S-3

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2023

Registration No. 333-      ​

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Global Business Travel Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	4700	98-0598290
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

666 3rd Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (646) 344-1290

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

Eric J. Bock, Esq.
Chief Legal Officer
Global Business Travel Group, Inc.
666 3rd Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (646) 344-1290

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

Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:

Gregory A Fernicola, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
One Manhattan West
New York, New York 10001
Telephone: (212) 735-3000
Facsimile: (212) 735-2000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subject to Completion, dated June 1, 2023

Prospectus

GLOBAL BUSINESS TRAVEL GROUP, INC.

$300,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Purchase Contracts
Purchase Units
3,775,304 Shares of Class A Common Stock by Selling Stockholders

Global Business Travel Group, Inc. may offer, issue and sell, together or separately, from time to time in one or more offerings:

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shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”);

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shares of our preferred stock, which may be issued in one or more series;

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depositary receipts, representing fractional shares of our preferred stock, which are called depositary shares;

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debt securities, which may be issued in one or more series and which may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities;

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warrants to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock, shares of our preferred stock or our debt securities;

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subscription rights to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock, shares of our preferred stock or our debt securities;

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purchase contracts to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock, shares of our preferred stock or our debt securities; and

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purchase units, each representing ownership of a purchase contract and debt securities, preferred securities or debt obligations of third-parties, including U.S. treasury securities, or any combination of the foregoing, securing the holder’s obligation to purchase our Common Stock or other securities under the purchase contracts.

The aggregate offering price of all securities sold by us under this prospectus may not exceed $300,000,000.

This prospectus also relates to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus of up to 3,775,304 shares of our Class A Common Stock. This prospectus also covers any additional securities that may become issuable by reason of stock splits, stock dividends or recapitalizations. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby.

The selling stockholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any, in connection with the sale of the shares of Class A Common Stock. We have agreed to pay certain expenses in connection with this registration statement and to indemnify the selling stockholders and certain related persons against certain liabilities. As of the date of this prospectus, no underwriter or other person has been engaged to facilitate the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock held by the selling stockholders.

We will provide the specific prices and terms of these securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus at the time of offering. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.

Investing in our securities involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 3 before you make your investment decision.

We and the selling stockholders may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to purchasers. If required, the prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

Our Class A Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the trading symbol “GBTG.” On May 31, 2023, the last reported sale price of our Class A Common Stock as reported on the NYSE was $7.17 per share. Each prospectus supplement will indicate whether the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is June      , 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About This Prospectus	ii
Trademarks, Trade Names and Service Marks	ii
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	iii
Selected Definitions	iv
The Company	1
Risk Factors	3
Use of Proceeds	4
Description of Securities	5
Description of Capital Stock	6
Description of Depositary Shares	16
Description of Warrants	21
Description of Subscription Rights	22
Description of Purchase Contracts and Purchase Units	23
Selling Stockholders	24
Plan of Distribution	26
Legal Matters	27
Experts	27
Where You Can Find More Information	27
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference	28

i

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell from time to time the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings for an aggregate offering price of up to $300,000,000. This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read both this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

In addition, the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus may use this registration statement to offer and sell from time to time up to 3,775,304 shares of our Class A Common Stock. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby. The selling stockholders will deliver a supplement with this prospectus, if required, to update the information contained in this prospectus. The selling stockholders may sell the shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby through any means described under the heading “Plan of Distribution” or in any accompanying prospectus supplement. As used herein, the term “selling stockholder” includes each selling stockholder identified in this prospectus and their donees, pledgees, or other successors-in-interest selling shares of Class A Common Stock or interests in shares of Class A Common Stock received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer.

We and the selling stockholders have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. We and the selling stockholders take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.

The information in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any other date.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “GBT,” “our,” “we” or “us” refers to GBTG and its consolidated subsidiaries and references to “GBTG” refers to Global Business Travel Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES AND SERVICE MARKS

This prospectus contains references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ®, ™ or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks, trade names and service marks. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

ii

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements made in this prospectus are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “estimated,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “future,” “propose,” “target,” “goal,” “objective,” “outlook” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the control of the parties, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include:

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changes to projected financial information or our ability to achieve our anticipated growth rate and execute on industry opportunities;

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our ability to maintain our existing relationships with customers and suppliers and to compete with existing and new competitors;

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various conflicts of interest that could arise among us, affiliates and investors;

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our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors;

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factors relating to our business, operations and financial performance, including market conditions and global and economic factors beyond our control;

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the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts and related changes in base interest rates, inflation and significant market volatility on our business, the travel industry, travel trends and the global economy generally;

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the sufficiency of our cash, cash equivalents and investments to meet our liquidity needs;

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the effect of a prolonged or substantial decrease in global travel on the global travel industry;

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political, social and macroeconomic conditions (including the widespread adoption of teleconference and virtual meeting technologies which could reduce the number of in-person business meetings and demand for travel and our services);

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the effect of legal, tax and regulatory changes; and

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other factors detailed under the section entitled “Risk Factors.”

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

iii

SELECTED DEFINITIONS

When used in this prospectus, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires:

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“American Express” refers to American Express Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

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“B2B” refers to business-to-business.

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“B2B travel” refers to travel for business purposes that is purchased and fulfilled through a company-sponsored and managed channel.

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“Business Combination” refers to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

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“Business Combination Agreement” refers to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2021 (as the same has been amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms), by and between GBTG (formerly known as Apollo Strategic Growth Capital) and GBT JerseyCo.

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“Certificate of Incorporation” refers, collectively, to the Certificate of Incorporation of GBTG, the Certificate of Designations for the Class A-1 Preferred Stock and the Certificate of Designations for the Class B-1 Preferred Stock.

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“Egencia” refers to the business acquired in the Egencia Acquisition.

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“Egencia Acquisition” refers to GBT JerseyCo’s acquisition of the Egencia business from EG Corporate Travel Holdings LLC pursuant to the Egencia Equity Contribution Agreement.

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“Egencia Equity Contribution Agreement” refers to the Equity Contribution Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2021, by and among Expedia, Inc., GBT JerseyCo and Juweel, in connection with the Egencia Acquisition.

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“Exchange Agreement” refers to the Exchange Agreement, dated May 27, 2022, by and among GBTG, GBT JerseyCo and each holder of GBT JerseyCo B Ordinary Shares from time to time party thereto.

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“GBT JerseyCo” refers to GBT JerseyCo Limited, a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of Jersey.

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“GBT Partner Solutions” refers to GBT’s program, whereby participating travel agencies can benefit from, among other things, GBT’s global supplier network, long-standing relationships with suppliers and access to GBT’s products, services, and technology.

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“GBT Supply MarketPlace” refers to our proprietary capability to source, distribute and manage travel and travel-related content to travelers, clients and Network Partners, through both GBT and third-party technology, as well as GBT’s supplier content and management processes and expertise.

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“Juweel” refers to Juweel Investors (SPC) Limited, an exempted segregated portfolio company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, successor-in-interest to Juweel Investors Limited, a company incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

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“Network Partners” refers to third-party travel management companies (“TMCs”) and independent advisors that are clients of GBT Partner Solutions who, through GBT Partner Solutions, can access GBT’s technology platform and content or, in the case of our TPN, benefit from our client referrals and management network.

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“Shareholders Agreement” refers to the Shareholders Agreement, dated May 27, 2022, between GBTG, GBT JerseyCo, Amex HoldCo., Juweel and Expedia, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms.

iv

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“Total Transaction Value” or “TTV” refers to the sum of the total price paid by travelers for air, hotel, rail, car rental and cruise bookings, including taxes and other charges applied by suppliers at point of sale, less cancellations and refunds.

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“TPN” refers to GBT’s Travel Partner Network, consisting of third-party travel management companies, through which GBT services clients globally. All TPNs are Network Partners.

v

THE COMPANY

GBTG operates American Express Global Business Travel, the world’s leading B2B travel platform, measured by 2021 TTV, according to Travel Weekly (“2022 Power List,” June 2022, Travel Weekly). We provide a full suite of differentiated, technology-enabled solutions to business travelers and business clients, suppliers of travel content (such as airlines, hotels, ground transportation and aggregators) and third-party travel agencies. We differentiate our value proposition through our commitment to deliver to our customers unrivaled choice, value and experience, with the powerful backing of American Express GBT.

We are at the center of the global B2B travel ecosystem, managing the end-to-end logistics of business travel and providing an important link between businesses, their employees, travel suppliers and other industry participants. We service our clients in the following ways:

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Our portfolio of travel management solutions, built around and targeting the needs of key client segments we serve, provide extensive access to flights, hotel rooms, car rentals and other travel services as well as meeting and events solutions, including exclusive negotiated content, supported by a full suite of services that allows our clients to design and operate an efficient travel program and solve complex travel requirements across all stages of the business process from planning, booking, on trip, and post trip activities.

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Our award-winning client facing proprietary platforms are built to deliver business value through optimized user experiences across the act of business travel. These platforms, accessible over web and mobile interfaces and powered by our data management infrastructure and built by one of the world’s largest product engineering teams dedicated to driving technical innovation across the business travel industry. These client facing platforms are known to the market as:

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Egencia primarily focuses on digital-first clients (more than 90% of transactions were served through digital channels in 2022) who value a simple, easy to use and standardized end-to-end solution.

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The GBT platform is a modular solution primarily focused on flexibility of service offerings; seamlessly integrating a wide range of third-party and proprietary software and services in to one complete travel solution designed and built around the needs of each customer.

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GBT Partner Solutions extends our platform to our Network Partners, TMCs and independent advisors, by offering them access to our differentiated content and technology. Through GBT Partner Solutions, we aggregate business travel demand serviced by our Network Partners at low incremental cost, which we believe enhances the economics of our platform, generates increased return on investment and expands our geographic and segment footprint.

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GBT Supply MarketPlace provides travel suppliers with efficient access to business travel clients serviced by our diverse portfolio of leading travel management solutions and Network Partners. We believe this access allows travel suppliers to benefit from premium demand (which we generally view as demand that is differentially valuable and profitable to suppliers) without incurring the costs associated with directly marketing to, and servicing the complex needs of, our business clients. Our travel supplier relationships generate efficiencies and cost savings that can be passed on to our business clients.

In June 2014, American Express established the joint venture (“JV”) comprising the GBT JerseyCo operations with a predecessor of Juweel held by a group of institutional investors led by an affiliate of Certares Management LLC. Since the formation of the JV in 2014, we have evolved from a leading TMC into a complete B2B travel platform, becoming one of the leading marketplaces in travel for business clients and travel suppliers according to Travel Weekly (“2022 Power List,” June 2022, Travel Weekly). Before June 2014, our operations were owned by American Express and primarily consisted of providing business travel solutions for business clients.

In May 2022, we executed long-term commercial agreements with American Express, including an amended and restated trademark license agreement (the “A&R Trademark License Agreement”), pursuant to which we continue to license the American Express trademarks used in the American Express Global Business Travel brand, and we license the American Express trademarks used in the American Express

1

GBT Meetings & Events brand for business travel, meetings and events, business consulting and other services related to business travel, in each case on an exclusive and worldwide basis. The term of the A&R Trademark License Agreement is for 11 years from May 27, 2022, unless earlier terminated or extended.

On May 25, 2022, Apollo Strategic Growth Capital (“APSG”), a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company, held an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders at which the APSG shareholders considered and adopted, among other matters, a proposal to approve the Business Combination pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. Upon the completion of the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement on May 27, 2022, GBT JerseyCo became a direct subsidiary of APSG, with APSG being re-domesticated as a Delaware corporation and renamed “Global Business Travel Group, Inc.” and conducting its business through GBT JerseyCo in an umbrella partnership-C corporation structure.

Our principal executive office is located at 666 3rd Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017 and our telephone number is (646) 344-1290. We maintain a website at www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

2

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. See the risk factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (together with any material changes thereto contained in subsequent filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement) and those contained in our other filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. These risks could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations and cause the value of our securities to decline. You could lose all or part of your investment.

3

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as otherwise set forth in any accompanying prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes, including the financing of our operations, the possible repayment of indebtedness, and possible business acquisitions.

Unless set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds in the event that securities are sold by a selling stockholder.

4

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the Class A Common Stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts and purchase units that may be offered and sold from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. However, at the time of an offering and sale, this prospectus together with the accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms of the securities being offered.

5

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following descriptions are summaries of the material terms of our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws. Because they are only summaries, they do not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of the matters set forth in this section, you should refer to our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws, the GBT JerseyCo Amended and Restated M&A, the Exchange Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement, which have been filed with the SEC and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law. Under “Description of Securities,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “Company” refer to GBTG and not to any of its subsidiaries.

General

Our purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may now or hereafter be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”). Our authorized capital stock consists of (i) 3,000,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, (ii) 3,000,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”) and (iii) 6,010,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.00001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). With respect to our Preferred Stock, (a) 3,000,000,000 shares of Class A-1 preferred stock (the “Class A-1 Preferred Stock”) is designated pursuant to the Certificate of Designations for the Class A-1 Preferred Stock, (b) 3,000,000,000 shares of Class B-1 preferred stock (the “Class B-1 Preferred Stock”) is designated pursuant to the Certificate of Designations for the Class B-1 Preferred Stock and (c) the remaining 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock is undesignated Preferred Stock. Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the provisions of the DGCL, our board of directors (the “Board”) has the authority, without stockholder approval (but without limitation of the rights of any party to the Shareholders Agreement and the Exchange Agreement), to issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock. Unless the Board determines otherwise, we will issue all shares of our capital stock in uncertificated form.

As of May 31, 2023, our issued and outstanding share capital consisted of (i) 69,921,386 shares of Class A Common Stock, (ii) 394,448,481 shares of Class B Common Stock and (iii) no shares of Preferred Stock.

Common Stock

We have two classes of authorized Common Stock: Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each of which has one vote per share. All classes of Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, except as otherwise required by applicable law, including in connection with amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation that increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class, or alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of such class so as to affect them adversely.

In order to preserve the Up-C structure, the Exchange Agreement provides that we and GBT JerseyCo will take (or, in some cases, forbear from taking) various actions, as necessary to maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of issued and outstanding (x) Class A Stock (and equivalents) and the GBT JerseyCo A Ordinary Shares and (y) Class B Stock and the GBT JerseyCo B Ordinary Shares. For example, the Exchange Agreement provides that, if we issue or sell additional shares of Class A Common Stock, we will contribute the net proceeds of such issuance and sale to GBT JerseyCo, and GBT JerseyCo will issue to us an equal number of GBT JerseyCo A Ordinary Shares. Similarly, the Exchange Agreement provides that neither we nor GBT JerseyCo may effect any subdivision or combination of any of its equity securities unless the other effects an identical subdivision or combination of the corresponding class of its equity securities.

Class A Common Stock

Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, including in the election or removal of directors elected by our stockholders generally. The holders of Class A Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

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Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.

In the case of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive, ratably on a per share basis with other holders of Class A Common Stock (subject to the nominal economic rights of holders of the Class B Common Stock described below), our remaining assets available for distribution to stockholders.

All shares of Class A Common Stock that are outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable. The Class A Common Stock will not be subject to further calls or assessments by us. Except as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement and the Exchange Agreement, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A Common Stock. The rights powers, preferences and privileges of Class A Common Stock will be subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock or any other series or class of stock we may authorize and issue in the future.

Class B Common Stock

Holders of shares of Class B Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, including in the election or removal of directors elected by our stockholders generally. The holders of Class B Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

The shares of Class B Common Stock generally have only nominal economic rights (limited to the right to receive up to the par value in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up). Dividends and other distributions shall not be declared or paid on Class B Common Stock. Holders of shares of Class B Common Stock have the right to receive, ratably on a per share basis with other holders of Class B Common Stock and holders of Class A Common Stock, a distribution from our remaining assets available for distribution to stockholders, up to the par value of such shares of Class B Common Stock, but otherwise are not entitled to receive any of our assets in connection with any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

All shares of Class B Common Stock that are outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable. The Class B Common Stock will not be subject to further calls or assessments by us. Except as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement and the Exchange Agreement, holders of shares of Class B Common Stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class B Common Stock. The rights powers, preferences and privileges of Class B Common Stock will be subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock we may authorize and issue in the future.

On the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement, the Continuing JerseyCo Owners (or certain permitted transferees thereof) have the right, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement, to exchange their GBT JerseyCo B Ordinary Shares (with automatic surrender for cancellation of an equal number of shares of Class B Stock) for shares of Class A Stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary adjustments for stock splits, dividends, reclassifications and other similar transactions or, in certain limited circumstances, at the option of the Exchange Committee, for cash (based on the VWAP of Class A Common Stock for the five trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the applicable exchange date).

Preferred Stock

No shares of Preferred Stock are issued or outstanding. The Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Board to establish one or more series of preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock). An accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the shares of preferred stock offered through that prospectus supplement. If there are differences between the prospectus supplement relating to

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a particular series of preferred stock and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control. We will file a copy of the certificate of amendment to our certificate of incorporation that contains the terms of each new series of preferred stock with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and with the SEC each time we issue a new series of preferred stock. Each such certificate of amendment will establish the number of shares included in a designated series and fix the designation, powers, privileges, preferences and rights of the shares of each series as well as any applicable qualifications, limitations or restrictions. You should refer to the applicable certificate of amendment as well as our certificate of incorporation before deciding to buy shares of our preferred stock as described in any accompanying prospectus supplement. For more information on how you can obtain copies of such documents, see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” We urge you to read the applicable certificates and any accompanying prospectus supplement in their entirety.

The Certificate of Designations for the Class A-1 Preferred Stock and the Certificate of Designations for the Class B-1 Preferred Stock are part of our Certificate of Incorporation and authorize the issuance of 3,000,000,000 shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock and 3,000,000,000 shares of Class B-1 Preferred Stock, respectively.

Holders of Class A-1 Preferred Stock and Class B-1 Preferred Stock have no voting rights except as otherwise from time to time required by law.

Except as set forth in the Certificate of Designations, and as described below, holders of Class A-1 Preferred Stock are entitled to the same rights and privileges, qualifications and limitations as holders of Class A Common Stock and holders of Class B-1 Preferred Stock are entitled to the same rights and privileges, qualifications and limitations as holders of Class B Common Stock, as provided for in our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, applicable law or otherwise and Class A-1 Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to the Class A Common Stock and Class B-1 Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to the Class B Common Stock.

In the event of any binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Class A-1 Preferred Stock or the Class B-1 Preferred Stock, merger or consolidation of us with another entity (whether or not a corporation) or conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance of us into another entity or into another jurisdiction, in each case, in connection with which holders of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, would receive shares of capital stock that constitute “voting securities” ​(as such term is used for purposes of the BHC Act) (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or of securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, such shares of capital stock), we may provide for the holders of shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock or the Class B-1 Preferred Stock, as applicable, to receive, in lieu thereof, on a per share basis, the same number of shares of capital stock of another class or series that constitute “nonvoting securities” ​(as such term is used for purposes of the BHC Act) (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, such shares of capital stock), and that otherwise have the same rights and privileges, qualifications and limitations as the shares of capital stock to be received by the holders of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable.

In the event any rights, qualifications or limitations would result in the holders of Class A-1 Preferred Stock or the Class B-1 Preferred Stock, as applicable, receiving voting securities in connection with any dividend or distribution by us, such holders shall receive, in lieu of such voting securities, non-voting securities that are otherwise entitled to the same rights, privileges and qualifications as such voting securities subject to the limitations on voting described above.

In the event that the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock shall be split, divided, or combined, substantially concurrently therewith, the outstanding shares of the Class A-1 Preferred Stock or the Class B-1 Preferred Stock, as applicable, shall be proportionately split, divided or combined.

Exchanges of Class B-1 Preferred Stock are governed by the terms set forth in the Exchange Agreement.

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, (a) the holders of Class A-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive a distribution from our remaining assets, before any payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share equal to the greater of (i) the par value of Class A-1 Preferred Stock plus $0.0001

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per share of Class A-1 Preferred Stock and (ii) the distribution to “Participating Shares” contemplated by Section 5.3(c)(i) of the Certificate of Incorporation. For purposes of calculating the amount pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, it shall be assumed that all then outstanding shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock shall have been converted into Class A Common Stock and (b) the holders of Class B-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive a distribution from our remaining assets, before any payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock by reason of their ownership thereof, up to the par value of Class B-1 Preferred Stock plus $0.0001 per share of Class B-1 Preferred Stock. Other than as set forth in the preceding sentence, the holders of shares of Class B-1 Preferred Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any of our assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the assets available for distribution to our stockholders shall be insufficient to pay to holders of shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock or Class B-1 Preferred Stock, as applicable, the full amount to which they shall be entitled, the holders of shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock or the Class B-1 Preferred Stock, as applicable, shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full.

Shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock and Class B-1 Preferred Stock are not convertible into Common Stock other than in connection with a Permitted BHCA Transfer (as defined below). Any holder of shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock or Class B-1 Preferred Stock may transfer such shares in a Permitted BHCA Transfer to a Permitted BHCA Transferee (as defined below), and any shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock or Class B-1 Preferred Stock so transferred shall immediately following such transfer automatically be converted into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, respectively. A “Permitted BHCA Transferee” shall mean a person or entity who acquires shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock or Class B-1 Preferred Stock from a holder thereof in any of the following transfers (each a “Permitted BHCA Transfer”): (i) a widespread public distribution; (ii) a transfer to us; (iii) a transfer in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) would receive 2% or more of the outstanding securities of any “class of voting securities” of ours (as such term is used for purposes of the BHC Act); or (iv) a transfer to a transferee who would control more than 50% of every “class of voting securities” ​(as such term is used for purposes of the BHC Act) of us without giving effect to the shares of our capital stock transferred by the applicable transferred stockholder or any of its Permitted BHCA Transferees.

The Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Board to establish one or more series of preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock). Subject to any limitations prescribed by the DGCL, the authorized shares of preferred stock are available for issuance without further action by the holders of our Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock. The Board may fix the number of shares constituting a series of preferred stock and the designation of such series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of such series and the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

We could issue a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of the series, impede or discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the holders of our Class A Common Stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which the holders of our Class A Common Stock might receive a premium over the market price of the shares of our Class A Common Stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of holders of our Class A Common Stock by restricting dividends on the Class A Common Stock, diluting the voting power of the Class A Common Stock or, as is the case with the Class A-1 Preferred Stock and the Class B-1 Preferred Stock, subordinating the liquidation rights of the Class A Common Stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of Class A Common Stock.

Dividend Rights

The DGCL permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of “surplus” or, if there is no “surplus,” out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. “Surplus” is defined as the excess of the net assets of the corporation over the amount determined to be the capital of the corporation by its board of directors. The capital of the corporation is typically

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calculated to be (and cannot be less than) the aggregate par value of all issued shares of capital stock. Net assets equal the fair value of the total assets minus total liabilities. The DGCL also provides that dividends may not be paid out of net profits if, after the payment of the dividend, remaining capital would be less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets. Declaration and payment of any dividends will be subject to the discretion of the Board.

We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends from future earnings for the foreseeable future. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is limited by that certain senior secured credit agreement, dated as of August 13, 2018, by and among GBT Group Services B.V., as borrower, GBT III B.V., as the original parent guarantor, the other loan parties from time to time party thereto, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and as collateral agent, and the lenders and letter of credit issuers from time to time party thereto, as amended from time to time. and may be limited by covenants under other indebtedness we and our subsidiaries incur in the future, as well as other limitations and restrictions imposed by law.

Annual Stockholder Meetings

Our Bylaws provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held on a date and at a time and place, if any, as exclusively selected by the Board. To the extent permitted under applicable law, we may conduct meetings by remote communications, including by webcast.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws contain certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board and which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of the Company unless such takeover or change in control is approved by the Board. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile or abusive change of control and enhance the ability of the Board to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a merger or acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of Class A Common Stock held by stockholders.

These provisions include:

Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders

Pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting (with exceptions for (i) actions taken by holders of a series of preferred stock, as provided by the applicable certificate of designation, and (ii) actions required or permitted to be taken by holders of Class B Common Stock separately as a class but only if such action were taken by holders of at least 662∕3% of the total voting power of all the Class B Common Stock then, outstanding). Our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can be called only by or at the direction of the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors. Stockholders will not be permitted to call a special meeting or to require the Board to call a special meeting. Our Bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified at the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deterring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers or changes in control of the Company.

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Election and Removal of Directors

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least 662∕3% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast in an annual election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose. This requirement of a supermajority vote to remove directors could enable a minority of our stockholders to prevent a change in the composition of the Board. In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws provide that any vacancies on the Board will be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or at a special meeting of stockholders called by or at the direction of the Board for such purpose. Moreover, under our Certificate of Incorporation, the Board is divided into three classes of directors, each of which will hold office for a three-year term. The existence of a classified board could delay a successful tender offeror from obtaining majority control of the Board, and the prospect of that delay might deter a potential offeror.

No Cumulative Voting

Under Delaware law, the right to vote cumulatively does not exist unless the certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting. Therefore, stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of our Class A Common Stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors will be able to elect all of our directors.

Advance Notice Procedures

Our Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the Board. Stockholders at an annual meeting will only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Our Bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Although our Bylaws do not give the Board the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, our Bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company.

Supermajority Approval Requirements

The DGCL generally provides that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws requires a greater percentage. The DGCL does not specify a required vote for stockholders to amend a corporation’s bylaws and, therefore, the default voting standard set forth in a corporation’s bylaws will apply to votes to amend the bylaws unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise. In addition, the DGCL provides that a board of directors may amend the bylaws without further stockholder action if authorized to do so by the corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, without limiting the rights of any party to the Shareholders Agreement, a majority vote of the Board or the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662∕3% of the total votes of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, will be required to amend, alter, change or repeal our Bylaws or adopt any provision inconsistent therewith. In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, without limiting the rights of any party to the Shareholders Agreement, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662∕3% of the total votes of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, will be required to amend our Certificate of Incorporation (and, in addition, the affirmative

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vote of the holders of at least 662∕3% of the total voting power of the Class B Common Stock, voting separately as a class, will be required to amend any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation that adversely affects the rights, priorities or privileged of the Class B Common Stock). This requirement of a supermajority vote to approve amendments to our bylaws and certificate of incorporation could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such amendments.

These provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of us or our management, such as a merger, reorganization or tender offer. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of the Board and its policies and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of the Company. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions are also intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of Class A Common Stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of shares that are authorized and available for issuance. However, the listing requirements of the NYSE, which would apply if and so long as Class A Common Stock remains listed on the NYSE, require stockholder approval prior to the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock in certain circumstances, including (i) if the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued is, or will be upon issuance, equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding before the issuance and (ii) if such issuance is to a person considered a Related Party (as defined in Rule 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual) solely by virtue of being a substantial security holder of the issuer and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued exceeds five percent of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding before the issuance.

The Board may generally issue preferred shares on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of the Company or the removal of our management. Moreover, our authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock will be available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, to facilitate acquisitions and employee benefit plans.

Our authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital and corporate acquisitions. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of our Class A Common Stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment

Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of us. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Stockholders’ Derivative Actions

Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholders’ stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.

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Exclusive Forum

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Delaware Court of Chancery shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder of ours to us or our stockholders, or any claim for aiding and abetting such alleged breach, (3) any action asserting a claim arising under any provision of the DGCL, Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Delaware Court of Chancery, (4) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws, (5) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware or (6) any action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as defined in Section 115 of the DGCL. Our Certificate of Incorporation further provides that, (i) such exclusive forum provision shall not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. We note that our investors and stockholders cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation described above. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with one or more actions or proceedings described above, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our Certificate of Incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable. For example, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a forum selection provision as written in connection with claims arising under the Securities Act.

Registration Rights

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, we are obligated to, among other things, register for resale certain securities that are held by the Sponsor, any other parties to the Registration Rights Agreement and the PIPE Investors. Subject to certain exceptions, we will bear all registration expenses under the Registration Rights Agreement. See the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Registration Rights Agreement” in our Proxy Statement incorporated by reference herein for a description of these registration rights.

Conflicts of Interest

Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or stockholders. Our Certificate of Incorporation, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, renounces any interest or expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to our officers, directors or stockholders or their respective affiliates, other than those officers, directors, stockholders or affiliates who are our or our subsidiaries’ employees. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, subject to the terms thereof, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of our non-employee directors (including any non-employee director who serves as one of our officers in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her affiliates will have any duty to refrain from (1) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which we or our affiliates now engage or propose to engage or (2) otherwise competing with us or our affiliates. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to the terms of our Certificate of Incorporation, and without

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limiting any separate agreement to between any person and us or any of our subsidiaries, no non-employee director will (i) have any duty to present business opportunities to us or our subsidiaries or (ii) be liable to us, any of our stockholders or any other person who acquires an interest in our stock, by reason of the fact that such person pursues or acquires a business opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to us or any of our subsidiaries. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to a non-employee director or officer solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of, through his or her service to, or pursuant to a contract with, the Company.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages to the Company or its stockholders for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL from time to time. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of us and our stockholders, through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. The DGCL does not permit a corporation to eliminate or limit the liability of a director who has acted in bad faith, engaged in intentional misconduct, knowingly violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director. If, however, the DGCL is amended to permit a corporation to eliminate or limit a director’s liability for any such conduct, then the exculpation provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation will function automatically to eliminate our directors’ personal liability to the Company and its stockholder for such conduct.

Our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws generally provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We are also expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. In addition, in the event that one of our directors or officers may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by other persons (collectively, the “Other Indemnitors”), with respect to the rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance set forth in our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws, the Company: (i) shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to any such director or officer are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer are secondary); and (ii) shall be required to advance and indemnify the full amounts to which such director or officer are entitled under our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws, without regard to any rights such director or officer may have against any of the Other Indemnitors. We believe that these indemnification and advancement provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors or executive officers, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.

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Section 203 of the DGCL

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. For purposes of this section only, “voting stock” has the meaning given to it in Section 203 of the DGCL.

A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of Section 203 of the DGCL with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have elected not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. Our Certificate of Incorporation, however, includes provisions similar to Section 203 of the DGCL that generally prohibit us from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless (i) such person became an interested stockholder as a result of a transaction approved by the Board (other than the Business Combination), (ii) such person acquired at least 85% of our voting stock (excluding shares owned by our officers and directors and employee stock plans) in the transaction by which such person became an interested stockholder or (iii) such transactions are approved by the Board and the affirmative vote of at least 662∕3% of our outstanding voting stock (other than such stock owned by the interested stockholder). In general, a person and its affiliates and associates will be an “interested stockholder” under our Certificate of Incorporation if such person (a) holds at least 15% of our voting stock or is an affiliate or associate of ours and (b) held at least 15% of our voting stock at any time during the three-year period preceding the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; however, a person that acquires greater than 15% of our voting stock solely as a result of actions taken by us will not be an interested stockholder unless such person thereafter acquires additional shares of voting stock other than as a result of further corporate action not caused by such person. Further, the foregoing restrictions will not apply if the business combination is with a person who became an interested stockholder as a result of the Business Combination (provided such person does not acquire more than an additional 1% of the outstanding shares of our voting stock after the date of the Closing). As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our capital stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

Listing

Our Class A Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “GBTG”.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may offer depositary receipts representing fractional shares of our preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us (the “Bank Depositary”). Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share.

The description in an accompanying prospectus supplement of any depositary shares we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable depositary agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer depositary shares. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any depositary agreement if we offer depositary shares, see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” We urge you to read the applicable depositary agreement and any accompanying prospectus supplement in their entirety.

Dividends and Other Distributions

If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the Bank Depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the Bank Depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the Bank Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the Bank Depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the Bank Depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the Bank Depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the Bank Depositary may determine.

Voting the Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the Bank Depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the Bank Depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The Bank Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action that the Bank Depositary deems necessary in order to enable the Bank Depositary to do so. The Bank Depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the Bank Depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the Bank Depositary or us only if (1) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (2) there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

Except as may be provided otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the Bank Depositary, subject to the terms of the depositary

16

agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the Bank Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of withdrawn preferred stock may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

17

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may offer debt securities in one or more series, which may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and which may be convertible into another security.

The following description briefly sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which the following general terms and provisions may apply to the debt securities, will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, our debt securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture to be entered into between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, or such other trustee named therein. A form of the indenture is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The terms of the debt securities will include those set forth in the indenture and those made a part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (“TIA”). You should read the summary below, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the provisions of the indenture in their entirety before investing in our debt securities.

The aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued under the indenture is unlimited. The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the debt securities. These terms may include, among others, the following:

•

the title and aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such series;

•

any applicable subordination provisions for any subordinated debt securities;

•

the maturity date(s) or method for determining same;

•

the interest rate(s) or the method for determining same;

•

the dates on which interest will accrue or the method for determining dates on which interest will accrue and dates on which interest will be payable and whether interest will be payable in cash, additional securities or some combination thereof;

•

whether the debt securities are convertible or exchangeable into other securities and any related terms and conditions;

•

redemption or early repayment provisions;

•

authorized denominations;

•

if other than the principal amount, the principal amount of debt securities payable upon acceleration;

•

place(s) where payment of principal and interest may be made, where debt securities may be presented and where notices or demands upon the company may be made;

•

the form or forms of the debt securities of the series including such legends as may be required by applicable law;

•

whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and the date as of which the securities are dated if other than the date of original issuance;

•

whether the debt securities are secured and the terms of such security;

•

the amount of discount or premium, if any, with which the debt securities will be issued;

•

any covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued;

•

any additions or changes in the defaults and events of default applicable to the particular debt securities being issued;

•

the guarantors of each series, if any, and the extent of the guarantees (including provisions relating to seniority, subordination and release of the guarantees), if any;

•

the currency, currencies or currency units in which the purchase price for, the principal of and any premium and any interest on, the debt securities will be payable;

18

•

the time period within which, the manner in which and the terms and conditions upon which we or the holders of the debt securities can select the payment currency;

•

our obligation or right to redeem, purchase or repay debt securities under a sinking fund, amortization or analogous provision;

•

any restriction or conditions on the transferability of the debt securities;

•

provisions granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon occurrence of specified events;

•

additions or changes relating to compensation or reimbursement of the trustee of the series of debt securities;

•

provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture and the execution of supplemental indentures for such series; and

•

any other terms of the debt securities (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the TIA, but may modify, amend, supplement or delete any of the terms of the indenture with respect to such series of debt securities).

General

We may sell the debt securities, including original issue discount securities, at par or at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series or any other series outstanding at the time of issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of securities under the indenture.

We will describe in an accompanying prospectus supplement any other special considerations for any debt securities we sell that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars. In addition, debt securities may be issued where the amount of principal and/or interest payable is determined by reference to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. Holders of such securities may receive a principal amount or a payment of interest that is greater than or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon the value of the applicable currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors. Information as to the methods for determining the amount of principal or interest, if any, payable on any date, and the currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount payable on such date is linked will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

United States federal income tax consequences and special considerations, if any, applicable to any such series will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

We expect most debt securities to be issued in fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Subject to the limitations provided in the indenture and in an accompanying prospectus supplement, debt securities that are issued in registered form may be transferred or exchanged at the designated corporate trust office of the trustee, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Global Securities

Unless we inform you otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Unless and until a global security is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor.

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Governing Law

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

20

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our Class A Common Stock, shares of preferred stock or our debt securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and they may be attached to or separate from the other securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement that we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, as detailed in an accompanying prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation, or agency or trust relationship, with you.

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of those warrants, including, when applicable:

•

the offering price;

•

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the purchase price and/or exercise price of the warrants may be payable;

•

the number of warrants offered;

•

the exercise price and the amount of securities you will receive upon exercise;

•

the procedure for exercise of the warrants and the circumstances, if any, that will cause the warrants to be automatically exercised;

•

the rights, if any, we have to redeem the warrants;

•

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

•

the name of the warrant agent; and

•

any other material terms of the warrants.

After warrants expire they will become void. The prospectus supplement may provide for the adjustment of the exercise price of the warrants.

Warrants may be exercised at the appropriate office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of warrants, holders will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payments made to holders of those securities.

The description in an accompanying prospectus supplement of any warrants we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer warrants. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any warrant agreement if we offer warrants, see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” We urge you to read the applicable warrant agreement and any accompanying prospectus supplement in their entirety.

21

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

We may issue subscription rights to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock, shares of our preferred stock or our debt securities. We may issue subscription rights independently or together with any other offered security, which may or may not be transferable by the stockholder. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

The prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we may offer will contain the specific terms of the subscription rights. These terms may include the following:

•

the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

•

the number and terms of each share of Class A Common Stock or preferred stock or debt securities which may be purchased per each subscription right;

•

the exercise price payable for each share of Class A Common Stock or preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of the subscription rights;

•

the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

•

any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the subscription rights or the exercise price of the subscription rights;

•

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

•

the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire;

•

the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and

•

if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights.

The description in an accompanying prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate or subscription rights agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any subscription rights certificate or subscription rights agreement if we offer subscription rights, see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” We urge you to read the applicable subscription rights certificate, the applicable subscription rights agreement and any accompanying prospectus supplement in their entirety.

22

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of our Class A Common Stock, shares of our preferred stock or our debt securities at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as purchase contracts. The price of the securities and the number of securities may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts and may be subject to adjustment under anti-dilution formulas. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and our debt securities or preferred securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, or any combination of the foregoing, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as purchase units. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts in a specified manner. The purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or the purchase units, as the case may be, or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or pre-funded in whole or in part.

The description in an accompanying prospectus supplement of any purchase contract or purchase unit we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable purchase contract or purchase unit, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer purchase contracts or purchase units. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any purchase contract or purchase unit we may offer, see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” We urge you to read the applicable purchase contract or applicable purchase unit and any accompanying prospectus supplement in their entirety.

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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

This prospectus relates to the sale or other disposition of up to 3,775,304 shares of our Class A Common Stock by the selling stockholders named below, and their donees, pledgees, or other successors-in-interest selling shares of Class A Common Stock or interests in shares of Class A Common Stock received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer.

The following table, based upon information currently known by us, sets forth as May 31, 2023, (i) the number of shares held of record or beneficially by the selling stockholders as of such date (as determined below) and (ii) the number of shares that may be sold or otherwise disposed of under this prospectus by the selling stockholders. Percentage ownership is based on 69,921,386 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of May 31, 2023, plus securities deemed to be outstanding with respect to individual stockholders pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the Exchange Act. Beneficial ownership includes shares of Class A Common Stock plus any securities held by the holder exercisable for or convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock within 60 days after May 31, 2023, in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the Exchange Act. The inclusion of any shares in this table does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership for the selling stockholders named below. We do not know when or in what amounts a selling stockholder may sell or otherwise dispose of the shares of Class A Common Stock covered hereby. The selling stockholders may not sell or otherwise dispose of any or all of the shares offered by this prospectus and may sell or otherwise dispose of shares covered hereby in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Because the selling stockholders may sell or otherwise dispose of some, all or none of the shares covered hereby, and because there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any of the shares, we cannot estimate the number of the shares that will be held by the selling stockholders after completion of the offering. However, for purposes of the following table, we have assumed that all of the shares covered hereby are sold by the selling stockholders.

Except as described in the footnotes in the table below, the selling stockholders have not held any position or office, or otherwise had a material relationship, with us or any of our subsidiaries within the past three years other than as a result of the ownership of our shares or other securities. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares of Class A Common Stock, except to the extent authority is shared by their spouses under applicable law.

​	Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock Prior to this Offering				Number of Class A Common Stock to be Sold Under this Prospectus		Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock after this Offering
Selling Stockholder	Number of Shares		Percent of Class				Number of Shares		Percent of Class
Expedia Group, Inc.(1)(2)	​	74,687,866	​	51.8%	​	413,668	​	74,274,198	​	51.5%
APSG Sponsor, L.P.(3)	​	25,706,886	​	36.8%	​	3,361,636	​	22,345,250	​	32.0%

*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

(1)

EG Corporate Travel Holdings LLC (or certain permitted transferees thereof) has the right, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement, to exchange its GBT JerseyCo B Ordinary Shares (with automatic surrender for cancellation of an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock) for shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary adjustments for stock splits, dividends, reclassifications and other similar transactions or, in certain limited circumstances, at the option of the Exchange Committee, for cash (based on the VWAP of the shares of Class A Common Stock for the five trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the applicable exchange date). “Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock Prior to this Offering” includes the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such exchanges.

(2)

EG Corporate Travel Holdings LLC, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Expedia Group, Inc., is the direct holder of these securities. The business address of such parties is 1111 Expedia Group Way W., Seattle, Washington 98119.

(3)

Based solely upon the Schedule 13D/A filed by APSG Sponsor, L.P. with the SEC on October 13,

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2022. APSG Sponsor, L.P. is managed by affiliates of Apollo. AP Caps II Holdings GP, LLC (“Holdings GP”) is the general partner of Sponsor. Apollo Principal Holdings III, L.P. (“Principal III”) is the sole member of Holdings GP. Apollo Principal Holdings III GP, Ltd. (“Principal III GP”) serves as the general partner of Principal III. Messrs. Marc Rowan, Scott Kleinman and James Zelter are the directors of Principal III GP and as such may be deemed to have voting and dispositive control of the securities held of record by Sponsor. The address of each of the Sponsor and Holdings GP is c/o Walkers Corporate Limited, 27 Hospital Rd., George Town, Cayman Islands KY1-9008. The address of each of Principal III and Principal III GP is c/o Intertrust Corporate Services, (Cayman) Limited, 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Cayman Islands KY1-9008. The address of each of Messrs. Rowan, Kleinman and Zelter is 9 West 57th Street, 43rd Floor, New York, New York 10019.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We or the selling stockholders may sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

•

to underwriters for resale to purchasers;

•

directly to purchasers;

•

through agents or dealers to purchasers; or

•

through a combination of any of these methods.

In addition, we or the selling stockholders may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or the selling stockholders or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We or the selling stockholders may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

We or the selling stockholders will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in any accompanying prospectus supplement, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will provide opinions regarding the authorization and validity of the securities. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may also provide opinions regarding certain other matters. Any underwriters will be advised about legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Global Business Travel Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, are incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and in accordance therewith file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website is www.sec.gov.

We make available free of charge on or through our website at www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with or otherwise furnish it to the SEC.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act, relating to the offering of these securities. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement for free at www.sec.gov. The registration statement and the documents referred to below under “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference” are also available on our website, www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com.

We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, any subsequently filed document deemed incorporated by reference or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC (other than information deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, including Items 2.02 and 7.01 of Form 8-K).

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 21, 2023;

•

the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 21, 2023 (the “Proxy Statement”);

•

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2023;

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 5, 2023, January 9, 2023, January 25, 2023, March 7, 2023, March 9, 2023 (Item 9.01 only) and May 9, 2023 (Item 9.01 only); and

•

the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 21, 2023, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offering also shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K.

If requested, we will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus. Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference into such documents. To obtain a copy of these filings at no cost, you may write or telephone us at the following address:

Global Business Travel Group, Inc.
666 3rd Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (646) 344-1290

You may also access the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus through our website at www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com. Except for the specific incorporated documents listed above, no information available on or through our website shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.

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PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.   Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The expenses relating to the registration of the securities will be borne by the registrant.

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee	$	35,938.99
Accounting Fees and Expenses	$	*
Legal Fees and Expenses	$	*
Printing Fees	$	*
Transfer Agents and Trustees’ Fees and Expenses	$	*
Rating Agency Fees	$	*
Stock Exchange Listing Fees	$	*
Miscellaneous	$	*
Total	$	35,938.99

*

Fees and expenses (other than the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee to be paid upon the filing of this registration statement) will depend on the number and nature of the offerings, and cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of securities being offered will be included in any applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent to the Registrant. The DGCL provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides for indemnification by the Registrant of members of its board of directors, members of committees of its board of directors and of other committees of the Registrant, and its executive officers, and allows the Registrant to provide indemnification for its other officers and its agents and employees, and those serving another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of the Registrant, in each case to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides for such limitation of liability.

Additionally, our Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of our directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, and our Bylaws provide that we will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by such law. We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our directors and executive officers for certain liabilities and expenses, reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other direct or indirect costs, expenses and obligations, including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, appeal bonds, amounts paid in settlement with the approval of the Company, counsel fees and disbursements (including, without limitation, experts’ fees, court costs, retainers, appeal bond premiums, transcript fees, duplicating, printing and binding costs, as well

II-1

as telecommunications, postage and courier charges) and other fees (including, among others, witness fees, travel expenses and fees of private investigators and professional advisors, actually paid or incurred in connection with investigating, prosecuting, defending, being a witness in or participating in any Claim relating to any Indemnifiable Event (as such terms are defined in each indemnification agreement)) incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding related to the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or fiduciary of the Company, or is or was serving on behalf of the Company or at the request of the Company as a director, officer or fiduciary or similar capacity, of another company The indemnification agreements also require us, if so requested, to advance all reasonable fees, expenses, charges and other costs that such director or officer incurred, provided that such person will return any such advance if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification by us. Any claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third- party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.

Item 16.   List of Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibits
1.1*	Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1	Certificate of Incorporation of Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-265748), filed with the SEC on June 21, 2022).
3.2	Bylaws of Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-265748), filed with the SEC on June 21, 2022).
3.3*	Form of Certificate of Designations with respect to any preferred stock issued hereunder.
4.1	Form of Indenture for debt securities between the registrant and the trustee to be named therein.
4.2*	Form of Depositary Agreement (including form of Depositary Receipt).
4.3*	Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of Warrant Certificate).
4.4*	Form of Subscription Rights Agreement (including form of Subscription Rights Certificate).
4.5*	Form of Purchase Contract Agreement (including form of Purchase Contract Certificate).
4.6*	Form of Purchase Unit Agreement (including form of Purchase Unit Certificate).
5.1	Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2	Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1	Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages hereto).
25.1	Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of trustee under the Indenture.
107	Filing Fee Table

*

To be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference from documents filed or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 17.   Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)

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

(i)

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

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration

II-2

statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii)

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement;

(2)

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

(3)

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

(4)

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

(i)

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

(ii)

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

(5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

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(ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii)

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

(iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

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

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

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York on June 1, 2023.

GLOBAL BUSINESS TRAVEL GROUP, INC.

By:

/s/ Eric J. Bock

Name: Eric J. Bock
Title:  Chief Legal Officer, Global Head of M&A
        and Compliance and Corporate Secretary

In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates stated. Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Paul Abbott and Eric J. Bock and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting along with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and exhibits to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, and to any registration statement filed under SEC Rule 462, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 1, 2023.

Signature	Title	Date
/s/ Paul Abbott Paul Abbott	Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	June 1, 2023
/s/ Martine Gerow Martine Gerow	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	June 1, 2023
/s/ Chris Van Vliet Chris Van Vliet	Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)	June 1, 2023
/s/ James Bush James Bush	Director	June 1, 2023
/s/ Gloria Guevara Manzo Gloria Guevara Manzo	Director	June 1, 2023
/s/ Eric Hart Eric Hart	Director	June 1, 2023
/s/ Raymond Donald Joabar Raymond Donald Joabar	Director	June 1, 2023

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Signature	Title	Date
/s/ Michael Gregory (Greg) O’Hara Michael Gregory (Greg) O’Hara	Director	June 1, 2023
/s/ Richard Petrino Richard Petrino	Director	June 1, 2023
/s/ Mohammed Saif S.S. Al-Sowaidi Mohammed Saif S.S. Al-Sowaidi	Director	June 1, 2023
/s/ Itai Wallach Itai Wallach	Director	June 1, 2023
/s/ Susan Ward Susan Ward	Director	June 1, 2023
/s/ Kathleen Winters Kathleen Winters	Director	June 1, 2023

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EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

GLOBAL BUSINESS TRAVEL GROUP, INC.

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of

 

[              ]

DEBT SECURITIES

 

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

as Trustee

 

 

 

Reconciliation and tie between

Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section		Indenture Section
§ 310	(a)	11.04(a), 16.02
	(b)	11.01(f), 11.04(b), 11.05(1), 16.02
	(b)(1)	11.04(b), 16.02
§ 311		11.01(f), 16.02
§ 312		14.02(d), 16.02
	(b)	11.10, 16.02
	(c)	11.10, 16.02
§ 313	(a)	10.01(a), 16.02
§ 314		16.02
§ 315	(e)	11.05, 16.02
§ 316		16.02
§ 317		16.02
§ 318		16.02

 

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

 

i

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS^*

 

PAGE

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01 Definitions 2

 

ARTICLE II

 

FORMS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 2.01	Terms of the Securities	11
Section 2.02	Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	12
Section 2.03	Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent	13

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE DEBT SECURITIES

 

Section 3.01	Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series	13
Section 3.02	Denominations	16
Section 3.03	Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating	16
Section 3.04	Temporary Securities	19
Section 3.05	Registrar	19
Section 3.06	Transfer and Exchange	20
Section 3.07	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities	24
Section 3.08	Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	24
Section 3.09	Cancellation	26
Section 3.10	Computation of Interest	26
Section 3.11	Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities	26
Section 3.12	Judgments	27
Section 3.13	CUSIP Numbers	27

 

ARTICLE IV

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 4.01	Applicability of Right of Redemption	27
Section 4.02	Selection of Securities to be Redeemed	27
Section 4.03	Notice of Redemption	28
Section 4.04	Deposit of Redemption Price	29
Section 4.05	Securities Payable on Redemption Date	29
Section 4.06	Securities Redeemed in Part	29

 

 

*     The Table of Contents is not a part of the Indenture.

 

i

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 5.01	Applicability of Sinking Fund	30
Section 5.02	Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation	30
Section 5.03	Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price	31
Section 5.04	Application of Sinking Fund Payment	31

 

ARTICLE VI

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 6.01	Payments of Securities	32
Section 6.02	Paying Agent	32
Section 6.03	To Hold Payment in Trust	33
Section 6.04	Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets	34
Section 6.05	Compliance Certificate	35
Section 6.06	Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities	35
Section 6.07	Statement by Officers as to Default	35

 

ARTICLE VII

 

REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.01	Events of Default	35
Section 7.02	Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment	37
Section 7.03	Other Remedies	39
Section 7.04	Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact	39
Section 7.05	Priorities	40
Section 7.06	Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults	40
Section 7.07	Limitation on Suits	41
Section 7.08	Undertaking for Costs	41
Section 7.09	Remedies Cumulative	42

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 8.01	Evidence of Action of Securityholders	42
Section 8.02	Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities	43
Section 8.03	Persons Deemed Owners	43
Section 8.04	Effect of Consents	43

 

ii

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Section 9.01	Purposes of Meetings	44
Section 9.02	Call of Meetings by Trustee	44
Section 9.03	Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders	44
Section 9.04	Qualifications for Voting	45
Section 9.05	Regulation of Meetings	45
Section 9.06	Voting	46
Section 9.07	No Delay of Rights by Meeting	46

 

ARTICLE X

 

REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS

 

Section 10.01	Reports by Trustee	46
Section 10.02	Reports by the Company	47
Section 10.03	Securityholders’ Lists	47

 

ARTICLE XI

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 11.01	Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity	48
Section 11.02	Duties of Trustee	51
Section 11.03	Notice of Defaults	52
Section 11.04	Eligibility; Disqualification	52
Section 11.05	Resignation and Notice; Removal	53
Section 11.06	Successor Trustee by Appointment	54
Section 11.07	Successor Trustee by Merger	55
Section 11.08	Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate	55
Section 11.09	Appointment of Authenticating Agent	56
Section 11.10	Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders	57

 

ARTICLE XII

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 12.01	Applicability of Article	57
Section 12.02	Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	57
Section 12.03	Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations	59
Section 12.04	Repayment to Company	60
Section 12.05	Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations	61
Section 12.06	Deposits to Be Held in Escrow	61
Section 12.07	Application of Trust Money	61
Section 12.08	Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies	61

 

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ARTICLE XIII

 

IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS

 

Section 13.01 No Personal Liability 61

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 14.01	Without Consent of Securityholders	62
Section 14.02	With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations	64
Section 14.03	Trustee Protected	65
Section 14.04	Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture	66
Section 14.05	Notation on or Exchange of Securities	66
Section 14.06	Conformity with TIA	66

 

ARTICLE XV

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 15.01	Agreement to Subordinate	66
Section 15.02	Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities	67
Section 15.03	No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness	68
Section 15.04	Payments on Securities Permitted	68
Section 15.05	Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination	69
Section 15.06	Notices to Trustee	69
Section 15.07	Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness	70
Section 15.08	Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness	70
Section 15.09	Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent	70
Section 15.10	Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance	70
Section 15.11	Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness	70

 

ARTICLE XVI

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.01	Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent	71
Section 16.02	Trust Indenture Act Controls	72
Section 16.03	Notices to the Company and Trustee	72
Section 16.04	Notices to Securityholders; Waiver	72
Section 16.05	Legal Holiday	73
Section 16.06	Effects of Headings and Table of Contents	73
Section 16.07	Successors and Assigns	73
Section 16.08	Separability Clause	73
Section 16.09	Benefits of Indenture	73
Section 16.10	Counterparts Originals	74
Section 16.11	Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury	74

 

iv

 

 

INDENTURE dated as of                  , 20      , among Global Business Travel Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as provided in this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

That, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof for the equal and proportionate benefit of all of the present and future Holders of the Securities, each party agrees and covenants as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

(b)           unless otherwise defined in this Indenture or the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein without definition which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(c)            all accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with GAAP;

 

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

 

(e)            “or” is not exclusive; and

 

(f)            references to “Article” or “Section” or other subdivision herein are references to an Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

 

Section 1.01      Definitions.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Section 1.01 shall for all purposes of this Indenture have the meanings hereinafter set forth:

 

Affiliate:

 

The term “Officer” shall mean any of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Legal Officer, President or a Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, or any other officer of the Company designated in writing by a Board Resolution.

 

Agent:

 

The term “Agent” shall mean any Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Registrar, or transfer agent.

 

Authenticating Agent:

 

The term “Authenticating Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.09.

 

Board of Directors:

 

The term “Board of Directors” shall mean either the board of directors of the Company or the executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in respect hereof.

 

Board Resolution:

 

The term “Board Resolution” shall mean a copy of a resolution or resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or by a committee of the Board of Directors to the extent that any such other committee has been authorized by the Board of Directors to establish or approve the matters contemplated) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day:

 

The term “Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which the Corporate Trust Office or banking institutions in that Place of Payment or such location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities established pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

2

 

Capital Stock:

 

The term “Capital Stock” shall mean:

 

in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(a)            in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; 

 

(b)            in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(c)            any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Code:

 

The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Company:

 

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

 

Company Order:

 

The term “Company Order” shall mean a written order signed in the name of the Company by any Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Corporate Trust Office:

 

The term “Corporate Trust Office,” or other similar term, shall mean the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 2 North LaSalle Street, 7^th Floor, Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois 60602, Attention: Corporate Trust – Global Business Travel Group, Inc., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust officer of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

Currency:

 

The term “Currency” shall mean U.S. Dollars or Foreign Currency.

 

Default:

 

The term “Default” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.03.

 

3

 

Defaulted Interest:

 

The term “Defaulted Interest” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in Section 3.08(b).

 

Depositary:

 

The term “Depositary” shall mean, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, each Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 until one or more successor Depositaries shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

Designated Currency:

 

The term “Designated Currency” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in Section 3.12.

 

Discharged:

 

The term “Discharged” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.03.

 

DTC:

 

The term “DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, Inc. and its successors.

 

Electronic Means:

 

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

 

Event of Default:

 

The term “Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

 

Exchange Act:

 

The term “Exchange Act” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Exchange Rate:

 

The term “Exchange Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 7.01.

 

4

 

Floating Rate Security:

 

The term “Floating Rate Security” shall mean a Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

Foreign Currency:

 

The term “Foreign Currency” shall mean a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States or a composite currency, the value of which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of countries.

 

GAAP:

 

The term “GAAP,” with respect to any computations required or permitted hereunder, shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States as in effect from time to time; provided, however if the Company is required by the SEC to adopt (or is permitted to adopt and so adopts) a different accounting framework, including but not limited to the International Financial Reporting Standards, “GAAP” shall mean such new accounting framework as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, in each case, those accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

 

Global Security:

 

The term “Global Security” shall mean any Security that evidences all or part of a series of Securities, issued in fully-registered certificated form to the Depositary for such series in accordance with Section 3.03 and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 3.03(g).

 

Holder; Holder of Securities:

 

The terms “Holder” and “Holder of Securities” are defined under “Securityholder; Holder of Securities; Holder.”

 

Indebtedness:

 

The term “Indebtedness” shall mean any and all obligations of a Person for money borrowed which, in accordance with GAAP, would be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person as a liability on the date as of which Indebtedness is to be determined.

 

Indenture:

 

The term “Indenture” or “this Indenture” shall mean this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01; provided, however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.01, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such person had become such Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided, further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term “Indenture” for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

 

5

 

Individual Securities:

 

The term “Individual Securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.01(p).

 

Interest:

 

The term “interest” shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, interest payable on any Securities, and with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.

 

Interest Payment Date:

 

The term “Interest Payment Date” shall mean, with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment:

 

The term “Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(b).

 

Maturity:

 

The term “Maturity,” with respect to any Security, shall mean the date on which the principal of such Security shall become due and payable as therein and herein provided, whether by declaration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

Members:

 

The term “Members” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.03(i).

 

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Officer:

 

The term “Officer” shall mean any of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Legal Officer, President or a Vice President, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, or any other officer of the Company designated in writing by a Board Resolution.

 

Officer’s Certificate:

 

The term “Officer’s Certificate” shall mean a certificate signed by any Officer and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 16.01 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

Opinion of Counsel:

 

The term “Opinion of Counsel” shall mean an opinion in writing signed by one or more legal counsel, who may be an employee of or of counsel to the Company, or who may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and meets the requirements provided for in Section 16.01, if and to the extent required hereby.

 

Optional Sinking Fund Payment:

 

The term “Optional Sinking Fund Payment” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(b).

 

Original Issue Discount Security:

 

The term “Original Issue Discount Security” shall mean any Security that is issued with “original issue discount” within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, or any successor provision, and any other Security designated by the Company as issued with original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Outstanding:

 

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

 

Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(d)            Securities or portions thereof for which payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities or Securities as to which the Company’s obligations have been Discharged; provided, however, that if such Securities or portions thereof are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

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(e)            Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.07(b) or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of a series Outstanding have performed any action hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such action, only Securities of such series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of a series have performed any action hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02 and the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount calculated pursuant to Section 3.11(b).

 

Paying Agent:

 

The term “Paying Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.02(a).

 

Person:

 

The term “Person” shall mean any individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

 

Place of Payment:

 

The term “Place of Payment” shall mean, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

Predecessor Security:

 

The term “Predecessor Security” shall mean, with respect to any Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

 

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Record Date:

 

The term “Record Date” shall mean, with respect to any interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, any date specified in such Security or pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to such Security as the record date for the payment of interest .

 

Redemption Date:

 

The term “Redemption Date” shall mean, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture and the terms of such Security, which, in the case of a Floating Rate Security, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, shall be an Interest Payment Date only.

 

Redemption Price:

 

The term “Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, shall mean the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to the terms of the applicable Security and this Indenture.

 

Register:

 

The term “Register” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).

 

Registrar:

 

The term “Registrar” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).

 

Responsible Officers:

 

The term “Responsible Officers” of the Trustee hereunder shall mean, with respect to the Trustee, any trust officer, assigned to the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by those persons having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

SEC:

 

The term “SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as constituted from time to time.

 

Security:

 

The term “Security” or “Securities” shall have the meaning stated in the recitals and shall more particularly mean one or more of the Securities duly authenticated by the Trustee and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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Securityholder; Holder of Securities; Holder:

 

The term “Securityholder” or “Holder of Securities” or “Holder,” shall mean the Person in whose name Securities shall be registered in the Register kept for that purpose hereunder.

 

Senior Indebtedness:

 

The term “Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on (x) Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed other than (a) any Indebtedness of the Company which when incurred, and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, was without recourse to the Company, (b) any Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries, (c) Indebtedness to any director or employee of the Company, (d) any liability for taxes, (e) Trade Payables and (f) any Indebtedness of the Company which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company, and (y) renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such Indebtedness. For purposes of the foregoing and the definition of “Senior Indebtedness,” the phrase “subordinate in right of payment” means debt subordination only (by virtue of contract) and not lien subordination, and accordingly, (i) unsecured indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to secured indebtedness merely by virtue of the fact that it is unsecured, and (ii) junior liens, second liens and other contractual arrangements that provide for priorities among Holders of the same or different issues of indebtedness with respect to any collateral or the proceeds of collateral shall not constitute subordination in right of payment. This definition may be modified or superseded by a supplemental indenture.

 

Special Record Date:

 

The term “Special Record Date” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.08(b)(i).

 

Stated Maturity:

 

The term “Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of interest thereon, shall mean the date specified in such Security or pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to such Security as the fixed date on which the principal (or any portion thereof) of or premium, if any, on such Security or such installment of interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary:

 

The term “Subsidiary,” when used with respect to any Person, shall mean with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership association, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or other business entity which is required to be consolidated with such Person in accordance with GAAP.

 

Successor Company:

 

The term “Successor Company” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.06(h).

 

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Trade Payables:

 

The term “Trade Payables” means accounts payable or any other Indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities).

 

Trust Indenture Act; TIA:

 

The term “Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 14.06 and except to the extent any amendment to the Trust Indenture Act expressly provides for application of the Trust Indenture Act as in effect on another date.

 

Trustee:

 

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

 

U.S. Dollars:

 

The term “U.S. Dollars” shall mean such currency of the United States as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

U.S. Government Obligations:

 

The term “U.S. Government Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.03.

 

United States:

 

The term “United States” shall mean the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia.

 

ARTICLE II

 

FORMS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 2.01      Terms of the Securities.

 

(a)            The Securities of each series shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, with terms as set forth in a Board Resolution, a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, and shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which any series of the Securities may be listed or of any automated quotation system on which any such series may be quoted, or to conform to usage, all as determined by any of the officers executing such Securities as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

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(b)            The terms and provisions of the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

Section 2.02      Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

(a)            Only such of the Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate substantially in the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication hereinafter recited, executed by the Trustee by manual signature by one of its authorized officers, shall be valid or become obligatory for any purpose or entitle the Holder thereof to any right or benefit under this Indenture.

 

(b)            Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, except that any Global Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated in Section 3.01.

 

(c)            The form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

Date of authentication:			[            ], as Trustee
			By:
				Authorized Signatory

 

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Section 2.03      Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent. If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by such Authenticating Agent to be borne by Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

Date of authentication:			[                     ], as Trustee
			By:	[NAME OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT]
				as Authenticating Agent
			By:
				Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE DEBT SECURITIES

 

Section 3.01      Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series. The title and terms on each series of Securities shall be as set forth in a Board Resolution, a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

(a)            the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the Securities of all other series, except to the extent that additional Securities of an existing series are being issued);

 

(b)            any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 4.06, or 14.05);

 

(c)            the dates on which or periods during which the Securities of the series may be issued, and the dates on, or the range of dates within, which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series are or may be payable or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended;

 

(d)            the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, whether such interest shall be payable in cash or additional Securities of the same series or shall accrue and increase the aggregate principal amount outstanding of such series (including if such Securities were originally issued at a discount), the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, and the Record Dates for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on such Interest Payment Dates or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payments and the duration of such extension or deferral;

 

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(e)            if other than U.S. Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which Securities of the series shall be denominated or in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series shall be payable and any other terms concerning such payment;

 

(f)            if the amount of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method including, but not limited to, an index based on a Currency or Currencies other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(g)            if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a Currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated or stated to be payable without such election, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made and the time and the manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which the Securities are denominated or payable without such election and the Currency in which the Securities are to be paid if such election is made;

 

(h)            the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, and where Securities of any series may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;

 

(i)            the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;

 

(j)            the obligation or right, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the Currency or Currencies in which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

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

 

(l)            if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02;

 

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(m)            the guarantors, if any, of the Securities of the series, and the extent of the guarantees (including provisions relating to seniority, subordination, and the release of the guarantors), if any, and any additions or changes to permit or facilitate guarantees of such Securities;

 

(n)            whether the Securities of the series are to be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities and the amount of discount with which such Securities may be issued;

 

(o)            if the provisions of Article XII hereof shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series; or any addition to or change in the provisions of Article XII and, if the Securities of any series are payable in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency or the nature of the government obligations to be deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.08;

 

(p)            whether the Securities of the series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities, and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in such Global Security or Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for the individual securities represented thereby in definitive form registered in the name or names of Persons other than such Depositary or a nominee or nominees thereof (“Individual Securities”);

 

(q)            the date as of which any Global Security of the series shall be dated if other than the original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

(r)            the form or forms of the Securities of the series including such legends as may be required by applicable law;

 

(s)            if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities or property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any additions or changes, if any, to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

 

(t)            whether the Securities of such series are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination (for avoidance of doubt, Article XV shall not apply to the Securities of any series unless the terms of such series expressly state it applies);

 

(u)            whether the Securities of such series are to be secured and the terms of such security;

 

(v)            any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series;

 

(w)            any addition or change in the provisions related to compensation and reimbursement of the Trustee which applies to Securities of such series;

 

(x)            any addition or change in the provisions related to supplemental indentures set forth in Sections 14.01, 14.02 and 14.04 which applies to Securities of such series;

 

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(y)            provisions, if any, granting special rights to Holders upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

(z)            any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 and any addition or change in the provisions set forth in Article VII which applies to Securities of the series;

 

(aa)         any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article VI or the satisfaction and discharge and defeasance provisions in Article XII, or to any of the definitions or other provisions contained herein, which applies to Securities of the series; and

 

(bb)        any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the TIA, but may modify, amend, supplement or delete any of the terms of this Indenture with respect to such series).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical, except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or set forth in a Board Resolution, a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to this Section 3.01, the Company may, at its option, at any time and from time to time, issue additional Securities of any series of Securities previously issued under this Indenture which together shall constitute a single series of Securities under this Indenture.

 

Section 3.02      Denominations. In the absence of any specification pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable only as Securities in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, and shall be payable only in U.S. Dollars.

 

Section 3.03      Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

(a)            The Securities shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual, facsimile or electronic signature of any Officer. If the Person whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Company, such Security nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Security had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the proper Officers of the Issuer, although at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture any such person was not such Officer. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

 

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(b)            At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities and, if required pursuant to Section 3.01, a supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Company Order setting forth the terms of the Securities of a series. The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities without any further action by the Company. The Company Order shall specify the amount of Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.

 

(c)            In authenticating the Securities of any series and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, except as to the initial issuance of the Securities of any such series, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 11.02) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each prepared in accordance with Section 16.01 stating that the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture have been complied with, and also that the execution of such initial issuance, amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(d)            The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities under this Section 3.03 if the issue of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

(e)            Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of this Section 3.03, if all of the Securities of any series are not to be originally issued at the same time, then the documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 3.03 must be delivered only once prior to the authentication and delivery of the first Security of such series;

 

(g)            If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered, in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

 

“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH SHALL BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

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TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

 

The aggregate principal amount of each Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as provided in this Indenture.

 

(h)            Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as such Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

 

(i)            Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee under such Global Security, and the Depositary shall be treated by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar and any of their agents as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar or any of their agents from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Members, the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Security. The Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Members and Persons that may hold interests through Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

 

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

 

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Section 3.04      Temporary Securities.

 

(a)            Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced, in any authorized denominations, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Any such temporary Security may be in the form of one or more Global Securities, representing all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series. Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Security or Securities in lieu of which it is issued.

 

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

 

(c)            Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the Individual Securities represented thereby pursuant to this Section 3.04 or Section 3.06, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed.

 

Section 3.05      Registrar.

 

(a)            The Company will keep, at an office or agency to be maintained by it in a Place of Payment where Securities may be presented for registration or presented and surrendered for registration of transfer or of exchange, and where Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable (the “Registrar”), a security register for the registration and the registration of transfer or of exchange of the Securities (the registers maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Register”), as in this Indenture provided, which Register shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection by the Trustee. Such Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Company may have one or more co-Registrars; the term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar.

 

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(b)            The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or co-Registrar not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar for any series, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 11.01. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Registrar, co-Registrar or transfer agent.

 

(c)            The Company hereby appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Registrar in connection with the Securities and this Indenture, until such time as another Person is appointed as such.

 

Section 3.06      Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)            Transfer.

 

(i)            Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the Registrar the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized denomination or denominations. The transfer of any Security shall not be valid as against the Company or the Trustee unless registered at the Registrar at the request of the Holder, or at the request of his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

(ii)            Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the Individual Securities represented thereby, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(b)            Exchange.

 

(i)            At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized denomination or denominations, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at the Registrar.

 

(ii)            Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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(c)            Exchange of Global Securities for Individual Securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive Individual Securities.

 

(i)            Individual Securities shall be issued to all owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security in exchange for such interests if: (A) at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 3.03(h) and, in each case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, or (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee and the Registrar an Company Order stating that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable.

 

In connection with the exchange of an entire Global Security for Individual Securities pursuant to this subsection (c), such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Individual Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Individual Securities of authorized denominations.

 

(ii)            The owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will be entitled to receive an Individual Security in exchange for such interest if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon receipt by the Trustee and Registrar of instructions from the Holder of a Global Security directing the Trustee and Registrar to (x) issue one or more Individual Securities in the amounts specified to the owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security and (y) debit or cause to be debited an equivalent amount of beneficial interest in such Global Security, subject to the rules and regulations of the Depositary:

 

(A)            the Trustee and Registrar shall notify the Company and the Trustee of such instructions, identifying the owner and amount of such beneficial interest in such Global Security;

 

(B)            the Company shall promptly execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Individual Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver to such beneficial owner Individual Securities in an equivalent amount to such beneficial interest in such Global Security; and

 

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(C)            the Trustee and Registrar shall decrease such Global Security by such amount in accordance with the foregoing. In the event that the Individual Securities are not issued to each such beneficial owner promptly after the Registrar has received a request from the Holder of a Global Security to issue such Individual Securities, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof, the right of any beneficial Holder of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial Holder’s Securities as if such Individual Securities had been issued.

 

 

(iii)            If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Individual Securities of such series on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

 

(A)            to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Individual Security or new Individual Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

 

(B)            to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Individual Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

 

(iv)            In any exchange provided for in clauses (i) through (iii), the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver Individual Securities in registered form in authorized denominations.

 

(v)            Upon the exchange in full of a Global Security for Individual Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Individual Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

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

 

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

 

(f)            No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities. The Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or charge to the Holders.

 

(g)            The Company shall not be required to (i) register, transfer or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the transmission of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 4.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmission, or (ii) register, transfer or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

(h)            In case a successor Company (“Successor Company”) has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.04, any of the Securities previously authenticated or delivered may, from time to time, at the request of the Successor Company, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the Successor Company with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Company Order of the Successor Company, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a Successor Company pursuant to this Section 3.06 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such Successor Company, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities at the time Outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.07       Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

(a)            If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to them to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, then the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, such that neither gain nor loss in interest shall result from such exchange or substitution.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.08      Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

(a)            Interest on any Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the Record Date. Payment of interest on Securities shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01) or, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Register or, in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c)            Subject to the provisions set forth herein relating to Record Dates, each Security delivered pursuant to any provision of this Indenture in exchange or substitution for, or upon registration of transfer of, any other Security shall carry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

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Section 3.09      Cancellation. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or credit against any sinking fund or otherwise shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and shall be promptly canceled by it and, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all canceled Securities held by it in accordance with its then customary procedures and deliver a certificate of such disposal to the Company upon its request therefor. The acquisition of any Securities by the Company shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 3.10      Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 3.11      Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities.

 

(a)            Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on Securities of such series will be made in U.S. Dollars.

 

(b)            For purposes of any provision of the Indenture where the Holders of Outstanding Securities may perform an action that requires that a specified percentage of the Outstanding Securities of all series perform such action and for purposes of any decision or determination by the Trustee of amounts due and unpaid for the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of all series in respect of which moneys are to be disbursed ratably, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Outstanding Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency will be the amount in U.S. Dollars based upon exchange rates, determined as specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, as of the date for determining whether the Holders entitled to perform such action have performed it or as of the date of such decision or determination by the Trustee, as the case may be.

 

(c)            Any decision or determination to be made regarding exchange rates shall be made by an agent appointed by the Company; provided, that such agent shall accept such appointment in writing and the terms of such appointment shall, in the opinion of the Company at the time of such appointment, require such agent to make such determination by a method consistent with the method provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for the making of such decision or determination. All decisions and determinations of such agent regarding exchange rates shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee and all Holders of the Securities.

 

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Section 3.12      Judgments. The Company may provide pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series that (a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of any series in a Foreign Currency or U.S. Dollars (the “Designated Currency”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 is of the essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, judgments in respect of such Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other Currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency or in the international banking community (in the case of a composite currency) immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.

 

Section 3.13      CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing any Securities may use CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice of redemption or exchange with respect to such series provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 4.01      Applicability of Right of Redemption. Redemption of Securities (other than pursuant to a sinking fund, amortization or analogous provision) permitted by the terms of any series of Securities shall be made (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.

 

Section 4.02      Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

(a)            If the Company shall at any time elect to redeem all or any portion of the Securities of a series then Outstanding, it shall at least 10 days prior to when notice of such redemption is given to holders in accordance with Section 4.03 (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. Such notice to Trustee shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the delivery of a notice of such redemption to the Holders complies, and that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein. Thereupon the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis (if certificated Securities) or in such other manner as required by the Depositary (if global Securities) and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. In any case where more than one Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security of such series. The Trustee shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Company in writing of the Securities and portions of Securities so selected.

 

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(b)            For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security that has been or is to be redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

 

Section 4.03      Notice of Redemption.

 

(a)            Notice of redemption shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed in whole or in part pursuant to this Article, in the manner provided in Section 16.04. Any notice so given shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. Failure to give such notice, or any defect in such notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption, in whole or in part, shall not affect the sufficiency of any notice of redemption with respect to the Holder of any other Security of such series. Any redemption of the Securities may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent.

 

(b)            All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if available along with the statement in Section 3.13) and shall state:

 

(i)            such election by the Company to redeem Securities of such series pursuant to provisions contained in this Indenture or the terms of the Securities of such series or a supplemental indenture establishing such series, if such be the case;

 

(ii)            the Redemption Date;

 

(iii)            the Redemption Price;

 

(iv)            if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the Securities of such series to be redeemed;

 

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

 

(vi)            the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

 

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

 

(viii)            if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all of such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date so delayed.

 

Section 4.04      Deposit of Redemption Price. No later than one Business Day prior to the Redemption Date for any Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 6.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of such Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 4.05      Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, any Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price and from and after such date (unless the Company shall Default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price; provided, however, that (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) installments of interest that have a Stated Maturity on or prior to the Redemption Date for such Securities shall be payable according to the terms of such Securities and the provisions of Section 3.08.

 

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

 

Section 4.06      Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency of the Company as is specified in the notice of redemption with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Security or Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 5.01      Applicability of Sinking Fund.

 

(a)            Redemption of Securities permitted or required pursuant to a sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series by the terms of such series of Securities shall be made in accordance with such terms of such series of Securities and this Article, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Article IV for Securities of such series, provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.

 

(b)            The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “Optional Sinking Fund Payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 5.02.

 

Section 5.02      Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation. The Company may, at its option, satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, in whole or in part, with respect to a particular series of Securities by (a) delivering to the Trustee Securities of such series in transferable form theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or redeemed at the election of the Company pursuant to Article IV or (b) receiving credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall credit such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation with an amount equal to the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment shall be reduced accordingly. If the Company shall elect to so satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date an Officer’s Certificate, which shall designate the Securities (and portions thereof, if any) so delivered or credited and which shall be accompanied by such Securities (to the extent not theretofore delivered) in transferable form. In case of the failure of the Company, at or before the time so required, to give such notice and deliver such Securities the Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation shall be paid entirely in moneys.

 

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Section 5.03      Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price. In addition to the sinking fund requirements of Section 5.02, to the extent, if any, provided for by the terms of a particular series of Securities, the Company may, at its option, make an Optional Sinking Fund Payment with respect to such Securities. Unless otherwise provided by such terms, (a) to the extent that the right of the Company to make such Optional Sinking Fund Payment shall not be exercised in any year, it shall not be cumulative or carried forward to any subsequent year, and (b) such optional payment shall operate to reduce the amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation as to Securities of the same series. If the Company intends to exercise its right to make such optional payment in any year it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company will exercise such optional right, and specifying the amount which the Company will pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Such Officer’s Certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Section 5.04      Application of Sinking Fund Payment.

 

(a)            If the sinking fund payment or payments made in funds pursuant to either Section 5.02 or 5.03 with respect to a particular series of Securities plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in funds with respect to such series shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request, or such equivalent sum for Securities denominated other than in U.S. Dollars), it shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date next following the date of such payment, unless the date of such payment shall be a sinking fund payment date, in which case such payment shall be applied on such sinking fund payment date, to the redemption of Securities of such series at the redemption price specified pursuant to Section 4.03(b). The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 4.02, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date, a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said funds, as nearly as may be, and shall, at the expense and in the name of the Company, thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Securities to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 4.03(a) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company, except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Securities are being redeemed for the sinking fund. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next sinking fund payment received in funds by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.04. Any and all sinking fund moneys held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

 

(b)            On or prior to each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee a sum equal to all interest accrued to but not including the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 5.04.

 

(c)            The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of Securities of such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on any Securities of such series or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice, except that if the notice of redemption of any Securities of such series shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities if funds sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Article. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund at the time any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of all the Securities of such series; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date on which such moneys are required to be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.04.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company hereby covenants and agrees as follows:

 

Section 6.01      Payments of Securities. The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, on each series of Securities, and the interest which shall have accrued thereon, at the dates and place and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. Such payments shall be considered made on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to make all payments with respect to such Securities then due.

 

Section 6.02      Paying Agent.

 

(a)            The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served (the “Paying Agent”). The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

(b)            The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies where the Securities of any series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and of any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency. The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Paying Agent.

 

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Section 6.03      To Hold Payment in Trust.

 

(a)            If the Company or an Affiliate thereof shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, then, on or before the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption shall become payable, the Company or such Affiliate will segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest which shall have so become payable until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act in that regard. Upon any proceeding under any federal bankruptcy laws with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof, if the Company or such Affiliate is then acting as Paying Agent, the Trustee shall replace the Company or such Affiliate as Paying Agent.

 

(b)            If the Company shall appoint, and at the time have, a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any series of Securities, then prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series shall become payable as aforesaid, whether by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption, the Company will deposit with such Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee), the Company or any other obligor of such Securities will promptly notify the Trustee of its payment or failure to make such payment.

 

(c)            If the Paying Agent shall be other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 6.03, that such Paying Agent shall:

 

(i)            hold all moneys held by it for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(ii)            give to the Trustee notice of any Default by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series in the making of any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series; and

 

(iii)            at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

(d)            Anything in this Section 6.03 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a release, satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee as required by this Section 6.03, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent.

 

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(e)            Subject to applicable escheatment laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Order along with any interest that has accumulated thereon as a result of such money being invested at the direction of the Company, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust, and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such amounts without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 6.04      Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities:

 

(a)            The Company will not consolidate with any other entity or permit a merger of any other entity into the Company or permit the Company to be merged into any other entity, or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to another entity, unless (i) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than the Company) shall be organized and existing under the laws of (x) the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, or (y) the United Kingdom and expressly assume, by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered by such entity prior to or simultaneously with such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all other obligations to the Holders and the Trustee under this Indenture or under the Securities to be performed or observed by the Company; and (ii) immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease the Company or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than the Company) would not be in Default in the performance of any covenant or condition of this Indenture.

 

(b)            Upon any consolidation with or merger into any other entity, or any sale, conveyance or transfer lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with this Section 6.04, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which the Company is sold or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and from time to time such entity may exercise each and every right and power of the Company under this Indenture, in the name of the Company, or in its own name; and any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture required or permitted to be done by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Company may be done with like force and effect by the like board or officer of any entity that shall at the time be the successor of the Company hereunder. In the event of any such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company (or any successor entity which shall theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Section 6.04) shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may thereupon be dissolved and liquidated.

 

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Section 6.05      Compliance Certificate. The Company shall furnish to the Trustee annually the compliance certificate pursuant to Section 10.02.

 

Section 6.06      Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may fail or omit in any particular instance to comply with a covenant or condition set forth herein with respect to any series of Securities if the Company shall have obtained and filed with the Trustee, prior to the time of such failure or omission, evidence (as provided in Article VIII) of the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding (except as to a covenant or condition which under Section 14.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected, in which case the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected shall be required), either waiving such compliance in such instance or generally waiving compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, or impair any right consequent thereon and, until such waiver shall have become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 6.07      Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee as soon as practicable and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto, in accordance with Section 10.02.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.01      Events of Default. Except where otherwise indicated by the context or where the term is otherwise defined for a specific purpose, the term “Event of Default” as used in this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series shall mean any of the following described events unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated in Section 3.01:

 

(a)            the failure of the Company to pay any installment of interest on any Security of such series when and as the same shall become payable, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 days;

 

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(b)            the failure of the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security of such series, when and as the same shall become payable, whether at Maturity as therein expressed, by call for redemption (otherwise than pursuant to a sinking fund), upon acceleration under this Indenture or otherwise;

 

(c)            the failure of the Company to pay a sinking fund installment, if any, when and as the same shall become payable by the terms of a Security of such series, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 days;

 

(d)            the failure of the Company, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, to perform any covenants or satisfy any conditions contained in this Indenture (or the terms of the Securities of such series or a supplemental indenture establishing such series) (other than a covenant or condition which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series and other than a covenant or condition a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section 7.01 specifically addressed), which failure shall not have been remedied, or without provision deemed to be adequate for the remedying thereof having been made, for a period of 90 days after written notice shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or shall have been given to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of 30% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such failure, requiring the Company to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

 

(e)            the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company 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 90 consecutive days;

 

(f)            the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Company to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by the Company to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any action; or

 

(g)            the occurrence of any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 3.01;

 

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provided, however, that no event described in clause (d) or clause (g) (other than with respect to a payment default) above shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder until the Trustee or the Holders of 30% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series the Outstanding, notify the Company (and the Trustee in case of notice by the Holders) of the Default, specifying the Default, requiring the Company to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, if the principal or any premium or interest on any Security is payable in a Currency other than the Currency of the United States and such Currency is not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities by making such payment in the Currency of the United States in an amount equal to the Currency of the United States equivalent of the amount payable in such other Currency, as determined by the Company’s agent in accordance with Section 3.11(c) hereof by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such Currency (“Exchange Rate”), as such Exchange Rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, any payment made under such circumstances in the Currency of the United States where the required payment is in a Currency other than the Currency of the United States will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.

 

Section 7.02      Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment.

 

(a)            Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, if any one or more of the above-described Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f)) shall happen with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, during the continuance of any such Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of 30% or more in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and all accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of such series then Outstanding to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such acceleration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified by the terms of that series) of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any acceleration or any other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become due and payable immediately. Upon payment of such amounts in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to the last paragraph of Section 7.01 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01), all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of such series shall terminate.

 

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(b)            The provisions of Section 7.02(a), however, are subject to the condition that, at any time after the principal and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of such series, to which any one or more of the above-described Events of Default is applicable, shall have been so declared to be or shall have automatically become due and payable, and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that Series then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annual such acceleration if:

 

(i)            the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent a sum in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to the last paragraph of Section 7.01 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay:

 

(A)            all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under this Indenture, including Section 11.01(a) (provided, however, that all sums payable under this clause (A) shall be paid in U.S. Dollars);

 

(B)            all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, upon all the Securities of such series with interest thereon to the extent that interest thereon shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue installment of interest at the rate borne by or prescribed in such Securities; and

 

(C)            the principal of and accrued and unpaid premium, if any, on any Securities of such series that have become due otherwise than by such acceleration with interest thereon to the extent that interest thereon shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue installment of interest at the rate borne by or prescribed in such Securities; and

 

(ii)            every other Default and Event of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 7.06.

 

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

 

(d)            For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such acceleration, unless such acceleration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.

 

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Section 7.03      Other Remedies. If the Company shall fail for a period of 30 days to pay any installment of interest on the Securities of any series or shall fail to pay any principal of and premium, if any, on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at Maturity, or by call for redemption (other than pursuant to the sinking fund), by acceleration as authorized by this Indenture, or otherwise, or shall fail for a period of 30 days to make any required sinking fund payment as to a series of Securities, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series then Outstanding the whole amount which then shall have become due and payable on all the Securities of such series for principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, with interest (so far as the same may be legally enforceable) on the overdue principal and on the overdue premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest at the rate borne by or prescribed in such Securities, and all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a).

 

In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, wherever situated, in the manner provided by law. Every recovery of judgment in any such action or other proceeding, subject to the payment to the Trustee of all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a), shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of such series of Securities which shall be the subject of such action or proceeding. All rights of action upon or under any of the Securities or this Indenture may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities and without the production of any thereof at any trial or any proceeding relative thereto.

 

Section 7.04      Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact. The Trustee is hereby appointed, and each and every Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have appointed the Trustee, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of such Holder, with authority to make or file (whether or not the Company shall be in Default in respect of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities), in its own name and as trustee of an express trust or otherwise as it shall deem advisable, in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or to their respective creditors or property, any and all claims, proofs of claim, proofs of debt, petitions, consents, other papers and documents and amendments of any thereof, as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of the Holders of the Securities allowed in any such proceeding and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to execute and deliver any and all other papers and documents and to do and perform any and all other acts and things, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to enforce in any such proceeding any of the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of any of such Holders in respect of any of the Securities; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor in any such proceeding is hereby authorized, and each and every taker or Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have authorized any such receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor, to make any such payment or delivery only to or on the order of the Trustee, and to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a); provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower the Trustee to consent to or accept or adopt, on behalf of any Holder of Securities, any plan of reorganization or readjustment affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize or empower the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of any Securities in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 7.05      Priorities. Any moneys or properties collected by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities under this Article VII or distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or properties and, in the case of the distribution of such moneys or properties on account of the Securities of any series, upon presentation of the Securities of such series, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under this Indenture, including Section 11.01(a).

 

Second: Subject to Article XV (to the extent applicable to any series of Securities then outstanding), to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Outstanding Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively.

 

Any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Company or as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.06      Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee hereunder, or of exercising any trust or power hereby conferred upon the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Sections 11.01 and 11.02, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders not joining in such direction or would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to any acceleration of the Maturity of the Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a Default in the payment of interest or any premium on or the principal of the Securities of such series and except as to a covenant or condition which under Section 14.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected, in which case the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected shall be required for such waiver. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 7.06, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Securities of such series and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

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Section 7.07      Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity for the execution of any trust hereunder or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder, in each case with respect to an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of one or more of the Events of Default herein specified with respect to such series of Securities, and unless also the Holders of 30% or more in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have requested the Trustee in writing to take action in respect of the matter complained of, and unless also there shall have been offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, loss, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after receipt of such notification, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and such notification, request and offer of indemnity are hereby declared in every such case to be conditions precedent to any such action, suit or proceeding by any Holder of any Security of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of the Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by his, her, its or their action to enforce any right hereunder, except in the manner herein provided, and that every action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the equal benefit of all Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series; provided, however, that nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series shall affect or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series to the respective Holders of such Securities at the respective due dates in such Securities stated, or affect or impair the right, which is also absolute and unconditional, of such Holders to institute suit to enforce the payment thereof.

 

Section 7.08      Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture and each Holder of any Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed that any court may in its discretion require, in any action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any action, suit or proceeding against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding of an undertaking to pay the costs of such action, suit or proceeding, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 7.08 shall not apply to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee, to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any one or more Holders of Securities holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any series Outstanding, or to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any Holder of Securities of any series for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or the interest on, any of the Securities of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Securities.

 

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Section 7.09      Remedies Cumulative. No remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of any series is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy or remedies, and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of the Securities of any series to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and every power and remedy given by this Article VII to the Trustee and to the Holders of Securities of any series, respectively, may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities of such series, as the case may be. In case the Trustee or any Holder of Securities of any series shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and the proceedings for the enforcement thereof shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of waiver or for any other reason or shall have been adjudicated adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder of Securities, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall severally and respectively be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and thereafter all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken, except as to any matters so waived or adjudicated.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 8.01      Evidence of Action of Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage or a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or of any series of Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage or majority have joined therein may be evidenced by (a) any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Securityholders in person, by an agent or by a proxy appointed in writing, including through an electronic system for tabulating consents operated by the Depositary for such series or otherwise (such action becoming effective, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, when such instruments or evidence of electronic consents are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company), or (b) by the record of the Holders of Securities voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Securityholders.

 

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Section 8.02      Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities. Proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his, her or its agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

 

(a)            The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument may be proved (i) by the certificate of any notary public or other officer in any jurisdiction who, by the laws thereof, has power to take acknowledgments or proof of deeds to be recorded within such jurisdiction, that the Person who signed such instrument did acknowledge before such notary public or other officer the execution thereof, or (ii) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution sworn to before any such notary or other officer. Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.

 

(b)            The ownership of Securities of any series shall be proved by the Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series.

 

(c)            The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.

 

(d)            The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.02 as it shall deem appropriate or necessary, so long as the request is a reasonable one.

 

(e)            If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities of any series any action, the Company may, at its option fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of such series have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be computed as of such record date.

 

Section 8.03      Persons Deemed Owners.

 

(a)            The Company, the Trustee or any of their agents shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08) interest, if any, on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any of their agents shall be affected by notice to the contrary. All payments made to any Holder, or upon his, her or its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon such Security.

 

(b)            None of the Company, the Trustee, or any of their agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Section 8.04      Effect of Consents. After an amendment, supplement, waiver or other action becomes effective as to any series of Securities, a consent to it by a Holder of such series of Securities is a continuing consent conclusive and binding upon such Holder and every subsequent Holder of the same Securities or portion thereof, and of any Security issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in place thereof, even if notation of the consent is not made on any such Security.

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Section 9.01      Purposes of Meetings. A meeting of Securityholders of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX for any of the following purposes:

 

(a)            to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article VIII;

 

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

 

(c)            to consent to the execution of an Indenture or of indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 14.02; or

 

(d)            to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any one or more or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

Section 9.02      Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of all Securityholders of any or all series that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken, to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders of a series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed or sent at the expense of the Company to Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as they shall appear on the Register of the Company. Such notice shall be mailed or sent not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

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

 

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Section 9.04      Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities affected by the action proposed to be taken at the meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more such Securities. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel. Unless otherwise expressly provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of any series, any vote, consent, waiver or other action given or taken by the Holders of any series of Securities at a meeting shall be given or taken, as the case may be, by the Holders of such series of Securities as a separate class.

 

Section 9.05      Regulation of Meetings.

 

(a)            Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem fit.

 

(b)            The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chair. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.

 

(c)            At any meeting of Securityholders of a series, each Securityholder of such series of such Securityholder’s proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series Outstanding held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. If the Securities of any series are issuable in minimum denominations of less than $1,000, then a Holder of such a Security in a principal amount of less than $1,000 shall be entitled to a fraction of one vote which is equal to the fraction that the principal amount of such Security bears to $1,000. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Securities of such series held by him or her or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him or her as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. At any meeting of the Securityholders of any series duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or 9.03, the presence of Persons holding or representing Securities of such series in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action as it concerns the Securities of such series upon the business for the transaction of which such meeting was called shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, and any such meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE X

 

REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS

 

Section 10.01      Reports by Trustee.

 

(a)            So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided therein. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each anniversary following the date of the first issuance of securities under this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

 

(b)            If required by Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, at the time of the transmission to the Holders of Securities of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.01, file a copy of such report with each stock exchange upon which the Securities are listed, if any, and also with the SEC in respect of a Security listed and registered on a national securities exchange, if any. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when, as and if the Securities become listed on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.

 

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(c)            The Company will reimburse the Trustee for all expenses incurred in the preparation and transmission of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.01 and of Section 10.02.

 

Section 10.02      Reports by the Company.

 

(a)            The Company shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(b)            The Company shall, so long as any Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Reports, information and documents filed with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time of such filing via EDGAR for purposes of this Section 10.02. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and its receipt of such reports shall not constitute constructive or actual notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including our compliance with any of the Company’s covenants under this Indenture or the Securities (as to which the trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with the covenants or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the SEC or EDGAR or any website under this Indenture or participate in any conference calls.

 

(c)            Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee annually, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from an Officer as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture (which compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture) and, in the event of any Default, specifying each such Default and the nature and status thereof of which such person may have knowledge. Such certificates need not comply with Section 16.01 of this Indenture.

 

(d)            The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee a certificate regarding any Default or Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.07.

 

Section 10.03      Securityholders’ Lists. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)            semi-annually, within 15 days after each Record Date, but in any event not less frequently than semi-annually, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities to which such Record Date applies, as of such Record Date, and

 

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

 

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 11.01      Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by this Indenture upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the parties hereto and the Holders from time to time of the Securities agree:

 

(a)            The Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (including in any agent capacity in which it acts). The compensation of the Trustee shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon its request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee (including the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

 

(b)            The Company also agrees to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee hereunder for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim, or expense incurred without its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the performance of its duties (including in any agent capacity in which it acts), as well as the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability, including without limitation the costs and expenses of enforcing the terms of this Indenture including the indemnification provided herein, (whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or otherwise) in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except those attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure to provide prompt notice shall not affect the indemnification provided hereunder except to the extent that the Company has actually been prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel of its selection and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall not enter into any settlement without the Trustee’s prior written consent (which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(c)            As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 11.01(a) and Section 11.01(b), the Trustee shall have a lien upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust by the Trustee to pay principal of, premium and interest on any Securities. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the Trustee under this Section 11.01(a) and Section 11.01(b) shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the termination of this Indenture and any satisfaction and discharge under Article XII. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 occurs, the expenses and compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

 

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

 

(e)            The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for the correctness of the recitals herein or in the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon) contained, all of which are made solely by the Company; and the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to the validity or execution or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon), and the Trustee makes no representation with respect thereto, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Securities, or the proceeds of any Securities, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

(f)            The Trustee may consult with counsel, investment bankers, accountants, or other professionals of its selection, and advice of counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered by the Trustee hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice of counsel, investment banker, accountant, or other professional.

 

(g)            The Trustee may rely upon the certificate of the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company as to the adoption of any Board Resolution or resolution of the stockholders of the Company, and any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by, and whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee may conclusively rely upon, an Officer’s Certificate of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed).

 

(h)            The Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have had if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

 

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(i)            Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

 

(j)            Any action taken by the Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof at the request or with the consent of any Person who at the time is the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding in respect of such Security upon all future Holders thereof or of any Security or Securities which may be issued for or in lieu thereof in whole or in part, whether or not such Security shall have noted thereon the fact that such request or consent had been made or given.

 

(k)            The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

(l)            The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of the Securities, pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, unless one or more of the Holders of the Securities shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it therein or thereby.

 

(m)            The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within its discretion or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(n)            The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written knowledge thereof or unless the Company or Holders of not less than 30% of the Outstanding Securities notify the Trustee thereof.

 

(o)            The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, may, but shall not be required to, make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

 

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

 

(q)            Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

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

 

Section 11.02      Duties of Trustee.

 

(a)            If one or more of the Events of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened, then, during the continuance thereof, the Trustee shall, with respect to such Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and shall use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b)            None of the provisions of this Indenture shall be construed as relieving the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that, anything in this Indenture contained to the contrary notwithstanding,

 

(i)            unless and until an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened which at the time is continuing,

 

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

 

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

 

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(ii)            the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(iii)            the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of Securityholders given as provided in Section 7.06, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to it or exercising any trust or power conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(c)            None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)            Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 11.02.

 

Section 11.03      Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence thereof, and if known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give to the Holders of the Securities of a series notice of each Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series known to the Trustee, by transmitting such notice to Holders at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register of the Company, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the term “Default” being hereby defined to be the events specified in Section 7.01, which are, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, Events of Default as defined in said Section). Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become payable, or to make any sinking fund payment as to Securities of the same series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice, if and so long as a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series.

 

Section 11.04      Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

(a)            The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA Section 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition, and shall have a Corporate Trust Office. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.04, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

(b)            The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(i) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(i) are met. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. If Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act is amended any time after the date of this Indenture to change the circumstances under which a Trustee shall be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any series or to change any of the definitions in connection therewith, this Section 11.04 shall be automatically amended to incorporate such changes.

 

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Section 11.05      Resignation and Notice; Removal. The Trustee, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts hereby created with respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving to the Company 30 days’ notice in writing. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor and, upon the acceptance by the successor of such appointment, release the resigning Trustee from its obligations hereunder by written instrument, a copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Company, the resigning Trustee and the successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 45 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor. Such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Trustee. Any Trustee hereunder may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by the filing with such Trustee and the delivery to the Company of an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such removal and the date when it shall become effective.

 

If at any time:

 

(1)            the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series), or

 

(2)            the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 11.04 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series), or

 

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

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by written notice to the Trustee may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series) may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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In addition, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of any series without cause if the Company gives written notice to the Trustee of such proposed removal at least three months in advance of the proposed effective date of such removal.

 

Upon its resignation or removal, any Trustee shall be entitled to the payment of reasonable compensation for the services rendered hereunder by such Trustee and to the payment of all reasonable expenses incurred hereunder and all moneys then due to it hereunder. The Trustee’s rights to indemnification provided in Section 11.01(b) shall survive its resignation or removal.

 

Section 11.06      Successor Trustee by Appointment.

 

(a)            In case at any time the Trustee shall resign, or shall be removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, with respect to Securities of any or all series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. However, if all or substantially all the assets of the Company shall be in the possession of one or more custodians or receivers lawfully appointed, or of trustees in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings (including a trustee or trustees appointed under the provisions of the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted), or of assignees for the benefit of creditors, such receivers, custodians, trustees or assignees, as the case may be, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any or all series. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11.04 and 11.05, upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series shall cease to be Trustee hereunder. After any such appointment other than by the Holders of Securities of any such series, the Person making such appointment shall forthwith cause notice thereof to be mailed to the Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register of the Company. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of such appointment.

 

(b)            If any Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall resign or be removed and a successor Trustee shall not have been appointed by the Company or, if any successor Trustee so appointed shall not have accepted its appointment within 30 days after such appointment shall have been made, the resigning Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. If in any other case a successor Trustee shall not be appointed pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.06 within three months after such appointment might have been made hereunder, the Holder of any Security of the applicable series or any retiring Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, in any such case, after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.

 

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(c)            Any successor Trustee appointed hereunder with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor Trustee and to the Company, or to the receivers, trustees, assignees or court appointing it, as the case may be, an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations with respect to such series of such predecessor Trustee with like effect as if originally named as Trustee hereunder, and such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to pay over, and such successor Trustee shall be entitled to receive, all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee as Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of such series, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 11.01(a). Nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee or of the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any such series then Outstanding, such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its said charges and disbursements, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee upon the trusts herein expressed all the rights, powers and trusts of such predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and shall assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 11.01(a); and, upon request of any such successor Trustee or the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations.

 

Section 11.07      Successor Trustee by Merger. Any Person into which the Trustee or any successor to it in the trusts created by this Indenture shall be merged or converted, or any Person with which it or any successor to it shall be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee or any such successor to it shall be a party, or any Person to which the Trustee or any successor to it shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article. In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities, any of such Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any successor to such Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

Section 11.08      Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate. Whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto delivered to the Trustee, and such Officer’s Certificate, in the absence of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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Section 11.09      Appointment of Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities, and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.

 

Each Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Article XI, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Article XI, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article XI.

 

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

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.09, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 11.09.

 

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The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 11.09.

 

Section 11.10      Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders. Holders of Securities may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to such communications.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 12.01      Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of all series issued pursuant to this Indenture, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

Section 12.02      Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture, with respect to the Securities of any series (if all series issued under this Indenture are not to be affected), shall, upon Company Order, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable and except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of this Section 12.02), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, when,

 

(a)            either:

 

(i)            all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.07 and (B) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 6.03(e)) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

 

(A)            have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

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(C)            if redeemable at the option of the Company (including, without limitation, by operation of any mandatory sinking fund), have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

and the Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in trust for the purpose an amount in cash in the Currency in which such Securities are payable (subject to Section 12.08) sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity thereof or, in the case of Securities of such series which have been or are to be called for redemption as contemplated by (C) above, the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and including any mandatory sinking fund payments as and when the same shall become due and payable; provided, however, that, if a Default of the nature described in clauses (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 shall have occurred at any time during the period ending on and including the 91st day after the date of such deposit or if the Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to return the monies then on deposit with or held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent to the Company or to a trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, conservator or other similar Person, or the Trustee or any Paying Agent is not permitted to apply any such funds to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series (including to make sinking fund payments) as and when the same shall become due and payable, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such Securities shall not be deemed terminated or discharged;

 

(b)            the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 11.01, the provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.10, 6.02 and 6.03 and this Article XII, and, if the Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity (including, without limitation, pursuant to a mandatory sinking fund), the provisions of Article IV hereof, and, if the Securities of such series are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, the rights of the Holders of such Securities to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into other securities or property, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 12.07 and Section 6.03(e) shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

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Section 12.03      Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations. At the Company’s option, either (x) the Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below) from its obligations with respect to Securities of any series on the first day after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied or (y) the Company shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 6.04 and Section 10.02 with respect to Securities of any series (and, if so specified pursuant to Section 3.01, any other restrictive covenant added for the benefit of such series pursuant to Section 3.01) (“covenant defeasance”) upon the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth below:

 

(a)            the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations (as defined below) that, through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient (without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest) to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of and premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and premium are due and, if the Securities of such series are to be called for redemption as described in clause (d) below, to pay and discharge the Redemption Price on the Securities called for redemption on the applicable Redemption Date;

 

(b)            no Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default resulting from the borrowing of funds and the grant of any related liens to be applied to such deposit) and, solely in the case of Discharge pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section 12.03, no Default with respect to the Securities of such series under either clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 shall have occurred at any time during the period ending on and including the 91st day after the date of such deposit;

 

(c)            the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this Section and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised and, in the case of the Securities of such series being Discharged pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section 12.03, such Opinion of Counsel shall be based upon and accompanied by a ruling to that effect received by the Company from or published by the Internal Revenue Service;

 

(d)            if the monies or U.S. Government Obligations or combination thereof, as the case may be, deposited under clause (a) above are sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series (including, without limitation, any mandatory sinking fund payment) or any portion thereof to be redeemed on a particular Redemption Date (including, without limitation, pursuant to a mandatory sinking fund), the Company shall have given to the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem such Securities on such date and shall have made arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of such redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company; and

 

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(e)            the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to such action under this Indenture have been complied with.

 

“Discharged” means, with respect to the Securities of any series, that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities of such series and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture relating to the Securities of such series (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following, all of which shall survive such Discharge and remain in full force and effect with respect to the Securities of such series: (A) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (a) above, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.10, 6.02 and 6.03, (C) if the Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, the provisions of Article IV hereof, (D) if the Securities of such series are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, the rights of the Holders of such Securities to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into such other securities or property, (E) the provisions of this Article XII and (F) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely of payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, that, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

Section 12.04      Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company (or to its designee) upon delivery of a Company Order any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 12.02 and 12.03 with respect to the Securities of any series and held by them that are in excess of the monies and/or U.S. Government Obligations that were required to effect the satisfaction and discharge, covenant defeasance or Discharge, as applicable, with respect to the Securities of such series, including any such moneys or obligations held by the Trustee under any escrow trust agreement entered into pursuant to Section 12.06. The provisions of Section 6.03(e) shall apply to any money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article.

 

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Section 12.05      Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal or interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

 

Section 12.06      Deposits to Be Held in Escrow. Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 12.03 above shall be irrevocable (except to the extent provided in Sections 12.04 and 6.03(e)) and shall be made under the terms of an escrow trust agreement. If any Outstanding Securities of a series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund requirement, the applicable escrow trust agreement shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

 

Section 12.07      Application of Trust Money.

 

(a)            Neither the Trustee nor any other Paying Agent shall be required to pay interest on any moneys deposited pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, except such as it shall agree with the Company in writing to pay thereon.

 

(b)            Subject to Section 6.03(e), any monies and U.S. Government Obligations which at any time shall be deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other Paying Agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any of the Securities shall be and are hereby assigned, transferred and set over to the Trustee or such other Paying Agent in trust for the respective Holders of the Securities for the purpose for which such moneys shall have been deposited, and such funds shall be applied by the Trustee or Paying Agent in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture to the payment of all sums due and to become due on such Securities in respect of principal and premium, if any, and interest; but such moneys need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective Affiliates may act as Paying Agent for any Securities in respect of which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to this Article XII.

 

Section 12.08      Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, if the Securities of any series are payable in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency or the nature of the government obligations to be deposited with the Trustee under the foregoing provisions of this Article shall be as set forth in a Board Resolution, a Company Order or in one or more supplemental indentures hereto.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS

 

Section 13.01      No Personal Liability. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or the premium, if any, or interest on, any Security or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof or of the Indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this Indenture and the Securities are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, because of the incurring of the Indebtedness hereby authorized or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants, promises or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities, or to be implied herefrom or therefrom, and that all liability, if any, of that character against every such incorporator, stockholder, officer and director is, by the acceptance of the Securities and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities expressly waived and released.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 14.01      Without Consent of Securityholders. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any one or more of or all the following purposes:

 

(a)            to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company, to be observed thereafter and during the period, if any, in such supplemental indenture or indentures expressed, and to add Events of Default, in each case for the protection or benefit of the Holders of all or any series of the Securities (and if such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are to be for the benefit of fewer than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are expressly being included for the benefit of such series as shall be identified therein), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

 

(b)            to delete or modify any Events of Default with respect to any series of the Securities, the form and terms of which are being first established pursuant to such supplemental indenture as permitted in Section 3.01 (and, if any such Event of Default is applicable to fewer than all such series of the Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable), and to specify the rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders of such Securities in connection therewith;

 

(c)            to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide, change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on Securities; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;

 

(d)            to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision and as to which such supplemental indenture would apply;

 

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(e)            to evidence the succession of another entity to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Company contained in the Securities of one or more series and in this Indenture or any supplemental indenture;

 

(f)            to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 11.06(c);

 

(g)           to secure any series of Securities;

 

(h)           to evidence any changes to this Indenture pursuant to Sections 11.05, 11.06 or 11.07 hereof as permitted by the terms thereof;

 

(i)            to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any indenture supplemental hereto which may be mistaken, defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or to conform the terms hereof, as amended and supplemented, that are applicable to the Securities of any series to the description of the terms of such Securities in the offering memorandum, prospectus supplement or other offering document applicable to such Securities at the time of initial sale thereof;

 

(j)            to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(k)           to add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to any series of Securities or to release guarantors from their guarantees of Securities in accordance with the terms of the applicable series of Securities;

 

(l)            to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of the Holders of such Securities;

 

(m)          to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities;

 

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

 

(o)            to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities; or

 

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(p)            to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as permitted in Section 3.01, or to authorize the issuance of additional Securities of a series previously authorized or to add to the conditions, limitations or restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication or delivery of the Securities of any series, as herein set forth, or other conditions, limitations or restrictions thereafter to be observed.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 14.03, the Trustee is authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make the further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property or assets thereunder.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 14.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding.

 

Section 14.02      With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations.

 

(a)            With the consent of the Holders (evidenced as provided in Article VIII) of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture voting separately, the Company and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of each such series affected thereby,

 

(i)            extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest thereon or any premium payable thereon, or extend the Stated Maturity of, or change the place of payment where, or the Currency in which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on such Security is denominated or payable, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02, change the priority in right of payment of any Security or, in the case of any subordinated Security, the definition of Senior Indebtedness applicable thereto, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or materially adversely affect the economic terms of any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01; or

 

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

 

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(iii)            modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 7.06 or Section 6.06, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 6.06, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 11.06 and 14.01(d).

 

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

 

(c)            It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 14.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

(d)            The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of the Holders of each series of Securities entitled to give a written consent or waive compliance by the Company as authorized or permitted by this Section. Such record date shall not be more than 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or waiver or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(e)            Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 14.02, the Company shall mail a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Holders of Securities at their addresses as the same shall then appear in the Register of the Company. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

Section 14.03      Trustee Protected. Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by Section 16.01 and stating that such modification, amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and the Notes, that it is not consistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company in accordance with its terms (provided, however, that such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof) and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of consent of the Holders if the supplemental indenture is to be executed pursuant to Section 14.02, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of said supplemental indenture unless said supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, protections, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into said supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

 

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Section 14.04      Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of all of the Securities or of the Securities of any series affected, as the case may be, shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 14.05      Notation on or Exchange of Securities. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in the form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for the Securities then Outstanding in equal aggregate principal amounts, and such exchange shall be made without cost to the Holders of the Securities.

 

Section 14.06      Conformity with TIA. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 15.01      Agreement to Subordinate. In the event a series of Securities is designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 3.01, and except as otherwise provided in a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, the Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities of such series by his, her or its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Securities of such series is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness. In the event a series of Securities is not designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 3.01(s), this Article XV shall have no effect upon the Securities.

 

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Section 15.02      Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities. Subject to Section 15.01, upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):

 

(a)            the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities; and

 

(b)            any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV shall be paid by the liquidation trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and

 

(c)            in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness or his, her or its representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instrument evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, as calculated by the Company, for application to payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

(d)            Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness (to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to such holder have been applied to the payment of Senior Indebtedness) to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 15.06, shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereof and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

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Section 15.03      No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness. Subject to Section 15.01, no payment by the Company on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds or interest, if any, on the Securities shall be made at any time if: (i) a default on Senior Indebtedness exists that permits the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to accelerate its maturity and (ii) the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or the Company has received notice of such default. The Company may resume payments on the Securities when full payment of amounts then due for principal (premium, if any), sinking funds and interest on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.03, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, but only to the extent that the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on such Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 15.04      Payments on Securities Permitted. Subject to Section 15.01, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall (a) affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in Sections 15.02 and 15.03, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities or (b) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys or assets deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any fact prohibiting the making of such payment from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee more than two Business Days prior to the date fixed for such payment; provided that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 15.04 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it during or after such two Business Day period.

 

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Section 15.05      Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination. Subject to Section 15.01, each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his, her or its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 15.06      Notices to Trustee. The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies or assets to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Subject to Section 15.01, notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any fact which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys or assets to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee) written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects conclusively to presume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys or assets may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys or assets the notice provided for in this Section 15.06, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys or assets and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

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Section 15.07      Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness. Subject to Section 15.01, the Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 7.05 or 11.01.

 

Section 15.08      Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness. Subject to Section 15.01, any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article XV or of the Securities relating to the subordination thereof.

 

Section 15.09      Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent. Subject to Section 15.01, upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

Section 15.10      Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. Subject to Section 15.01, amounts and U.S. Government Obligations deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Article XII and not, at the time of such deposit, prohibited to be deposited under Sections 15.02 or 15.03 shall not be subject to this Article XV.

 

Section 15.11      Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Company, or any other Person, moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise. Nothing in this Article XV shall affect the Company’s obligations to the Trustee under Section 11.01(a), (b) or (c) herein.

 

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ARTICLE XVI

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.01      Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.

 

(a)            Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

(b)            Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 6.05 of this Indenture) shall include (i) a statement that the Person giving such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the view or opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed view or opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the view or opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

(c)            Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion is based are erroneous. Any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

(d)            Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel to the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any firm of independent registered public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 16.02      Trust Indenture Act Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

 

Section 16.03      Notices to the Company and Trustee. Any notice or demand authorized by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the Company or the Trustee shall be sufficiently made, given, furnished or filed for all purposes if it shall be mailed, delivered to:

 

(a)            the Company, at 666 3rd Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017, Attention: Eric J. Bock, Chief Legal Officer, Global Head of M&A and Compliance & Corporate Secretary, email: eric.j.bock@amexgbt.com or at such other address or email or facsimile number as may have been furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

(b)           the Trustee, at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10286, Attention: Mary Miselis, Vice President, email: mary.miselis@bnymellon.com, with a copy sent to the addresses in the definition of “Corporate Trust Office” or at such other address or email address as may have been furnished in writing to the Company by Trustee.

 

Any such notice, demand or other document shall be in the English language.

 

Section 16.04      Notices to Securityholders; Waiver. Any notice required or permitted to be given to Securityholders shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided),

 

(a)            if to Holders, if given in writing by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such Holders at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Register of the Company; provided, that in the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder; or

 

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(b)            If a series of Securities has been issued in the form of one or more Global Securities through DTC as Depositary, notice may be provided with respect to such series of Securities by delivery of such notice to DTC for posting through its “Legal Notice Service” (LENS) or a successor system thereof.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance on such waiver. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail; neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given. In any case where notice to Holders is given by publication, any defect in any notice so published as to any particular Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is published in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given.

 

Section 16.05      Legal Holiday. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity of any Security of any series shall not be a Business Day at the location of the Corporate Trust Office or any Place of Payment for the Securities of that series, then payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day.

 

Section 16.06      Effects of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 16.07      Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the parties hereto shall bind their respective successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of their permitted successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 16.08      Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 16.09      Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any Person or corporation other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities any benefit or any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities.

 

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Section 16.10      Counterparts Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.  The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

 

Section 16.11      Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury. This Indenture and the Securities shall be deemed to be contracts made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 16.12      U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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Section 16.13      Electronic Means. The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Indenture and related documents and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Issuer and any other obligor, as applicable, shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Issuer and any other obligor, as applicable, whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer and any other obligor, as applicable, 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 and any obligor understand and agree 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 and any obligor shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Company, any obligor, 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 and any other obligor, as applicable. 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 and any obligor agree: (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 and any other obligor, as applicable; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.

 

Section 16.14.      OFAC Sanctions. The Company covenants and represents that (a) neither they nor any of their affiliates, subsidiaries, directors or officers are the target or subject of any sanctions enforced by the US Government, (including, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”)), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or HM Treasury (collectively “Sanctions”); and (b) neither they nor any of their affiliates, subsidiaries, directors or officers will use any payments made pursuant to this Indenture, (i) to fund or facilitate any prohibited 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 prohibited 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.

 

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

 

 

	GLOBAL BUSINESS TRAVEL GROUP, INC.,
	as Issuer
	By:
	Name:
	Title:
	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
	as Trustee
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

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 EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF nominee of depositary. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO nominee of depositary OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF depositary), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, nominee of depositary, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

 

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CUSIP No. _________

 

Global Business Travel Group, Inc.
__________NOTES DUE 20__

 

No. ___	$_________
	As revised by the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto

 

Interest. Global Business Travel Group, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to ___________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___ million dollars ($_________), as revised by the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto, on ________, 20__ and to pay interest thereon from _______, 20__ or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on _______ and _______ in each year, commencing _______, 20__ at the rate of ____% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.

 

Method of Payment. 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 this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest, which shall be _______ or _______, as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice thereof having been given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office in U.S. Dollars.

 

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

 

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

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

 

Dated: _______, 20__

 

	GLOBAL BUSINESS TRAVEL GROUP, INC.
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

Date of authentication:			THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
			as Trustee
			By:
				Authorized Signatory

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

 

Indenture. This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of __________, 20__, [as supplemented by a ___ Supplemental Indenture dated _______, 20__] (as so supplemented, herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company and [Trustee], as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto 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 Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $_________.

 

Optional Redemption. The Securities of this series are subject to redemption at the Company’s option, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, at a Redemption Price equal to __________.

 

For purposes of determining the optional redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:

 

__________

 

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each registered Holder of the Securities to be redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions of the Securities called for redemption. If fewer than all of the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select, not more than __ days prior to the Redemption Date, the particular Securities or portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding Securities not previously called by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate. Any redemption of the Securities may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent.

 

Except as set forth above, the Securities will not be redeemable by the Company prior to maturity [and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund].

 

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

 

Amendment, Modification and Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

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Restrictive Covenants. The Indenture does not limit unsecured debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Denominations, Transfer and Exchange. The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the Registrar accompanied by a written request for transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

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.

 

Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Miscellaneous. The Indenture and this Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of said State.

 

All terms used in this Security and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

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SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

 

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of
Exchange Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of
this Global Security Amount of decrease
in Principal Amount
of this Global
Security Principal Amount of
this Global Security
following each
decrease or increase Signature of
authorized signatory
of Trustee

 

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EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom llp

	One Manhattan West New York, NY 10001 ________ TEL: (212) 735-3000 FAX: (212) 735-2000 www.skadden.com                                 June 1, 2023	FIRM/AFFILIATE OFFICES
		-----------
		BOSTON
		CHICAGO
		HOUSTON
		LOS ANGELES
		PALO ALTO
		WASHINGTON, D.C.
		WILMINGTON
		-----------
		BEIJING
		BRUSSELS
		FRANKFURT
		HONG KONG
		LONDON
		MUNICH
		PARIS
		SÃO PAULO
Global Business Travel Group, Inc.		SEOUL
666 3rd Avenue, 4th Floor		SHANGHAI
New York, NY 10017		SINGAPORE
		TOKYO
		TORONTO

Re:          Global Business Travel Group, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special United States counsel to Global Business Travel Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed on the date hereof by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), of (i) shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Class A Common Stock”), (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company (“Preferred Stock”), which may be issued in one or more series, (iii) depositary receipts (the “Receipts”) representing fractional shares of Preferred Stock, which are called depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”) and which may be issued pursuant to one or more depositary agreements (each, a “Depositary Agreement”) proposed to be entered into between the Company and one or more bank or trust companies to be named in the applicable Depositary Agreement (each, a “Bank Depositary”), (iv) debt securities of the Company (“Debt Securities”), which may be issued in one or more series under an indenture (the “Indenture”) proposed to be entered into by the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (v) warrants to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (“Warrants”), which may be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) proposed to be entered into by the Company and one or more warrant agents to be named therein, (vi) subscription rights to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (“Subscription Rights”), which may be issued under one or more subscription rights certificates (each, a “Subscription Rights Certificate”) and/or pursuant to one or more subscription rights agreements (each, a “Subscription Rights Agreement”) proposed to be entered into by the Company and one or more subscription agents to be named therein, (vii) purchase contracts (“Purchase Contracts”) obligating the holders thereof to purchase from the Company, and the Company to sell to such holders, shares of Class A Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock or Debt Securities at a future date or dates, which may be issued pursuant to one or more purchase contract agreements (each, a “Purchase Contract Agreement”) proposed to be entered into by the Company and one or more purchase contract agents to be named therein, (viii) purchase units of the Company (“Purchase Units”), each consisting of a Purchase Contract and Debt Securities, preferred securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, or any combination of the foregoing, securing the holder’s obligation to purchase Class A Common Stock or the Company’s other securities, which may be issued pursuant to one or more agreements (each, a “Purchase Unit Agreement”) proposed to be entered into by the Company and one or more purchase unit agents to be named therein, and (ix) such indeterminate number of shares of Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares and indeterminate amount of Debt Securities as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise, as applicable, of any Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants or Subscription Rights or settlement of any Purchase Contracts or Purchase Units, including such shares of Class A Common Stock or Preferred Stock as may be issued pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments determined at the time of offering (collectively, “Indeterminate Securities”). The Registration Statement also relates to the sale from time to time of up to 3,775,304 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Secondary Shares”) to be sold by Expedia Group, Inc. and APSG Sponsor, L.P. (together and including their transferees as set forth in the Registration Statement, the “Selling Stockholders”). The Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights, Purchase Contracts, Purchase Units, Indeterminate Securities and Secondary Shares offered pursuant to the Registration Statement are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”

Global Business Travel Group, Inc.

June 1, 2023

Page 2

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:

(a)            the Registration Statement;

(b)            the form of Indenture filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;

(c)            an executed copy of a certificate of Eric J. Bock, Chief Legal Officer, Global Head of M&A and Compliance and Corporate Secretary of the Company, dated the date hereof (the “Secretary’s Certificate”);

(d)            a copy of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of June 1, 2023, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate (the “Certificate of Incorporation”);

Global Business Travel Group, Inc. 

June 1, 2023 

Page 3

(e)            a copy of the Company’s bylaws in effect as of the date hereof and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate (the “Bylaws”);

(f)             a copy of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, adopted on May 17, 2023, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(g)            a copy of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, adopted on September 7, 2022, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate (the “Warrant Exchange Resolutions”); and

(h)            a copy of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, adopted on April 11, 2023, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate (the “Traveldoo Resolutions”).

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including electronic signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photocopied copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Selling Stockholders and others and of public officials, including those in the Secretary’s Certificate.

We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the laws of the State of New York, and (ii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined-on Law”). The Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.

As used herein, “Transaction Documents” means the Depositary Agreements, the Indenture and any supplemental indentures and officer’s certificates establishing the terms of the Debt Securities pursuant thereto, the Warrant Agreements, the Subscription Rights Agreements, the Purchase Contract Agreements, the Purchase Unit Agreements and any applicable underwriting or purchase agreement.

Global Business Travel Group, Inc. 

June 1, 2023 

Page 4

The opinions stated in paragraphs 1 through 9 below presume that all of the following (collectively, the “general conditions”) shall have occurred prior to the issuance of the Securities referred to therein: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to such Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations; (iii) the applicable Transaction Documents shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, including, if such Securities are to be sold or otherwise distributed pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement or purchase agreement with respect thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any duly authorized committee thereof, shall have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and sale of such Securities and related matters and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all related action as directed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Company; and (v) the terms of the applicable Transaction Documents and the issuance and sale of such Securities have been duly established in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.

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

1.            With respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock offered by the Company, including any Indeterminate Securities constituting Class A Common Stock (the “Offered Class A Common Stock”), when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) if the Offered Class A Common Stock is to be certificated, certificates in the form required under the DGCL representing the shares of Offered Class A Common Stock are duly executed and countersigned and (c) the shares of Offered Class A Common Stock are registered in the Company’s share registry and delivered upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the shares of Offered Class A Common Stock, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Document, will be duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company under the DGCL and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.0001 per share of Class A Common Stock.

2.            The Secondary Shares being sold by the Selling Stockholders have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company under the DGCL and have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

Global Business Travel Group, Inc. 

June 1, 2023 

Page 5

3.            With respect to the shares of any series of Preferred Stock offered by the Company, including any Indeterminate Securities constituting Preferred Stock of such series (the “Offered Preferred Stock”), when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) the Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, has duly adopted a Certificate of Designations for the Offered Preferred Stock in accordance with the DGCL (the “Certificate”), (c) the filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware has duly occurred, (d) if the Offered Preferred Stock is to be certificated, certificates in the form required under the DGCL representing the shares of Offered Preferred Stock are duly executed and countersigned and (e) the shares of Offered Preferred Stock are registered in the Company’s share registry and delivered upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the shares of Offered Preferred Stock, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Document, will be duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company under the DGCL and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.00001 per share of Preferred Stock.

4.            With respect to any Depositary Shares offered by the Company, including any Indeterminate Securities constituting Depositary Shares (the “Offered Depositary Shares”), when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) the Preferred Stock relating to such Offered Depositary Shares has been duly authorized for issuance by the Company; (c) the Offered Depositary Shares have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Depositary Agreement, and the Offered Depositary Shares have been delivered to the Bank Depositary for deposit in accordance with the applicable Depositary Agreement; and (d) the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares have been duly issued against deposit of the related shares of Preferred Stock with the Bank Depositary in accordance with the applicable Depositary Agreement, such Depositary Agreement will constitute a legally valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

5.            With respect to any series of Debt Securities offered by the Company, including any Indeterminate Securities constituting Debt Securities of such series (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, (c) the issuance, sale and terms of the Offered Debt Securities and related matters have been approved and established in conformity with the applicable Transaction Documents and (d) the certificates evidencing the Offered Debt Securities have been issued in a form that complies with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Documents and have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and any other applicable Transaction Documents and issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Document upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

Global Business Travel Group, Inc. 

June 1, 2023 

Page 6

6.            With respect to any Warrants offered by the Company (the “Offered Warrants”), when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) the Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities for which the Offered Warrants are exercisable have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company and (c) certificates evidencing the Offered Warrants have been duly executed, delivered and countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement, the Offered Warrants, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Document upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

7.            With respect to any Subscription Rights offered by the Company (the “Offered Subscription Rights”), when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) the Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities relating to such Offered Subscription Rights have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company and (c) the Subscription Rights Certificates have been duly executed, delivered and countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Subscription Rights Agreement, the Offered Subscription Rights, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Document upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

8.            With respect to any Purchase Contracts offered by the Company (the “Offered Purchase Contracts”), when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) the Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities relating to such Offered Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized for issuance or sale, as applicable, by the Company and (c) the Offered Purchase Contracts have been duly executed, delivered and countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement, the Offered Purchase Contracts, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Document upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

9.            With respect to any Purchase Units offered by the Company (the “Offered Purchase Units”), when (a) the general conditions shall have been satisfied, (b) a Purchase Contract and Debt Securities, preferred securities or debt obligations of third-parties, including U.S. treasury securities, or any combination of the foregoing, securing the holder’s obligation to purchase the Company’s Common Stock or other securities under the Purchase Contracts included in such Offered Purchase Units have been duly authorized for issuance or sale, as applicable, by the Company and (c) certificates evidencing the Offered Purchase Units have been duly executed, delivered and countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Purchase Unit Agreement, the Offered Purchase Units, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Transaction Document upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.

Global Business Travel Group, Inc. 

June 1, 2023 

Page 7

The opinions stated herein are subject to the following qualifications:

(a)            we do not express any opinion with respect to the effect on the opinions stated herein of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, preference and other similar laws or governmental orders affecting creditors’ rights generally, and the opinions stated herein are limited by such laws and orders and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);

(b)            we do not express any opinion with respect to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to any party to any of the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any such party or any of its affiliates as a result of the specific assets or business operations of such party or such affiliates;

(c)            except to the extent expressly stated in the opinions contained herein, we have assumed that each of the Transaction Documents constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each party to such Transaction Document, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms;

(d)            we do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of any provision contained in any Transaction Document relating to any indemnification, contribution, non-reliance, exculpation, release, limitation or exclusion of remedies, waiver or other provisions having similar effect that may be contrary to public policy or violative of federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations, or to the extent any such provision purports to, or has the effect of, waiving or altering any statute of limitations;

(e)            we do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of any provision of any Transaction Document to the extent that such section purports to bind the Company to the exclusive jurisdiction of any particular federal court or courts;

(f)             we call to your attention that irrespective of the agreement of the parties to any Transaction Document, a court may decline to hear a case on grounds of forum non conveniens or other doctrine limiting the availability of such court as a forum for resolution of disputes; in addition, we call to your attention that we do not express any opinion with respect to the subject matter jurisdiction of the federal courts of the United States of America in any action arising out of or relating to any Transaction Document;

(g)            we have assumed that any agent of service will have accepted appointment as agent to receive service of process and call to your attention that we do not express any opinion if and to the extent such agent shall resign such appointment. Further, we do not express any opinion with respect to the irrevocability of the designation of such agent to receive service of process;

Global Business Travel Group, Inc. 

June 1, 2023 

Page 8

(h)           we have assumed that the choice of New York law to govern the Indenture and any supplemental indenture thereto is a valid and legal provision;

(i)             we have assumed that the laws of the State of New York will be chosen to govern any Depositary Agreements, Warrant Agreements, Subscription Rights Agreements, Purchase Contract Agreements and Purchase Unit Agreements and that such choice is and will be a valid and legal provision;

(j)             we have assumed that the issuance of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock does not and the issuance of the Secondary Shares did not violate or conflict with any agreement or instrument binding on the Company (except that we do not make this assumption with respect to the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws);

(k)            we have assumed that the Indenture will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the trustee in substantially the form reviewed by us; and

(l)             to the extent that any opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions contained in any Transaction Document, the opinions stated herein are subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be subject to, in each case, (i) the exceptions and limitations in New York General Obligations Law sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 and (ii) principles of comity and constitutionality.

In addition, in rendering the foregoing opinions we have assumed that:

(a)            neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party nor the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, including the issuance and sale of the applicable Securities: (i) conflicts or will conflict with the Amended and Restated Certificate or the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, (ii) constitutes or will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any lease, indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Company or its property is subject, (iii) contravenes or will contravene any order or decree of any governmental authority to which the Company or its property is subject, or (iv) violates or will violate any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or its property is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (iv) with respect to the Opined-on Law);

(b)            neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents to which the Company nor the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, including the issuance and sale of the applicable Securities, requires or will require the consent, approval, licensing or authorization of, or any filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority under any law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction; and

Global Business Travel Group, Inc. 

June 1, 2023 

Page 9

(c)            with respect to our opinion set forth in paragraph 2 above, (i) the Company received in full the consideration for the Secondary Shares set forth in the Warrant Exchange Resolutions and Traveldoo Resolutions approving the issuance of all such Secondary Shares and (ii) the Secondary Shares have been registered in the Company's share registry.

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

GAF

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

	KPMG LLP 345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154-0102

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the use of our report dated March 21, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Global Business Travel Group, Inc., incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

/s/ KPMG LLP

New York, New York

June 1, 2023

KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee.

EX-25.1

Exhibit 25.1

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

¨ CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

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

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

California	95-3571558
(State of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
400 South Hope Street, Suite 500 Los Angeles, California	90071
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Global Business Travel Group, Inc.

(Exact name of obligors as specified in their charters)

Delaware	98-0598290
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
666 3rd Avenue, 4th Floor New York, New York	10017
(Address of registrants’ principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Debt securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

1. General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United Stated Department of the Treasury	Washington, D.C. 20219
Federal Reserve Bank of New York	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, D.C. 20429

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2. Affiliations with Obligor and Guarantor.

If the obligor or guarantor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

3-15. Pursuant to General Instruction B of the Form T-1, no responses are included for Items 3-15 of this Form T-1 because, to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor or the guarantor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee and the Trustee is not a foreign trustee as provided under Item 15 .

16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.             A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.             A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.             A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).).

4.             A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.             The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.             A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on June [•], 2023.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Ann M. Dolezal
	Name:	Ann M. Dolezal
	Title:	Vice President

EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

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

of 333 South Hope Street, Suite 2525, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business March 31, 2023, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

	Dollar amounts
	in thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from
depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin		2,821
Interest-bearing balances		524,227
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities		0
Available-for-sale debt securities		1,038
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading		0
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold in domestic offices		0
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale		0
Loans and leases, held for investment		0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses		0
Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance		0
Trading assets		0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)		14,362
Other real estate owned		0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies		0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures		0
Intangible assets		856,313
Other assets		116,025
Total assets	$	1,514,786
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices		1,079
Noninterest-bearing		1,079
Interest-bearing		0

4

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased in domestic offices	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	286,970
Total liabilities	288,049
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	325,877
Not available
Retained earnings	899,862
Accumulated other comprehensive income	-2
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,226,737
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,226,737
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,514,786

I, Matthew J. McNulty, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Matthew J. McNulty ) CFO

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Antonio I. Portuondo, President	)
Loretta A. Lundberg, Managing Director	)	Directors (Trustees)
Jon M. Pocchia, Managing Director	)

5

EX-FILING FEES

EX-FILING FEES

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form S-3

(Form Type)

Global Business Travel Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

	Security Type	Security Class Title	Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule	Amount Registered	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit	Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Fee Rate	Amount of Registration Fee	Carry Forward Form Type	Carry Forward File Number	Carry Forward Initial Effective Date	Filing Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward
Newly Registered Securities
Primary Offering of Securities
Fees to be Paid	Equity	Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Equity	Preferred Stock	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Equity	Depositary Shares	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Other	Warrants	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Debt	Debt Securities	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Other	Subscription Rights	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Other	Purchase Contracts	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Other	Purchase Units	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Unallocated (Universal) Shelf	Unallocated (Universal) Shelf	457(o)	—(1)	—(2)	$300,000,000	$0.00011020	$33,060.00
Secondary Offering of Securities
Fees to be Paid	Equity	Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	457(c)	3,775,304(3)	$6.92(4)	$26,125,103.70(4)	$0.00011020	$2,878.99
Fees Previously Paid
Carry Forward Securities
Carry Forward Securities
	Total Offering Amounts					$326,125,103.70		$35,938.99
	Total Fees Previously Paid							—
	Total Fee Offsets							$35,938.99(5)
	Net Fee Due							$0.00

Table 2: Fee Offset Claims and Sources 

	Registrant or Filer Name	Form or Filing Type	File Number	Initial Filing Date	Filing Date	Fee Offset Claimed	Security Type Associated with Fee Offset Claimed	Security Title Associated with Fee Offset Claimed	Unsold Securities Associated with Fee Offset Claimed	Unsold Aggregate Offering Amount Associated with Fee Offset Claimed	Fee Paid with Fee Offset Source
Rule 457(p)
Fee Offset Claims	Global Business Travel Group, Inc.	Form S-1	333-265748	6/21/2022		$35,938.99(5)	Equity	Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	409,448,481	$2,857,950,397.38
Fee Offset Sources	Global Business Travel Group, Inc.	Form S-1	333-265748		6/21/2022						$35,938.99(5)

(1) The amount to be registered consists of up to $300,000,000 aggregate offering price of an indeterminate amount of Class A Common Stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts and/or purchase units of the registrant. There is also being registered hereunder such currently indeterminate number of (i) shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities of the registrant as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise, as applicable, of any preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants or subscription rights or settlement of any purchase contracts or purchase unit, or (ii) shares of Class A Common Stock, preferred stock or debt securities as may be issued upon exercise of warrants registered hereby, as the case may be, including under any applicable antidilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or pursuant to anti-dilution provisions of any of the securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities.

(2) The proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

(3) Shares of Class A Common Stock registered for pursuant to this registration statement are shares which are to be offered by the selling stockholders named herein. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization involving the common stock, the number of shares registered shall automatically be adjusted to cover the additional shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act.

(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act. The offering price per share and aggregate offering price are based upon the average of the high and low prices per share of the registrant’s common stock, as reported on the NYSE, on May 25, 2023, a date within five business days prior to the filing of this registration statement.

(5) On June 21, 2022, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-265748), as amended, which was subsequently declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 5, 2022 (the “Prior Registration Statement”). The Prior Registration Statement registered 409,448,481 shares of Class A Common Stock of the registrant in a primary offering (the “Primary Offering”) with an aggregate offering price not to exceed $2,857,950,397.38. In connection with the Primary Offering, the Company paid a filing fee of $264,932.00. On July 11, 2022, the Company received comments from the staff of the SEC, pursuant to which the Company revised the Prior Registration Statement and the related registration fee table to remove the Primary Offering, thereby terminating the Primary Offering. As a result, $264,932.00 (the “Unused Fees”) in previously paid fees remain available for future offset (calculated at the fee rate in effect on the filing date of the Prior Registration Statement). In accordance with Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the registrant hereby applies $35,938.99 of the Unused Fees to offset the filing fee payable in connection with this filing.