

 

 

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THIS TWELFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Twelfth Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of August 2, 2024, is between SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation (the “Trustee”).

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of August 11, 2014, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture”), providing for the issuance from time to time of series of Securities of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 11, 2014, between the Company and the Trustee (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 1.875% Senior Notes due 2017, the 3.000% Senior Notes due 2019, the 3.750% Senior Notes due 2021 and the 4.250% Senior Notes due 2024;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 2, 2015, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 2.700% Senior Notes due 2020 and the Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2020;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 23, 2015, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2025;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 4, 2015, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 2.600% Senior Notes due 2019;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 9, 2016, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2017;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 4, 2016, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Sixth Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 3.700% Senior Notes due 2026;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 30, 2017, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 3.950% Senior Notes due 2027;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee an Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 19, 2019, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Eighth Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 4.375% Senior Notes due 2024 and the 5.150% Senior Notes due 2029;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2019, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Ninth Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 2.850% Senior Notes due 2022;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 28, 2021, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 2.875% Senior Notes due 2031;

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustee an Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 13, 2022, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Eleventh Supplemental Indenture” and the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture and this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2025;


WHEREAS, Section 10.01(c) of the Base Indenture provides for the Company and the Trustee to enter into an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture, the Company wishes to provide for the issuance of a new series of Securities to be known as its 5.935% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”), the forms and terms of such Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, Section 10.01 of the Base Indenture further provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may amend the Base Indenture without the consent of the holders of any Securities of any series to add to, change or eleiminate any of the provisions contained in the Base Indenture or in any supplemental thereto in respect of one of more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination shall not apply to, or modify the rights of any holder of, any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to change or eliminate certain provisions of the Base Indenture with respect to all series of Securities issued on or after the date hereof as further described herein;

WHEREAS, any change to or elimination of any provision of the Base Indenture pursuant to this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture shall not apply to any Security Outstanding prior to the execution of this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, and each Security Outstanding prior to the execution of this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of the provisions under the Base Indenture existing prior to the execution of this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, and all requirements necessary to make this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and enforceable instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, have been done and performed, and the execution and delivery of this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Relation to Base Indenture. This Twelfth Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture.

Section 1.02. Definition of Terms. For all purposes of this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture:

(a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Base Indenture;

(b) a term defined anywhere in this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture has the same meaning throughout;

(c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

(d) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation;

(e) the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 1.02(e):

 

2


Benchmark” shall have the meaning of , initially, Compounded SOFR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Compounded SOFR (or the published SOFR Index used in the calculation thereof) or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.

Benchmark Replacement” shall have the meaning of the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company or its designee as of the Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that if the Benchmark Replacement cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) below as of the Benchmark Replacement Date and the Company or its designee shall have determined that the ISDA Fallback Rate determined in accordance with clause (2) below is not an industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes at such time, then clause (2) below shall be disregarded, and the Benchmark Replacement shall be determined in accordance with clause (3) below:

 

  (1)

the sum of: (a) an alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

  (2)

the sum of: (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or

 

  (3)

the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by the Company or its designee as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” shall have the meaning of the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company or its designee as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

  (1)

the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;

 

  (2)

if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; or

 

  (3)

the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Company or its designee giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes at such time.

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” shall have the meaning of, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definitions or interpretations of interest period, the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, the rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Company or its designee decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Company or its designee decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Company or its designee determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Company or its designee determines is reasonably practicable).

Benchmark Replacement Date” shall have the meaning of the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including any daily published component used in the calculation thereof):

 

  (1)

in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or

 

3


  (2)

in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.

Benchmark Transition Event” shall have the meaning of the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the daily published component used in the calculation thereof):

 

  (1)

a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component);

 

  (2)

a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component), the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark (or such component), an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or

 

  (3)

a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.

Business Day” shall mean, unless otherwise specified, any calendar day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open for business in The City of New York, New York.

Calculation Agent” shall mean the firm appointed by the Company prior to the commencement of the Floating Rate Period. The Company or an affiliate of the Company may assume the duties of the Calculation Agent

Compounded SOFR

With respect to any Floating Rate Period, “Compounded SOFR” will be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following formula (and the resulting percentage will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point):

 

(

   SOFR IndexEnd      – 1        )        x       360
   SOFR IndexStart    d

 

4


where:

SOFR IndexStart” means, for periods other than the initial interest period in the Floating Rate Period, the SOFR Index value on the preceding Interest Payment Determination Date, and, for the initial interest period in the Floating Rate Period, the SOFR Index value on the date that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the first day of such initial interest period (such first day expected to be August 2, 2029);

SOFR IndexEnd” means the SOFR Index value on the Interest Payment Determination Date relating to the applicable Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date (or in the final Floating Rate Period, relating to the Maturity Date, or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, relating to the applicable Redemption Date); and

d” is the number of calendar days in the relevant Observation Period.

For purposes of determining Compounded SOFR,

Interest Payment Determination Date” means the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days before each Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date (or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, preceding the applicable Redemption Date).

Observation Period” means, in respect of each Floating Rate Period, the period from, and including, the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the first date of the relevant Floating Rate Period, but excluding, the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the relevant Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date for such Floating Rate Period (or in the final Floating Rate Period, preceding the Maturity Date or, in the case of the redemption of the Notes, preceding the applicable Redemption Date).

SOFR” means the daily secured overnight financing rate as provided by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “FRBNY”) (or a successor administrator of SOFR).

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the FRBNY, currently at www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

SOFR Index” means, with respect to any U.S. Government Securities Business Day:

 

  (1)

the SOFR Index value as published by the SOFR Administrator as such index appears on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on such U.S. Government Securities Business Day (the “SOFR Index Determination Time”); or

 

  (2)

if a SOFR Index value does not so appear as specified in (1) above at the SOFR Index Determination Time, then: (i) if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have not occurred with respect to SOFR, Compounded SOFR shall be the rate determined pursuant to the “SOFR Index unavailable provisions” described below; or (ii) if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to SOFR, Compounded SOFR shall be the rate determined pursuant to the “Benchmark Transition Provisions” provisions described in Section 2.05(f).

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association or any successor organization recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.

DTC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

First Par Call Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01.

Fixed Rate Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).

Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).

 

5


Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b).

Floating Rate Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b).

Global Note” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

Interest Payment Date” means the Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date and the Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date.

ISDA” means the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., or any successor thereto.

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by ISDA, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.

ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.

ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.

Maturity Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.

Optional Redemption Price” shall mean, with respect to any redemption of Notes, the applicable redemption price for such Notes set forth in Section 3.01.

Record Date” means the calendar day that is 15 calendar days prior to each Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day).

Redemption Date” shall mean, with respect to any redemption of Notes, the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to the Indenture and such Notes.

Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is Compounded SOFR, the SOFR Index Determination Time, as such time is defined above, and (2) if the Benchmark is not Compounded SOFR, the time determined by the Company or its designee in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY or any successor thereto.

“Remaining Life” shall have the meaning set forth in the defined term “Treasury Rate”.

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

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company as of 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or as of such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear as of such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the First Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the First Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the

 

6


actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.

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

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

The terms “Base Indenture,” “Company,” “First Supplemental Indenture,” “Second Supplemental Indenture,” “Third Supplemental Indenture,” “Fourth Supplemental Indenture,” “Fifth Supplemental Indenture,” “Indenture,” “Sixth Supplemental Indenture,” “Seventh Supplemental Indenture,” “Eighth Supplemental Indenture,” “Ninth Supplemental Indenture,” “Tenth Supplemental Indenture, Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, Twelfth Supplemental Indenture,” “Notes,” and “Trustee” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the recitals to this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture and the paragraph preceding such recitals.

ARTICLE II

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES

Section 2.01. Designation and Principal Amount. The Notes may be issued from time to time upon written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of Notes pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Base Indenture.

There is hereby authorized a series of Securities designated as 5.935% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2030, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to U.S. $750,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered in accordance with the last paragraph of Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture or upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 3.03 or 10.04 of the Base Indenture).

Section 2.02. Maturity. The date upon which the Notes shall become due and payable at final maturity, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, is August 2, 2030 (the “Maturity Date”).

Section 2.03. Form, Payment and Appointment. Except as provided in Section 2.04, the Notes shall be issued in fully registered, certificated form. Principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable, the transfer of such Notes will be registrable, and such Notes will be exchangeable for Notes of a like aggregate principal amount bearing identical terms and provisions, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall initially be the Principal Office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York; provided, however, that

 

7


payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the Person entitled to payment, provided that the paying agent shall have received written notice of such account designation at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment (subject to surrender of the relevant Note in the case of a payment of interest on a Redemption Date or Maturity Date).

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, but the Company may require payment from the holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

The Security Registrar and paying agent for the Notes shall initially be the Trustee. The Specified Currency of the Notes shall be U.S. Dollars.

Section 2.04. Global Notes.

(a) The Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Securities in registered form (each, a “Global Note”). The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) shall initially act as the Depositary for the Notes. Each Global Note (i) shall be deposited with the Depositary or its custodian and registered in the name of DTC or DTC’s nominee, (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions, and (iii) shall bear a legend substantially to the effect set forth in Section 2.12 of the Base Indenture.

(b) The aggregate amount of Outstanding Notes represented by any Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges or other increases or decrease in the principal amount thereof. The Trustee may make any endorsement on a Global Note to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of holders of the Notes represented thereby, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes. Each Global Note shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon.

(c) Unless and until any Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated form, such Global Note may be transferred, in whole but not in part, and any payments on the Notes evidenced by such Global Note shall be made, only to the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, or to a successor Depositary selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary, in each case as the Securityholder of such Notes.

Section 2.05. Interest.

(a) Fixed Rate Period. During the period from, and including, August 2, 2024, to, but excluding, August 2, 2029 (the “Fixed Rate Period”), the Notes will bear interest at the rate of 5.935% per annum. Such interest will be payable semi-annually, in arrears, on February 2 and August 2 of each year, beginning on February 2, 2025, and ending on August 2, 2029 (each, a “Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date”). Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. If any scheduled Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of any interest, principal or premium payable on such date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest or other payment will accrue during the period from and after the scheduled Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date as a result of such delay.

(b) Floating Rate Period.

(i) During the period from, and including, August 2, 2029 to, but excluding, the Maturity Date (the “Floating Rate Period”), the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to the Benchmark plus 213 basis points, as determined in arrears by the Calculation Agent in the manner described herein. Such interest will be payable quarterly, in arrears, on November 2, 2029, February 2, 2030, May 2, 2030 and at the Maturity Date (each a “Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date”).

(ii) Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date interest will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in each Floating Rate Period (or any other relevant period) and a 360-day year. The

 

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amount of accrued interest payable on the Notes for each Floating Rate Period will be computed by multiplying (i) the outstanding principal amount of the Notes by (ii) the product of (a) the interest rate for the relevant Floating Rate Period multiplied by (b) the quotient of the actual number of calendar days in the applicable Observation Period relating to such Floating Rate Period (or any other relevant period) divided by 360. The interest rate on the Notes will in no event be lower than zero.

(iii) If any scheduled Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date (other than the Maturity Date) falls on a day that is not a Business Day, such Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, except that, if the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, then such Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date will be advanced to the immediately preceding day that is a Business Day. If any such Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date (other than the Maturity Date) is postponed or brought forward as described above, the payment of interest due on such postponed or brought forward Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date will include interest accrued to but excluding such postponed or brought forward Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date.

(iv) The Calculation Agent will determine the Benchmark, the interest rate and accrued interest for each interest period in arrears as soon as reasonably practicable on or after the Floating Interest Payment Determination Date for such interest period and prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date and will notify the Company (if the Company is not the Calculation Agent) of the Benchmark, such interest rate and accrued interest for each interest period as soon as reasonably practicable after such determination, but in any event by the Business Day immediately prior to the Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date. At the written request of a Holder of the Notes, the Company the will provide the Benchmark, the interest rate and the amount of interest accrued with respect to any interest period, after the Benchmark, such interest rate and accrued interest have been determined. The Calculation Agent’s determination of any interest rate, and its calculation of interest payments for any Floating Rate Period, will be maintained on file at the Calculation Agent’s principal offices and will be provided in writing to the Trustee.

(c) Interest shall be payable to the Persons in whose names the relevant Notes are registered at the close of business on the Record Date preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(d) In the event that the Maturity Date or a Redemption Date for any Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the related payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and no additional interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after such Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be). If a Redemption Date of any Note falls within the Floating Rate Period but does not occur on a Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date, (i) the related Interest Payment Determination Date shall be deemed to be the date that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Redemption Date, (ii) the related Observation Period shall be deemed to end on (and exclude) the second U.S. Government Securities Business Day falling prior to such Redemption Date, (iii) the Floating Rate Period will be deemed to be shortened accordingly and (iv) corresponding adjustments will be deemed to be made to the Benchmark.

(e) SOFR Index Unavailable Provisions. If a SOFR IndexStart or SOFR IndexEnd is not published on the associated Interest Payment Determination Date and a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have not occurred with respect to SOFR, “Compounded SOFR” means, for the applicable interest period for which such index is not available, the rate of return on a daily compounded interest investment calculated in accordance with the formula for SOFR Averages, and definitions required for such formula, published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website currently at https://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/reference-rates/additional-information-about-reference-rates, or any successor source. For the purposes of this provision, references in the SOFR Averages compounding formula and related definitions to “calculation period” shall be replaced with “Observation Period” and the words “that is, 30-, 90-, or 180- calendar days” shall be removed. If SOFR (“SOFRi”) does not so appear for any day, “i” in the Observation Period, SOFRi for such day “i” shall be SOFR published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.

 

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(f) Benchmark Transition Provisions.

(i) Benchmark Replacement. In the event that the Company or its designee determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred on or prior to the applicable Reference Time in respect of any determination of the Benchmark on any date, the applicable Benchmark Replacement shall replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to the Notes in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.

(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Company or its designee will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.

(iii) Decisions and Determinations. All determinations, decisions, elections and any calculations made by the Company or its designee for the purposes of determining the Benchmark Replacement, the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment and any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders of the Notes, the Company, the Calculation Agent, the Trustee and the paying agent, absent manifest error. If made by the Company as Calculation Agent, will be made in the Company’s sole discretion. If made by the Company’s designee, such determinations, decisions, elections and calculations shall be made after consulting with the Company, and such designees shall not make any such determination, decision, election or calculation to which the Company objects. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, any determinations, decisions, calculations or elections made in accordance with this provision shall become effective without consent from the Holders of the Notes or any other party. Any determination, decision or election pursuant to the benchmark replacement provisions shall be made by the Company or its designee (which may be the Company’s affiliate) on the basis as described above, and in no event shall the Trustee or the Calculation Agent be responsible for making any such determination, decision or election. None of the Trustee, paying agent, or the Calculation Agent (if other than the Company or its affiliate) shall be under any obligation (i) to monitor, determine or verify the unavailability or cessation of SOFR or the SOFR Index, or whether or when there has occurred, or to give notice to any other transaction party of the occurrence of, any Benchmark Transition Event or related Benchmark Replacement Date, (ii) to select, determine or designate any Benchmark Replacement, or other successor or replacement benchmark index, or whether any conditions to the designation of such a rate or index have been satisfied, (iii) to select, determine or designate any Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, or other modifier to any replacement or successor index, or (iv) to determine whether or what Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes are necessary or advisable, if any, in connection with any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, adjustments as to any alternative spread thereon, the business day convention, interest determination dates or any other relevant methodology applicable to such substitute or successor benchmark. In connection with the foregoing, each of the Trustee, paying agent, and Calculation Agent (if other than the Company or its affiliate) shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any determinations made by the Company or its designee without independent investigation, and none of the Trustee, paying agent, and Calculation Agent (if other than the Company or its affiliate) will have any liability for actions taken at the direction of the Company in connection therewith. None of the Trustee, paying agent, or the Calculation Agent (if other than the Company or its affiliate) shall be liable for any inability, failure or delay on its part to perform any of its duties set forth in this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture or the Notes as a result of the unavailability of SOFR, or other applicable Benchmark Replacement, including as a result of any failure, inability, delay, error or inaccuracy on the part of any other transaction party in providing any direction, instruction, notice or information required or contemplated by the terms of this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture or the Notes and reasonably required for the performance of such duties. None of the Trustee, paying agent, or Calculation Agent (if other than the Company or its affiliate) shall be responsible or liable for the Company’s actions or omissions or for those of any of the Company’s designees, or for any failure or delay in the performance by the Company or any of its designees, nor shall any of the Trustee, paying agent, or Calculation Agent (if other than the Company or its affiliate) be under any obligation to oversee or monitor the Company’s performance or the performance of any of the Company’s designees. The Trustee may conclusively rely, without investigation, on the Calculation Agent’s determination of the interest rate during the Floating Rate Periods.

 

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Section 2.06. No Sinking Fund. The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

Section 2.07. Satisfaction and Discharge. Article 12 of the Base Indenture contains provisions for discharge of the Indenture and the legal and covenant defeasance of the obligations of the Company with respect to any series of Securities at any time upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions shall apply to the Notes.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES

Section 3.01. Optional Redemption by Company. The Notes may not be redeemed by the Company prior to January 29, 2025. On or after January 29, 2025 (180 days after August 2, 2024) (or, if additional notes are issued, beginning 180 days after the issue date of such additional notes), and, prior to August 2, 2029 (one year prior to the Maturity Date (the “First Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

(a) (i) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming that the Notes matured on the First Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 0.300% less (ii) interest accrued to the Redemption Date; and

(b) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,

plus, in each case of (a) and (b), accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date of the Notes to be redeemed.

On the First Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

On or after July 3, 2030 (the date that is 30 days prior to the Maturity Date), the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at its option at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

The term “Optional Redemption Price” means, with respect to any redemption of Notes of this series, the applicable Redemption Price for such Notes set forth in the preceding three paragraphs; and the term “Redemption Date” means, with respect to any redemption of Notes of this series, the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to the Indenture and the Notes of this series.

If the Company redeems the Notes at its option, then (a) notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on any Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a Redemption Date for the Notes will be payable on that Interest Payment Date to the registered holders thereof as of the close of business on the relevant Record Date according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture and (b) the Redemption Price will, if applicable, be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

The Trustee shall not be responsible for determining the Redemption Price, including, without limitation, any Optional Redemption Price.

Section 3.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Notes to be Redeemed. The Company shall mail or electronically deliver (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary if the Notes to be redeemed are issued in the form of one or more Global Notes) notice of any redemption to the registered holders of the Notes to be redeemed at least 5 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. If the Notes are only partially redeemed pursuant to Section 3.01, the Notes to be redeemed will be selected by the Trustee by lot; provided that if at the time of redemption the Notes to be redeemed are registered as a Global Note, the Depositary shall determine, in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed held by each of its participants that holds a position in such Notes.

 

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Section 3.03. Payment of Redemption Price. The Optional Redemption Price for any Notes to be redeemed shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date or at such later time as is then permitted by the rules of the Depositary for the Notes (if then registered as a Global Note); provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the Optional Redemption Price for the Notes to be redeemed by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such Optional Redemption Price is to be paid.

Section 3.04. No Other Redemption. Except as set forth in Section 3.01, the Notes shall not be redeemable by the Company prior to the applicable Maturity Date. The provisions of this Article 3 shall supersede any conflicting provisions contained in Article 3 of the Base Indenture.

ARTICLE IV

FORMS OF NOTES

Section 4.01. Forms of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the forms attached as Exhibit A hereto, with such changes therein as the officers of the Company executing the Notes (by manual or facsimile signature) may approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof.

ARTICLE V

ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES

Section 5.01. Original Issue of Notes. The Notes having an aggregate principal amount of U.S. $750,000,000, subject to the last paragraph of Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture, may from time to time, upon execution of this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes to or upon the written order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Base Indenture without any further action by the Company (other than as required by the Base Indenture).

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE

Section 6.01. Amendment of Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture. Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting the following new defined term immediately following the definition of “Controlled Subsidiary”:

“Covenant Breach” means, with respect to the Securities of any series, (1) default in the payment of any sinking fund installment or analogous obligations as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such series, (2) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company in the Securities of such series or in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in the performance of which or the breach of which constitutes an Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01 of this Indenture), and continuance of such failure for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, stating that such notice is a “Covenant Breach”, requiring the Company to remedy the same, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding, and (3) any other Covenant Breach provided pursuant to Section 2.02 with respect to the Securities of such series. For the avoidance of doubt, a Covenant Breach shall not be an Event of Default with respect to any Security, except to the extent otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 with respect to such Security. Solely for purposes of this definition, Securities issued on or after August 2, 2024 shall be deemed not to be in the same series as the Securities issued prior to August 2, 2024 unless those Securities bear the same CUSIP number and/or ISIN as any Securities issued under the Indenture the initial issuance of which occurred prior to August 2, 2024.”

 

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Except as otherwise provided in this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, all other definitions set forth in Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture shall remain in full force and effect and are not affected by this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture.

Section 6.02. Amendment of Section 2.02(n) of the Base Indenture. Section 2.02(n) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting such Section 2.02(n) in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

“(n) any addition to, elimination of or other change in the Events of Default or covenants, or to the definition of “Covenant Breach” set forth in Section 1.01, in each case with respect to the Securities of such series, including making Events of Default, Covenant Breaches or covenants inapplicable or changing the remedies available to holders of the Securities of such series upon an Event of Default or a Covenant Breach;”

Section 6.03. Amendment of Section 2.05 of the Base Indenture relating to the Trustees Certificate of Authentication. The first paragraph of Section 2.05 of the Base Indenture is amended and restated with respect to the Notes, to read as follows:

“The Securities shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its President, its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Financial Officer, its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, or its Secretary or Assistant Secretary. Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual, facsimile or electronic signature of an authorized officer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.”

Section 6.04. Amendment of Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture. Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting such Section 6.01 in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

““Event of Default”, when used with respect to Securities of any series, means each of the following events unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or is specifically deleted or modified in the supplemental indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors under which such series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such series:

(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

(b) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable at their stated maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

(c) a court or governmental authority having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

(d) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or shall take any corporate action in furtherance of any of the foregoing; or

(e) any other Event of Default provided with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 2.02.

 

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If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in each such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of such series already shall have become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders of such series), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all the Securities of such series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 with respect to the Securities of such series, there shall be no rights of acceleration other than as described in the preceding sentence. In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 with respect to the Securities of a series, neither the Trustee nor any holders of such Securities shall have the right to accelerate the payment of such Securities, nor shall the payment of any Securities be otherwise accelerated, as a result of a Covenant Breach. Further, for avoidance of doubt, if an Event of Default as described in Section 6.01(e) is specified for a series of Securities, there will be no right to accelerate payment of such Securities on the terms described in the preceding paragraph unless such acceleration rights are granted specifically for such Securities as contemplated by Section 2.02. This provision, however, is subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of the Securities of any series shall have been so declared or otherwise become due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest, if any, upon all of the Securities of such series and the principal of, and premium, if any, on any and all Securities of such series which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) and on such principal at the Overdue Rate applicable to such series, to the date of such payment or deposit), (ii) the Company shall pay or deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, and (iii) any and all defaults under this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities, other than the nonpayment of principal of and accrued interest on Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by acceleration, shall have been remedied, cured or waived or provision shall have been made therefor to the satisfaction of the Trustee, then and in every such case, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to such series and rescind and annul such declaration or acceleration and its consequences; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

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

Section 6.05. Amendment of Section 6.02 of the Base Indenture. Clause (b) of the first paragraph of Section 6.02 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting “and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days,” before “or (c) in case of default in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund obligation.”

Section 6.06. Amendment of Section 6.04 of the Base Indenture. Clause (a) of the first paragraph of Section 6.04 is hereby amended by inserting “or Covenant Breach” after the phrase “Event of Default.”

Section 6.07. Amendment of Section 6.05 of the Base Indenture. Section 6.05 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting “or Covenant Breach” after the phrase “Event of Default.”

Section 6.08. Amendment of Section 6.06 of the Base Indenture. Section 6.06 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting each word “default” and replacing it with the phrase “Event of Default or Covenant Breach.”

 

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Section 6.09. Amendment of Section 6.07 of the Base Indenture. Section 6.07(b) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting the phrase “or Covenant Breach” after each occurrence of the phrase “Event of Default.”

Section 6.10. Amendment of Section 6.08 of the Base Indenture. Section 6.08 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting such Section 6.08 in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

“If a default occurs hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the holders of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Clause (2) under the definition of “Covenant Breach” in Section 1.01 with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to the holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof; provided, however, that except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of Securities of such series. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default or a Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities of such series.”

Section 6.11. Amendment of Section 7.01 of the Base Indenture. Section 7.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by (i) inserting the phrase “or Covenant Breach” after each occurrence of the phrase “Event of Default” and (ii) deleting such Section 7.01(h) in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

“(h) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach, unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;”.

Section 6.12. Amendment of Section 10.01(b) of the Base Indenture. Section 10.01(b) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting the phrase “or Covenant Breach” after the phrase “Event of Default.”

Section 6.13. Amendment of Section 11.01 of the Base Indenture. The first paragraph of Section 11.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the phrase “(other than a Subsidiary)” and replacing it with “(other than one or more Subsidiaries).”

Section 6.14. Amendment of Section 11.01(b) of the Base Indenture. Section 11.01(b) of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by inserting “or Covenant Breach” after the phrase “Event of Default.”

Section 6.15. Amendment of Section 12.03 of the Base Indenture. Clause (ii) of Section 12.03 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the words up to the colon and replacing them with the following:

“any Event of Default established as contemplated by Section 6.01(e) and expressed to be subject to covenant defeasance pursuant to this Section 12.03, will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, provided the following conditions have been satisfied:”

Section 6.16. Amendment of Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture. Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the second paragraph thereof and replacing it with the following:

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

The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized

 

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

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Securities, where this Indenture or any Securities provides for notice of any event or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Depositary.”

Section 6.17. Amendment of the Base Indenture to add new Sections 14.13, 14.14 and 14.15. The Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding the following new Sections 14.13, 14.14 and 14.15:

“Section 14.13. In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”) that a foreign financial institution, or issuer, trustee, paying agent, holder or other institution is or has agreed to be subject to related to the Indenture, the Company agrees (i) to provide to the Trustee upon its written request such information that is in the Company’s possession about holders of Securities or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under the Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Indenture. The obligations imposed on the Company under this paragraph are limited to the extent that the provision of such information to the Trustee will not result in any breach of this Indenture or the Securities or violate any applicable law.

Section 14.14. Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions Representations.

(a) The Company covenants and represents that neither it nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, directors or officers are the target or subject of any sanctions enforced by the U.S. Government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively “Sanctions”); and

(b) The Company covenants and represents that neither it nor any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, directors or officers will directly or indirectly use any payments made pursuant to this agreement: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person who, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any country or territory that is the target or subject of Sanctions, or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any person.

 

 

16


Section 14.15. Submission to Jurisdiction.

The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Southern District in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture and the Securities, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts.”

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.01. Ratification of Indenture. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture and this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

Section 7.02. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals. The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture.

Section 7.03. Governing Law. THIS TWELFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS TWELFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OR ANY NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 7.04. Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND EACH HOLDER OF NOTES, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 7.05. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Twelfth Supplemental 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.

Section 7.06. Execution in Counterparts. This Twelfth Supplemental 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.

Section 7.07. Separability; Benefits. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect, then, to the extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Nothing in this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Twelfth Supplemental Indenture.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

17


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

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
By:  

/s/ Christopher J. Coffey

  Name: Christopher J. Coffey
  Title: Senior Vice President, Treasury — Funding, Investments & Liquidity

[Signature Page to Twelfth Supplemental Indenture]


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

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Stacey B. Poindexter

  Name: Stacey B. Poindexter
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Twelfth Supplemental Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[IF THIS NOTE IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT:]

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS NOTE IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC, OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC, TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT 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.

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL

5.935% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Senior Note due 2030

CUSIP: 87165B AV5

ISIN: US 87165BAV53

$    

No.  

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to     , or registered assigns, [the principal sum of $   ]1 on August 2, 2030 (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest during the period (a) from, and including, August 2, 2024, to, but excluding, August 2, 2029 (the “Fixed Rate Period”), at the rate of 5.935% per annum thereon, semi-annually in arrears on February 2 and August 2 of each year, with payment commencing on February 2, 2025 and ending on August 2, 2029 (each, a “Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date”); and (b) from, and including, August 2, 2029 to, but excluding, the Maturity Date (the “Floating Rate Period”) at a floating rate per annum equal to the Benchmark plus 213 basis points, as determined in arrears by the Calculation Agent, quarterly in arrears on November 2, 2029, February 2, 2030, May 2, 2030 and at the Maturity Date (each a “Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date”).

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name the relevant Notes, or any predecessor Notes, are registered at the close of business on the relevant Record Date; provided that the interest due on the Maturity Date or a Redemption Date of a Note of this series will be paid to the Person to whom principal of such Note is payable.

Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall initially be the Principal Office of the Trustee located therein, in such coin or currency of the United States of

 

1 

USE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE INSTEAD FOR GLOBAL NOTES: [the principal sum as set forth in the Schedule of Increases or Decreases In Note attached hereto]

 

A-1


America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the Person entitled to payment, provided that the paying agent shall have received written notice of such account designation at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment (subject to surrender of the relevant Note in the case of a payment of interest on a Redemption Date or the Maturity Date).

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

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

 

A-2


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

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
By:  

 

   Name:
   Title:

[Signature Page to Global Note]


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Dated:        

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee

 

By:  

 

   Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Global Note]


REVERSE OF NOTE

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Notes”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of August 11, 2014, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee), which has been amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 11, 2014, between the Company and the Trustee (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 2, 2015, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 23, 2015, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 4, 2015, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 9, 2016, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”), the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 4, 2016, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Sixth Supplemental Indenture”), the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2017, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture”), the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 19, 2019, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Eighth Supplemental Indenture”), the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2019, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Ninth Supplemental Indenture”), the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 28, 2021, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture”), the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 13, 2022, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Eleventh Supplemental Indenture”), and the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 2, 2024, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Twelfth Supplemental Indenture”). The Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, and the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, is the “Indenture” to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $750,000,000.

All terms used but not defined in this Note that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture.

The Notes may not be redeemed by the Company prior to January 29, 2025. On or after January 29, 2025 (180 days after August 2, 2024) (or, if additional Notes are issued, beginning 180 days after the issue date of such additional Notes), and, prior to August 2, 2029 (one year prior to the Maturity Date (the “First Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Notes of this series, in whole or in part, at its option, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

(i) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming that the Notes matured on the First Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 0.300% less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date; and

(ii) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,

plus, in each case of (i) and (ii), accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date of the Notes to be redeemed.

On the First Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes of this series, in whole but not in part, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

On or after July 3, 2030 (the date that is 30 days prior to the Maturity Date), the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at its option at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of this series being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

A-R-1


The term “Optional Redemption Price” means, with respect to any redemption of Notes of this series, the applicable redemption price for such Notes set forth in the preceding three paragraphs; and the term “Redemption Date” means, with respect to any redemption of Notes of this series, the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to the Indenture and the Notes of this series.

The Company shall mail or electronically deliver (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) notice of any redemption to the registered holders of the Notes of this series to be redeemed at least 5 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. If Notes of this series are only partially redeemed pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Notes of this series to be redeemed will be selected by the Trustee by lot; provided that if at the time of redemption the Notes of this series to be redeemed are registered as a Global Note, the Depositary shall determine, in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of the Notes of this series to be redeemed held by each of its participants that holds a position in such Notes. The Optional Redemption Price for any Notes of this series to be redeemed shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date or at such later time as is then permitted by the rules of the Depositary for the related Notes (if then registered as a Global Note); provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the Optional Redemption Price for the Notes of this series to be redeemed by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date such Optional Redemption Price is to be paid.

In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. Except as set forth in the preceding paragraphs and in Article 3 of the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, the Company may not redeem the Notes of this series at its option prior to the Maturity Date.

The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance of the obligations of the Company at any time upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions apply to the Notes of this series.

If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the holders of the Notes at any time by the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series affected thereby at the time Outstanding, voting as a single class. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes of a series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the holders of all Notes of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, except as provided for in Section 2.04 of the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the holder surrendering the same.

 

A-R-2


No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Except as provided in Section 8.03 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

THIS NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Company will furnish a copy of the Indenture to any holder upon written request and without charge.

 

A-R-3


ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Note to:

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)

 

 

 

(Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints

 

 

 

agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

Date:      

 

Signature:  

 

Signature Guarantee:  

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)


SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN NOTE

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

 

Date

  

Amount of decrease
in principal amount
of this Note

  

Amount of increase
in principal amount
of this Note

  

Principal amount of
this Note following
such decrease or
increase

  

Signature of
authorized signatory
of Trustee