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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 25, 2024

 

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

001-40495

37-1892154

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

3344 Peachtree Road Northeast, Suite 1725, Atlanta, Georgia 30326

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

 

(404) 953-4900
(
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

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

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

 ¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
 ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
 ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
 ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading
Symbol(s)
  Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share   AOMR   New York Stock Exchange

 

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

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in Item 2.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

Item 2.03Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

On July 25, 2024, Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) closed an underwritten public offering and sale of $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”).

 

The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantee”) by Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP (the “Guarantor”). The terms of the Notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), by and among the Issuer, the Guarantor and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee. Copies of the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, and the form of Notes and the Guarantee, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference, are attached as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The Notes bear interest at a rate of 9.500% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on October 30, 2024. The Notes will mature on July 30, 2029, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased by the Company.

 

The Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at the Company’s option on or after July 30, 2026, upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice to holders prior to the redemption date, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, as described in greater detail in the Indenture.

 

The Notes rank equal in right of payment to any of the Company’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness; effectively subordinated in right of payment to any of the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) and (to the extent not held by the Company) preferred stock, if any, of its subsidiaries other than the Guarantor and of any entity the Company accounts for using the equity method of accounting.

 

Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined in the Indenture), the Company must make an offer to repurchase all outstanding Notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

 

The occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) may, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, lead to the principal amount of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately.

 

 

 

 

The Notes have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AOMN” and trading of the Notes is expected to commence thereon within 30 days after the date hereof.

 

The descriptions of the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes in this Current Report on Form 8-K are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by the terms of the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, respectively.

 

The Notes and the Guarantee were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-3 (Registration Nos. 333-280531 and 333-280531-01), a base prospectus, dated July 9, 2024, and a prospectus supplement, dated July 18, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.     Description  
     
Exhibit 4.1   Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024, among Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., as issuer, Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee
     
Exhibit 4.2   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024, among Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., as issuer, Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee
     
Exhibit 4.3   Form of 9.500% Senior Notes due 2029 (including the notation of guarantee)
     
Exhibit 5.1   Opinion of Venable LLP
     
Exhibit 5.2   Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP
     
Exhibit 23.1   Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
     
Exhibit 23.2   Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)
     
Exhibit 104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated:  July 25, 2024 ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Brandon Filson
  Name: Brandon Filson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 25, 2024

 

 

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page
 
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
Section 1.1 Definitions 1
Section 1.2 Other Definitions 4
Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act 4
Section 1.4 Rules of Construction 4
     
ARTICLE II. THE SECURITIES 5
Section 2.1 Issuable in Series 5
Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities 5
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication 7
Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent 8
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 8
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists 9
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange 9
Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 9
Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities 10
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities 10
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities 10
Section 2.12 Cancellation 11
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest 11
Section 2.14 Global Securities 11
Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers 12
     
ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION 12
Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee 12
Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed 13
Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption 13
Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption 13
Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price 14
Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part 14
     
ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS 14
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest 14
Section 4.2 SEC Reports 14
Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate 14
Section 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 15
     
ARTICLE V. SUCCESSORS 15
Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc. 15
Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted 15
Section 5.3 Guarantor May Consolidate on Certain Terms 16
Section 5.4 Guarantor Successor to Be Substituted 16
     
ARTICLE VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 16
Section 6.1 Events of Default 16
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 17
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 18
Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 18
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 19
Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected 19
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits 19
Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest 20

 

 

 

 

Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies 20
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative 20
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver 20
Section 6.12 Control by Holders 20
Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults 21
Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs 21
     
ARTICLE VII. TRUSTEE 21  
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee 21
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee 22
Section 7.3 Individual Rights of Trustee 23
Section 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer 23
Section 7.5 Notice of Defaults 24
Section 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders 24
Section 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity 24
Section 7.8 Replacement of Trustee 25
Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. 25
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification 25
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 26
     
ARTICLE VIII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE 26
Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 26
Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification 27
Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series 27
Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance 28
Section 8.5 Repayment to Company 29
Section 8.6 Reinstatement 29
     
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS 29
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders 29
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders 30
Section 9.3 Limitations 31
Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act 31
Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents 31
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities 32
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected 32
     
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS 32
Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls 32
Section 10.2 Notices 32
Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders 33
Section 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 33
Section 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 33
Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents 34
Section 10.7 Legal Holidays 34
Section 10.8 No Recourse Against Others 34
Section 10.9 Counterparts 34
Section 10.10 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction 34
Section 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 35
Section 10.12 Successors 35
Section 10.13 Severability 35
Section 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 35
Section 10.15 Securities in a Foreign Currency 35
Section 10.16 Judgment Currency 36
Section 10.17 USA Patriot Act 36
Section 10.18 Force Majeure 36

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI. SINKING FUNDS 37
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article 37
Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 37
Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 37
     
ARTICLE XII. GUARANTEE 38
Section 12.1 Unconditional Guarantee 38
Section 12.2 Execution and Delivery of Notation of Guarantee 39
Section 12.3 Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability 39
Section 12.4 Release of Guarantors from Guarantee 39

 

EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit A Form of Notation of Guarantee  

 

 

 

 

 

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024

 

§ 310(a)(1)   7.10
(a)(2)   7.10
(a)(3)   Not Applicable
(a)(4)   Not Applicable
(a)(5)   7.10
(b)   7.10
§ 311(a)   7.11
(b)   7.11
§ 312(a)   2.6
(b)   10.3
(c)   10.3
§ 313(a)   7.6
(b)(1)   7.6
(b)(2)   7.6
(c)(1)   7.6
(c)(2)   7.6
(c)(3)   7.6
(d)   7.6
§ 314(a)   4.2, 10.5
(b)   Not Applicable
(c)(1)   10.4
(c)(2)   10.4
(c)(3)   Not Applicable
(d)   Not Applicable
(e)   10.5
(f)   Not Applicable
§ 315(a)   7.1
(b)   7.5
(c)   7.1
(d)   7.1
(e)   6.14
§ 316(a)   2.10
(a)(1)(A)   6.12
(a)(1)(B)   6.13
(b)   6.8
(c)   9.5
§ 317(a)(1)   6.3
(a)(2)   6.4
(b)   2.5
§ 318(a)   10.1

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024, among Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.1            Definitions.

 

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.

 

“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

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

 

“Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday, a day on which banking institutions in the state in which the Corporate Trust Office is located or a legal holiday in The City of New York (or in connection with any payment, the place of payment) on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

“Capital Stock” means: (a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such person; and (c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited).

 

“Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.

 

“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be principally administered, which office at the date of the Indenture is located at the address set forth in Section 10.2, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company.

 

 1 

 

 

“CUSIP” means the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures and will be used pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

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

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of the United States of America, including the Euro.

 

“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of determination.

 

“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

 

“Guarantor” means each person that executes this Indenture as a guarantor and its respective successors and assigns, in each case until the Guarantee of such person has been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided, however, that such person shall be a Guarantor only with respect to a Series of Securities for which such person has executed a Notation of Guarantee with respect to such Series.

 

“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.

 

“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented, from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

 

“interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

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

 

 2 

 

 

“Notation of Guarantee” means a notation, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, executed by a Guarantor and affixed to each Security of any Series to which the Guarantee of such Guarantor under Article XII of this Indenture applies.

 

“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and any Vice President of the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two Officers, which complies with Section 10.4.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company. The opinion may contain customary limitations, conditions and exceptions.

 

“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. “principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.

 

“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having responsibility for administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, provided, however that, if at any time there is more than one person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities,” with respect to any such person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any Series as to which such person is not Trustee.

 

“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.

 

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.

 

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

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged and which 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 evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

 3 

 

 

Section 1.2            Other Definitions.

 

TERM  DEFINED
IN
SECTION
“Bankruptcy Law”  6.1
“Custodian”  6.1
“Guarantee”  12.1(b)
“Event of Default”  6.1
“Judgment Currency”  10.16
“Legal Holiday”  10.7
“mandatory sinking fund payment”  11.1
“New York Banking Day”  10.16
“Notice Agent”  2.4
“optional sinking fund payment”  11.1
“Paying Agent”  2.4
“Registrar”  2.4
“Required Currency”  10.16
“successor person”  5.1
“USA Patriot Act”  10.17

 

Section 1.3            Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

“Commission” means the SEC.

 

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

 

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

 

Section 1.4            Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and

 

(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.

 

 4 

 

 

ARTICLE II.
THE SECURITIES

 

Section 2.1            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. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

Section 2.2            Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.

 

At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.30) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate:

 

2.2.1 the title (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series) and ranking (including the terms of any subordination provisions) of the Series;

 

2.2.2 the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;

 

2.2.3 any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6) and whether additional Securities of that Series may be issued without the consent of Holders of outstanding Securities of that Series or any other Series; provided, that in the event that additional Securities of such Series may be so issued, the terms thereof shall indicate whether any such additional Securities shall have the same terms as the prior Securities of such Series or whether the Issuer may establish additional or different terms with respect to such additional Securities;

 

2.2.4 the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

 

2.2.5 the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable, any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

2.2.6 the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the 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 of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

 

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2.2.7 if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

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

 

2.2.9 the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;

 

2.2.10 if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;

 

2.2.11 the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;

 

2.2.12 if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;

 

2.2.13 the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

 

2.2.14 the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;

 

2.2.15 if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;

 

2.2.16 the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

 

2.2.17 the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series or the Guarantees;

 

2.2.18 any addition to, deletion of 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 6.2;

 

2.2.19 any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants and terms set forth in Articles IV, V or IX which applies to Securities of the Series;

 

2.2.20 any Depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;

 

2.2.21 the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of such Series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price, the conversion or exchange period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at the option of the Holders thereof or at the option of the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange if such Series of Securities are redeemed;

 

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2.2.22 any other terms of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series), including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that Series;

 

2.2.23 whether the Securities of such Series are entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of any Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture, whether any such Guarantee shall be made on a senior or subordinated basis and, if applicable, a description of the subordination terms of any such Guarantee;

 

2.2.24 if a person other than U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association is to act as Trustee for the Securities of that Series, the name and location of the designated corporate trust office of such Trustee;

 

2.2.25 the securities exchanges, if any, on which the Securities of the Series may be listed;

 

2.2.26 if the Securities of that Series do not bear interest, the applicable dates for purposes of Section 2.6;

 

2.2.27 if Securities of the Series are to be issuable initially in the form of a temporary Global Security, the circumstances under which the temporary Global Security can be exchanged for definitive Securities;

 

2.2.28 whether Securities of that Series are to be issuable in bearer form and any additions or changes to any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

 

2.2.29 the applicability, if any, of Sections 8.3 and/or 8.4 to the Securities of the Series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article VIII; and

 

2.2.30 any change in the right of the Trustee or the right of the requisite Holders of Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable.

 

All Securities of any particular Series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and the date from which interest, if any, shall accrue, and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolutions and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate relating thereto or provided in or pursuant to any supplemental indenture hereto. All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above.

 

Section 2.3            Execution and Authentication.

 

Any Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual, facsimile or other electronic (including .pdf) signature (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com).

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

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The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.

 

Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Section 2.4            Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered (“Notice Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands; provided, that the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall not be a place of service of legal process on the Company.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional notice agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional notice agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Notice Agent” includes any additional notice agent. The Company or any of its Affiliates may serve as Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.

 

Section 2.5            Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.

 

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Section 2.6            Securityholder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.

 

Section 2.7            Transfer and Exchange.

 

Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Section 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).

 

Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days immediately preceding the sending of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is sent, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.

 

Section 2.8            Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

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

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity bond as may be required by each of them to hold itself and any of its agents harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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

 

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

 

Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security 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.

 

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 2.9            Outstanding Securities.

 

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding, including those paid in accordance with the third-to-last paragraph of Section 2.8.

 

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof reasonably satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date as provided in this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

 

The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security (but see Section 2.10).

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes 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 6.2.

 

Section 2.10          Treasury Securities.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.11          Temporary Securities.

 

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.

 

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Any temporary Global Security and any permanent Global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the Depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.2 or shall be held by the Custodian on behalf of such Depositary.

 

Section 2.12          Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Securities in accordance with its then customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act and the Trustee) and deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Company upon written request of the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.13          Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least ten days before the special record date, the Company shall send to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.

 

Section 2.14          Global Securities.

 

2.14.1 Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

 

2.14.2 Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (a) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.

 

Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.

 

2.14.3 Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“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. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, 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 A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

 

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In addition, so long as The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) is the Depositary, each Global Security registered in the name of DTC or its nominee shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

2.14.4 Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

 

2.14.5 Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.

 

2.14.6 Consents, Declaration and Directions. The Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall be entitled to conclusively treat a person as the absolute owner of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary or by the applicable procedures of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Section 2.15          CUSIP Numbers.

 

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

 

ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.1            Notice to Trustee.

 

The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of the Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 15 days before the redemption date (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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Section 3.2            Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, including by lot or other method, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements (as certified by the Company to the Trustee), subject, in the case of Global Securities, to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 thereof or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and the authorized integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.

 

Section 3.3            Notice of Redemption.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall send or cause to be sent by first class mail or electronically, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed, with a copy to the Trustee.

 

The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a) the redemption date;

 

(b) the redemption price;

 

(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(d) if any Securities are being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date and upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Security shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Security;

 

(e) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(f) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(g) the CUSIP number, if any; and

 

(h) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.

 

At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense, provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least five days (unless a shorter time shall be acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the notice date, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice in the form of such notice.

 

Section 3.4            Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is sent as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Except as otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate for a Series, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest, if any, to the redemption date.

 

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Section 3.5            Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 3.6            Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same Maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

 

ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1            Payment of Principal and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it shall duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid when due the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of each Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 4.2            SEC Reports.

 

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. The Company shall also comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a). 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 4.2, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed via EDGAR.

 

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.2 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

Section 4.3            Compliance Certificate.

 

The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall, so long as any Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a certificate of the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer thereof stating that a review of the activities of any Guarantor, the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing officer with a view to determining whether the Company and any Guarantor has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such officer signing such certificate, that to the best of such officer’s knowledge the Company and any Guarantor has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which such officer may have knowledge and the nature and status thereof).

 

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The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, promptly upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.4            Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

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

 

ARTICLE V.
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.1            When Company May Merge, Etc.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:

 

(a) the Company is the surviving entity or the successor person (if other than the Company) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture; and

 

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

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

 

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

 

Section 5.2            Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

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Section 5.3            Guarantor May Consolidate on Certain Terms.

 

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of any Guarantor with or into any other person or persons (whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor), or successive consolidations or mergers in which either such Guarantor will be the continuing entity or such Guarantor or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the property of any Guarantor, to any other person (whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor); provided, however, that the following conditions are met:

 

(a) such Guarantor shall be the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than such Guarantor) formed by or resulting from any consolidation or merger or which shall have received the transfer of assets shall expressly assume the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions in this Indenture; and

 

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

 

Such Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of any Guarantor (including any such Subsidiary that is a Guarantor) may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to such Guarantor. Neither an Officers’ Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.

 

Section 5.4            Guarantor Successor to Be Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger or any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of any Guarantor to any person in accordance with Section 5.3, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into which such Guarantor is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person had been named as a Guarantor herein, and thereafter, the predecessor Guarantor shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture; provided, however, that such predecessor Guarantor shall not be relieved from the obligation, if any, to guarantee the payment of the principal of and interest on the Securities except in the case of a consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of the property of such Guarantor that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.3 hereof.

 

ARTICLE VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.1            Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

 

(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the 30th day of such period); or

 

(b) default in the payment of principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or

 

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(c) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in the Securities of that Series or this Indenture (other than defaults pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above or pursuant to a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(d) the Company or any Guarantor pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i) commences a voluntary case,

 

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

 

(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or

 

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

 

(i) is for relief against the Company or any Guarantor in an involuntary case,

 

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company, any Guarantor or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Guarantor, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

 

(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.18.

 

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Section 6.2            Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)), then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series 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 declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration, if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.

 

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

 

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Section 6.3            Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

 

(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,

 

then, the Company and the Guarantors shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If the Company or the Guarantors fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

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

 

Section 6.4            Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

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

 

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal or, if the Securities of such Series are Discount Securities, such amounts as may be due and payable with respect to such Securities pursuant to an acceleration in accordance with Section 6.2, and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

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

 

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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that such payments shall be made directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.

 

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

 

Section 6.5            Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 6.6            Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First:       To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and

 

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

 

Third:      To the Company or the Guarantors, as applicable.

 

Section 6.7            Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

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

 

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

 

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, claims, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Trustee in compliance with such request;

 

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

 

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(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series;

 

it being understood, intended and expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Security with every other Holder and the Trustee that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders of the applicable Series (it being expressly understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether such action is prejudicial).

 

Section 6.8            Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Maturity of such Security, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.9            Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

Section 6.10          Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 6.11          Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

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

 

Section 6.12          Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that

 

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

 

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

 

(c) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability, the direction is in conflict with any law or this Indenture, or the direction would be unduly prejudicial to the Holders of such Series not joining therein provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction (it being expressly understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether such action is prejudicial), and

 

(d) prior to taking any action as directed under this Section 6.12, the Trustee shall receive indemnity or security satisfactory to it against the costs, claims, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

Section 6.13          Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series, by written notice to the Trustee and the Company, waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.14          Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Maturity of such Security, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).

 

ARTICLE VII.
TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.1            Duties of Trustee.

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.

 

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(ii) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the form requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.

 

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

 

(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series in accordance with Section 6.12.

 

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, claims, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power.

 

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if adequate indemnity against such risk is not assured to the Trustee to its satisfaction.

 

(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections and immunities as are set forth in paragraphs (e), (f) and (g)  of this Section, each with respect to the Trustee.

 

Section 7.2            Rights of Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

 

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.

 

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(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

 

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder without willful misconduct or negligence, and in reliance thereon.

 

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered, and, if requested, provided to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, claims, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(g) 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 make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

 

(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.

 

(i) Any permissive right or authority granted to the Trustee shall not be construed as a mandatory duty.

 

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

 

(k) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action arising in connection with the Indenture.

 

(l) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers or otherwise in respect of the Indenture.

 

(m) Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Securities.

 

Section 7.3            Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

Section 7.4            Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.

 

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Section 7.5            Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series, in the manner set forth in Section 10.2, notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.

 

Section 7.6            Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, the Trustee shall transmit to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such anniversary date, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA Section 313.

 

A copy of each report at the time of its delivery to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing when Securities of any Series are listed on any national securities exchange and of any delisting thereof.

 

Section 7.7            Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any cost, claim, expense or liability, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations under this Section 7.7 except to the extent that the Company suffers actual and material prejudice as a result of such failure. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have 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. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

 

The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through willful misconduct or negligence.

 

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

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Section 7.8            Replacement of Trustee.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

 

The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:

 

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may, at the Company’s sole cost and expense, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall deliver a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it for actions taken or omitted to be taken in accordance with its rights, powers and duties under this Indenture prior to such replacement.

 

Section 7.9            Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or banking association, the successor corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee, subject to Section  7.10.

 

Section 7.10          Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b). In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in Section 310(b) of the TIA with respect to the Securities of any Series, there shall be excluded Securities of any particular Series of Securities other than that Series.

 

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Section 7.11          Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.

 

ARTICLE VIII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.1            Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Order be discharged with respect to the Securities of any Series and cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of such Series (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(a) either

 

(i) all Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(ii) all such Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

 

(1) have become due and payable by reason of sending a notice of redemption or otherwise; or

 

(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or

 

(3) have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company; or

 

(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;

 

and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount of money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.

 

If the Company exercises the satisfaction and discharge provisions in compliance with this Indenture with respect to Securities of a particular Series that are entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee of any Guarantor, the Guarantee will terminate with respect to that Series of Securities.

 

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Section 8.2            Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4.

 

(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

 

(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Order any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

 

Section 8.3            Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.

 

Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect and any Guarantee will terminate with respect to that Series of Securities (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, execute instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;

 

(b) the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and

 

(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith;

 

provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

i. the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;

 

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ii. such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit related to other indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary) and the granting of liens to secure such borrowings);

 

iii. no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;

 

iv. the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

v. the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

 

vi. the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

Section 8.4            Covenant Defeasance.

 

Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1 and 5.3 as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.18 and designated as an Event of Default shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a) With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants or investment bank expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;

 

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(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit related to other indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary) and the granting of liens to secure such borrowings);

 

(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred;

 

(e) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

 

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

Section 8.5            Repayment to Company.

 

Subject to applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.

 

Section 8.6            Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money deposited with respect to Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent after payment in full to the Holders.

 

ARTICLE IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

Section 9.1            Without Consent of Holders.

 

The Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:

 

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

 

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(b) to comply with Article V;

 

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; provided that the uncertificated Securities of such Series are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

 

(d) to surrender any of the Company’s rights or powers under this Indenture;

 

(e) to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of Securities of any Series;

 

(f) to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable Depositary;

 

(g) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;

 

(h) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;

 

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

 

(j) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

 

(k) to reflect the release of any Guarantor in accordance with Article XII; or

 

(l) to add Guarantors with respect to any or all of the Securities or to secure any or all of the Securities or the Guarantees.

 

Section 9.2            With Consent of Holders.

 

The Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company or any Guarantor with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby (with a copy to the Trustee), a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

Any failure by the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

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Section 9.3            Limitations.

 

Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:

 

(a) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;

 

(c) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

 

(d) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

(e) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(f) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;

 

(g) make any change in Section 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence);

 

(h) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such redemption is made at the Company’s option; or

 

(i) if the Securities of that Series are entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee, release any Guarantor of such Series other than as provided in this Indenture or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

 

Section 9.4            Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

Section 9.5            Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.

 

Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3 or requires the consent of each Security Holder affected, as set forth in a supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate in respect to a particular Series of Securities. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

 

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or take any such action, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

 

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Section 9.6            Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

 

The Company or the Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.

 

Section 9.7            Trustee Protected.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures upon delivery of such an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.

 

ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.1          Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

 

Section 10.2          Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail:

 

if to the Company or any Guarantor:

 

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1725

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

Attention: General Counsel and Secretary

 

with a copy to:

 

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attention:    J. Gerard Cummins

Telephone:  212.839.5374

 

if to the Trustee:

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

Attention: April Bright, VP

U.S. Bank Global Corporate Trust

2 Concourse Parkway, Suite 800

Atlanta, Georgia 30328-5588

Telephone: 404.898.8829

Facsimile: 404.898.8844

 

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

 

Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be sent electronically or by first-class mail to his, her or its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Failure to send a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.

 

If a notice or communication is sent or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.

 

If the Company or any Guarantor mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

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

 

Section 10.3          Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

 

Section 10.4          Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all covenants and conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such covenants and conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Section 10.5          Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:

 

(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b) 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;

 

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

 

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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Section 10.6          Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 10.7          Legal Holidays.

 

Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

Section 10.8          No Recourse Against Others.

 

A director, officer, employee, stockholder or limited partner (past or present), as such, of the Company or any Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 10.9          Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and 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 for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) any Officers’ Certificate, Company Order, Opinion of Counsel, Security, Guarantee endorsed on any Security, opinion of counsel, instrument, agreement or other document delivered pursuant to this Indenture may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats, (b) all references in Section 2.3 or elsewhere in this Indenture to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Security, any Guarantee endorsed on any Security, or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Security by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats, and (c) any requirement in this Indenture that any signature be made under a corporate seal (or facsimile thereof) shall not be applicable to the Securities or any Guarantees endorsed on any Securities. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions.

 

Section 10.10        Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

 

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THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS, THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS (BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECURITIES) EACH HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders (by their acceptance of the Securities) each hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

Section 10.11        No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 10.12        Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

Section 10.13        Severability.

 

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 10.14        Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 10.15        Securities in a Foreign Currency.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in more than one currency, then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be determined by converting any such other currency into a currency that is designated upon issuance of any particular Series of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, such conversion shall be made by the Company at the spot rate for the purchase of the designated currency as published in The Financial Times in the “Currency Rates” section (or, if The Financial Times is no longer published, or if such information is no longer available in The Financial Times, such source as may be selected in good faith by the Company) on any date of determination. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

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All decisions and determinations provided for in the preceding paragraph shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Trustee and all Holders.

 

Section 10.16        Judgment Currency.

 

The Company and each Guarantor agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Section 10.17        USA Patriot Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that, in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “USA Patriot Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that opens an account. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as the Trustee may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

 

Section 10.18        Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, pandemics, epidemics, recognized public emergencies, quarantine restrictions, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, hacking, cyber-attacks, or other use or infiltration of the Trustee’s technological infrastructure exceeding authorized access; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

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ARTICLE XI.
SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 11.1           Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series if so provided by the terms of such Securities pursuant to Section 2.2, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such 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 sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.

 

Section 11.2          Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.

 

Section 11.3           Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.

 

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ARTICLE XII.
GUARANTEE

 

Section 12.1           Unconditional Guarantee.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article XII to the contrary, the provisions of this Article XII shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Securities of any Series designated, pursuant to Section 2.2.23, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each Guarantor identified in such designation and that has executed a Notation of Guarantee with respect to such Series.

 

(b) For value received, each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on each Series of Securities for which such Guarantor has executed a Notation of Guarantee with respect to such Series and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Securities of such Series by the Company, when and as such principal, premium, if any, interest, and such other amounts as shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of such Securities and this Indenture, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 12.3.

 

(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any other Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any other Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any of the Guarantors. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities entitled to the Guarantee of such Guarantor, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.7, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company or any other Guarantor.

 

(d) Each Guarantor hereby (i) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any of the Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever and (ii) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it. Each Guarantor further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of the Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

 

(e) Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture; provided, however, that such Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Securities entitled to the Guarantee of such Guarantor and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full or discharged.

 

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Section 12.2           Execution and Delivery of Notation of Guarantee.

 

To evidence the Guarantee of a Guarantor of a Series of Securities, a Notation of Guarantee, executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an Officer of such Guarantor, shall be affixed on each Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of such Guarantor. If any Officer of any Guarantor whose signature is on a Notation of Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates a Security to which such Notation of Guarantee is affixed or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of any Guarantee relating to such Security set forth in the Indenture on behalf of the Guarantor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of a Notation of Guarantee being affixed to such Security.

 

Section 12.3           Limitation on Guarantors’ Liability.

 

Each Guarantor by its acceptance hereof and each Holder of Security and the Trustee entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, each Holder of a Security and the Trustee entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably agrees that the obligations of each Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under the Guarantee, not result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.

 

Section 12.4           Release of Guarantors from Guarantee.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.4, Section 8.1, Section 8.3 and this Section 12.4. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, the Guarantee incurred by a Guarantor pursuant to this Article XII shall be unconditionally released and discharged (i) automatically upon (A) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any person that is not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company’s direct or indirect equity interests in such Guarantor (provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (B) the merger of such Guarantor into the Company or any other Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) with respect to any Series of Securities, upon the occurrence of any other condition set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate establishing the terms of such Series.

 

(b) Upon receipt of a written request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any Guarantor is entitled to be released from the Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee shall deliver instruments reasonably requested by the Company or such Guarantor evidencing the release of such Guarantor from the Guarantee, such instruments to be prepared by the Company or such Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee. Any Guarantor not so released shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Securities entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section 12.3.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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

 

  Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., as the Company
     
  By: /s/ Brandon Filson
    Name: Brandon Filson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     
  Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, as Guarantor
     
  By: Angel Oak Mortgage OP GP, LLC, its sole general partner
  By: Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., the sole member of the sole general
  partner
     
  By: /s/ Brandon Filson
    Name: Brandon Filson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 

 

 

  U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Chelsey Jordan
    Name: Chelsey Jordan
    Title: Assistant Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF]

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

 

Each Guarantor signing below has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities to which this notation is affixed and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities to which this notation is affixed by the Company.

 

The obligations of such Guarantor to the Holders of Securities to which this notation is affixed and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XII of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

  [NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]
     
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.,

 

As Issuer,

 

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP,

 


AS GUARANTOR,

 

AND

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS TRUSTEE

 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

DATED AS OF JULY 25, 2024

 

TO INDENTURE DATED JULY 25, 2024

 

 

 

$50,000,000

 

OF

 

9.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I. RELATION TO BASE INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS 1
       
  Section 1.1 Relation to Base Indenture. 1
       
  Section 1.2 Definitions. 2
       
ARTICLE II. TERMS OF THE SECURITIES 6
       
  Section 2.1 Title of the Securities. 6
       
  Section 2.2 Price. 6
       
  Section 2.3 Limitation on Initial Aggregate Principal Amount; Further Issuances. 6
       
  Section 2.4 Interest and Interest Rates; Stated Maturity of Notes. 6
       
  Section 2.5 Method of Payment. 7
       
  Section 2.6 Currency. 8
       
  Section 2.7 Denominations. 8
       
  Section 2.8 Redemption. 8
       
  Section 2.9 Repurchase at Option of the Holder. 8
       
  Section 2.10 No Sinking Fund. 8
       
  Section 2.11 Registrar and Paying Agent. 9
       
ARTICLE III. FORM OF THE SECURITIES 9
       
  Section 3.1 Global Form. 9
       
  Section 3.2 Transfer and Exchange. 10
       
ARTICLE IV. REDEMPTION OF NOTES 15
       
  Section 4.1 Optional Redemption of Notes. 15
       
  Section 4.2 Notice of Optional Redemption, Selection of Notes. 15
       
  Section 4.3 Payment of Notes Called for Redemption by the Company. 17
       
ARTICLE V.REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF THE HOLDER 17
       
  Section 5.1 Repurchase at the Option of the Holder Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event. 17
       
ARTICLE VI. GUARANTEE 21
       
  Section 6.1 Note Guarantee. 22
       
  Section 6.2 Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee. 23
       
  Section 6.3 Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability. 23
       
  Section 6.4 Application of Certain Terms and Provisions to the Guarantor. 23
       
ARTICLE VII. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS 24
       
  Section 7.1 Existence. 24

 

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  Section 7.2 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. 24
       
  Section 7.3 Provision of Financial Information. 24
       
ARTICLE VIII. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 25
       
  Section 8.1 Events of Default. 25
       
  Section 8.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. 27
       
  Section 8.3 Notice of Defaults. 28
       
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS 28
       
  Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. 28
       
  Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders. 29
       
ARTICLE X. MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES 31
       
  Section 10.1 Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called. 31
       
  Section 10.2 Call, Notice and Place of Meetings. 31
       
  Section 10.3 Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings. 31
       
  Section 10.4 Quorum; Action. 32
       
  Section 10.5 Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings. 32
       
  Section 10.6 Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings. 33
       
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 33
       
  Section 11.1 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent, Certificates to Trustee. 33
       
  Section 11.2 No Recourse Against Others. 34
       
  Section 11.3 Trust Indenture Act Controls. 34
       
  Section 11.4 Governing Law. 35
       
  Section 11.5 Counterparts. 35
       
  Section 11.6 Successors. 35
       
  Section 11.7 Severability. 36
       
  Section 11.8 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 36
       
  Section 11.9 Ratifications. 36
       
  Section 11.10 Effectiveness. 36
       
  Section 11.11 The Trustee. 36

 

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THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “First Supplemental Indenture”) is entered into as of July 25, 2024 among Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Guarantor”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Guarantor have delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), providing for the issuance by the Company from time to time of Securities in one or more Series;

 

WHEREAS, Section 2.2 of the Base Indenture provides for various matters with respect to any Series of Securities issued under the Base Indenture to be established in an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Guarantor desires to execute this First Supplemental Indenture to establish the form and to provide for the issuance of a Series of the Company’s senior notes designated as 9.500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”), in an initial aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”), for itself and by and on behalf of the Company acting in its capacity as the sole member of Angel Oak Mortgage OP GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and general partner of the Guarantor (the “General Partner”), on behalf of the General Partner, acting in its own capacity and, in its capacity as the sole general partner of the Guarantor, on behalf of the Guarantor, has duly adopted resolutions authorizing the Company and the Guarantor to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all of the other conditions and requirements necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture, when duly executed and delivered, a valid and binding agreement in accordance with its terms and for the purposes herein expressed, have been performed and fulfilled.

 

THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Series of Securities provided for herein by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of Securities of such Series, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

 

RELATION TO BASE INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1        Relation to Base Indenture.

This First Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture. Notwithstanding any other provision of this First Supplemental Indenture, all provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture are expressly and solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and any such provisions shall not be deemed to apply to any other Securities issued under the Base Indenture and shall not be deemed to amend, modify or supplement the Base Indenture for any purpose other than with respect to the Notes.

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Section 1.2        Definitions.

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

(a)Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture; and

(b)All references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this First Supplemental Indenture as they amend or supplement the Base Indenture, and not the Base Indenture or any other document.

Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under the Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.3 and 8.1 hereof, as part of the same Series as the Initial Notes.

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange or such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

Authentication Order” means a Company Order to the Trustee to authenticate and deliver the Notes, signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.

Bankruptcy Law” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.1.

Business Day” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 1.1 of the Base Indenture, any day except a Saturday, Sunday, a day on which banking institutions in the state in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located or a legal holiday in New York City (or in connection with any payment, the place of payment) on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

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

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(2)            the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, cash, securities or other property; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of the Company’s Subsidiaries; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (1) or this clause (2) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions (relative to each other) as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Change of Control pursuant to this clause (2).

Change of Control Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(a).

Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control.

Close of Business” means 5:00 p.m. New York City time.

Common Equity” of any corporation means the common stock, common equity interests, ordinary shares or depositary shares or other certificates representing common equity interests of such corporation.

Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company as they exist on the date of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.

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

Defaulted Interest” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.5.

Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 3.2, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes, The Depository Trust Company and any successor thereto.

Event of Default” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.1.

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

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 3.2(f), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under the Indenture.

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with the Indenture.

Guarantee” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.1(a).

Holders” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.4(a).

Indenture” means the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, and as further supplemented, amended or restated.

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

Initial Notes” means the first $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this First Supplemental Indenture on the date hereof.

interest” means, when used with reference to the Notes, any interest payable under the terms of the Notes.

Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.4(a).

Note Guarantee” means the Guarantee by the Guarantor of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture, and any Notation of Guarantee.

Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this First Supplemental Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and any Executive Vice President or Vice President of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two Officers.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Guarantor. The opinion may contain customary limitations, conditions and exceptions.

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Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

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

Record Date” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.4(a).

Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Note or portion thereof to be redeemed in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.1, the date fixed for such redemption in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4.1 and 4.2.

Redemption Price” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.1.

Repurchase Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(a).

Repurchase Price” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(a).

Repurchase Price Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(b).

Repurchase Right Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(b).

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as in effect from time to time.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Article I, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Company.

Stated Maturity” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.4(c).

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity the majority of the shares of the voting capital stock or other equivalent ownership interests of which (except directors’ qualifying shares) are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person and/or any other Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of such Person and which is required to be consolidated with the accounts of such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “voting capital stock” means capital stock having voting power for the election of directors, trustees or managers, as the case may be, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of capital stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act” means any applicable federal, provincial or state fraudulent conveyance legislation and any successor legislation.

Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act” means any applicable federal, provincial or state fraudulent transfer legislation and any successor legislation.

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ARTICLE II.

TERMS OF THE SECURITIES

Section 2.1         Title of the Securities.

There shall be a Series of Securities designated the “9.500% Senior Notes due 2029.”

Section 2.2         Price.

The Initial Notes shall be issued at a public offering price of 100.00% of the principal amount thereof, other than any offering discounts pursuant to the initial offering and resale of the Notes.

Section 2.3         Limitation on Initial Aggregate Principal Amount; Further Issuances.

The aggregate principal amount of the Notes initially shall be limited to $50,000,000. The Company may, without notice to or the consent of the Holders, issue Additional Notes under the Indenture with the same terms (except with respect to issue date, issue price and, if applicable, the date from which interest shall accrue) and the same “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers as the Initial Notes initially issued under the Indenture in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided, however, that if any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will have separate “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers from the Initial Notes. Any such Additional Notes will, for all purposes of the Indenture, including waivers, amendments and offers to purchase, be treated as part of the same series as the Initial Notes initially issued under the Indenture and will rank equally and ratably in right of payment with the Initial Notes and carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest as the Initial Notes.

Nothing contained in this Section 2.3 or elsewhere in this First Supplemental Indenture, or in the Notes, is intended to or shall limit execution by the Company or authentication or delivery by the Trustee of Notes under the circumstances contemplated by Section 3.2 of this First Supplemental Indenture or Sections 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6 of the Base Indenture.

Section 2.4         Interest and Interest Rates; Stated Maturity of Notes.

(a)            The Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 9.500% per year. Interest on the Notes will accrue from, and including, July 25, 2024 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity or earlier Redemption Date, as the case may be, and will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on October 30, 2024 (each such date being an “Interest Payment Date”), to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered in the security register (the “Holders”) at the Close of Business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date (each such date being a “Record Date”). Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. All payments will be made in U.S. dollars.

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(b)            If any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment shall be made on the next Business Day as if it were made on the date the payment was due and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, until the next Business Day, and no Default shall occur on account of such delay.

(c)            The stated maturity date of the Notes shall be July 30, 2029 (the “Stated Maturity”) and on the Stated Maturity, each Holder of a then outstanding Note will be entitled on such date to receive $25.00 in cash for each $25.00 in principal amount of then outstanding Notes held, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Stated Maturity on such then outstanding Notes.

Section 2.5         Method of Payment.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be payable at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, initially located at 2 Concourse Parkway, Suite  800, Atlanta, Georgia 30328-5588. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest (1) on any Notes in certificated form (i) if such Holder holds $2,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Notes, by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address as it appears in the security register maintained by the Registrar, and (ii) if such Holder holds more than $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, (A) by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address as it appears in the security register maintained by the Registrar or (B) if such Holder delivers to the Registrar a written request that the Company make such payments by wire transfer to an account of such Holder within the United States, for each payment corresponding to each Record Date occurring during the period beginning on the date on which such Holder delivered such request and ending on the date, if any, on which such Holder delivers to the Registrar a written instruction to the contrary, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by such Holder, or (2) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder registered as such on the relevant Record Date, and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

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(a)            The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment (which shall be not less than 25 calendar days after the receipt by the Trustee of such notice, unless the Trustee shall agree to an earlier date), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 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 (unless the Trustee shall agree to an earlier date). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of such special record date and shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be sent to each Holder at its address as it appears in the security register maintained by the Registrar, not less than 10 calendar days prior to such special record date (unless the Trustee shall agree to an earlier date). Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such special record date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b) of this Section 2.5.

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

Section 2.6         Currency.

Principal and interest on the Notes shall be payable in U.S. Dollars.

Section 2.7         Denominations.

Pursuant to Section 2.2.10 of the Base Indenture, the Notes will be issued only in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof.

Section 2.8         Redemption.

The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company prior to the Stated Maturity as provided in Article IV.

Section 2.9         Repurchase at Option of the Holder.

The Notes may be repurchased by the Company at the option of each Holder thereof as provided in Article V.

Section 2.10       No Sinking Fund.

The provisions of Article XI of the Base Indenture shall not be applicable to the Notes.

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Section 2.11       Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Trustee shall initially serve as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes.

ARTICLE III.

FORM OF THE SECURITIES

Section 3.1         Global Form.

The Notes shall initially be issued in the form of one or more fully registered Global Notes that will be deposited with, or on behalf of the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, subject to Sections 2.7 and 2.14 of the Base Indenture. So long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the Global Note, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole Holder of the Notes represented by the Global Note for all purposes under the Indenture.

The Notes shall not be issuable in definitive form except as provided in Section 3.2(a) of this First Supplemental Indenture. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto. The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Base Indenture, authenticate and hold each Global Note as custodian for the Depositary. Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Registrar or the custodian, at the direction of the Trustee. The terms and provisions contained in the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of the Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

Participants of the Depositary shall have no rights either under the Indenture or with respect to the Global Notes. The Depositary or its nominee, as applicable, may be treated by the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee as the absolute owner and Holder of such Global Notes for all purposes under the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or its nominee, as applicable, or impair, as between the Depositary and its participants, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes.

9

Section 3.2          Transfer and Exchange.

(a)            Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

(1)            such Depositary notifies the Company in writing that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for a Global Note or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of the notification to the Company or of the Company becoming aware of the Depositary ceasing to be so registered;

(2)            if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for Definitive Notes by delivering a written request to the Registrar; or

(3)            if the Company notifies the Trustee that it wishes to terminate and exchange all or part of a Global Note for Definitive Notes and the beneficial owners of the majority of the principal amount of such Global Note (or portion thereof) to be exchanged consent to such exchange, the Company may exchange all beneficial interests in such Global Note (or portion thereof) for Definitive Notes by delivering a written request to the Registrar.

Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (1), (2) or (3) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee in writing. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.8 2.11 of the Base Indenture. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 3.2 or Section 2.8 and 2.11 of the Base Indenture, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 3.2(a); however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 3.2(b) or (c).

(b)            Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(1)            Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 3.2(b)(1).

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(2)            All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 3.2(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

both:

(A)            a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

(B)            instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

both:

(C)            a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

(D)            instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (b)(1) above.

Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 3.2(g).

(c)            Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes for Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.2(b)(2) and written notice to the Trustee, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.2(g) hereof, and the Company will execute and, upon the receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.2(c) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.

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(d)            Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. A Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes. If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to the previous sentence at a time when a Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 3.2, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

(e)            Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon the written request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.2(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 3.2(e). A Holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a written request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(f)            Legend. Each Global Note issued under the Indenture, unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of the Indenture, will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.2 OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.2(a) OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE BASE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE 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. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

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(g)            Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.12 of the Base Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(h)            General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(1)            To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order or at the Registrar’s request.

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(2)            No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11 and 9.6 of the Base Indenture and Section 4.3 of this First Supplemental Indenture).

(3)            The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(4)            All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(5)            Neither the Registrar nor the Company will be required:

(A)            to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of the Notes selected for redemption under Article IV and ending at the Close of Business on the day of such mailing;

(B)            to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or

(C)            to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

(6)            Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(7)            The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.1 hereof.

(8)            All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 3.2 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

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(i)            In connection with any proposed transfer outside the book-entry system, there shall be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. The Trustee may conclusively rely on the information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

(j)            None of the Trustee or any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

(k)            None of the Trustee or any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of optional redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes.

ARTICLE IV.

REDEMPTION OF NOTES

The provisions of Article III of the Base Indenture, as amended by the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall apply to the Notes.

Section 4.1        Optional Redemption of Notes.

On or after July 30, 2026, the Company may redeem for cash all or any portion of the Notes, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date (the “Redemption Price”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest due on an Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable to Holders at the Close of Business on the Record Date for such Interest Payment Date. The Company shall not redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 4.1 on any date the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded or cured on or prior to such date.

Section 4.2        Notice of Optional Redemption, Selection of Notes.

(a)            In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.1, it shall fix a date for redemption and it or, at its written request received by the Trustee not fewer than five Business Days prior (or such shorter period of time as may be acceptable to the Trustee) to the date the notice of redemption is to be sent, the Trustee in the name of and at the expense of the Company, shall mail or cause to be mailed, or sent by electronic transmission, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, a notice of such redemption not fewer than thirty (30) calendar days but not more than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its last address as the same appears on the security register maintained by the Registrar; provided that if the Company makes such request of the Trustee, it shall, together with such request, also give written notice of the Redemption Date to the Trustee, provided further that the text of the notice shall be prepared by the Company. Such mailing shall be by first class mail or by electronic transmission, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. The notice, if sent in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or electronic transmission or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.

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(b)            Each such notice of redemption shall specify: (1) the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; (2) the CUSIP number or numbers of the Notes being redeemed; (3) the Redemption Date (which shall be a Business Day); (4) the Redemption Price at which Notes are to be redeemed; (5) the place or places of payment and that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Notes; and (6) that interest accrued and unpaid to, but excluding, the Redemption Date will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portion thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers, if any). In case any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

(c)            On or prior to the Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section 4.2, the Company will deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.5 of the Base Indenture) an amount of money in immediately available funds sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date all the Notes (or portions thereof) so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price; provided that if such payment is made on the Redemption Date, it must be received by the Paying Agent, by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date. The Company shall be entitled to retain any interest, yield or gain on amounts deposited with the Paying Agent pursuant to this Section 4.2 in excess of amounts required hereunder to pay the Redemption Price (it being acknowledged that the Trustee has no obligation to invest any such deposit).

(d)            If less than all of the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed at the Company’s option, the Trustee will select, on a pro rata basis, by lot or such other method it deems fair and appropriate or as required by the Depositary for Global Notes, subject to Applicable Procedures (in the case of Global Notes), the Notes or portions thereof of the Global Notes or the Notes in certificated form to be redeemed (in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof). The Notes (or portions thereof) so selected for redemption shall be deemed duly selected for redemption for all purposes hereof.

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Section 4.3        Payment of Notes Called for Redemption by the Company.

(a)            If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 4.2, the Notes or portion of Notes with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable and if the Paying Agent holds funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Notes on the Redemption Date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the Redemption Price, and unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price, then on and after such Redemption Date: (1) such Notes will cease to be outstanding; (2) interest will cease to accrue on any such Notes called for redemption on the Redemption Date; (3) on and after the Redemption Date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Notes shall cease to be entitled to any benefit or security under the Indenture; and (4) the rights of the Holders of such Notes will terminate except the right to receive the Redemption Price thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Notes at a place of payment in said notice specified, the said Notes or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with interest accrued thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. Such will be the case whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes in book-entry form is made and whether or not the Notes in certificated form, together with necessary endorsements, are delivered to the Paying Agent; provided, however, if the Redemption Date falls after a Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Company will pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of record at the Close of Business on the corresponding Record Date (instead of the Holder surrendering its Notes for redemption).

(b)            Upon presentation of any Note redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Note or Notes, of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Notes so presented.

ARTICLE V.

REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF THE HOLDER

Section 5.1         Repurchase at the Option of the Holder Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.

(a)            If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes pursuant to Article IV of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (in a principal amount of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a repurchase price (the “Repurchase Price”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the Repurchase Price Payment Date, unless such Repurchase Price Payment Date falls after a Record Date for an Interest Payment Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, in which case (x) the Company will pay, on or before such Interest Payment Date, the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest payable on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of record at the Close of Business on such Record Date; and (y) the Repurchase Price will not include such accrued and unpaid interest.

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Repurchases of Notes under this Section 5.1 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

(1)            if the Notes are held in certificated form, delivery to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by a Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note or, if the Notes are Global Notes, a notice that complies with the Applicable Procedures, prior to the Close of Business on the date specified in the Repurchase Right Notice delivered in connection with such Change of Control Repurchase Event, subject to extension to comply with applicable law; and

(2)             delivery or book-entry transfer of the Notes (together with all necessary endorsements) to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) at any time after delivery of the Repurchase Notice and prior to the Close of Business on the date specified in the Repurchase Right Notice, subject to extension to comply with applicable law, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Repurchase Price therefor; provided that such Repurchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 5.1 only if the Note so delivered to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) shall conform in all respects to the description thereof in the related Repurchase Notice.

The Repurchase Notice shall state:

(A)            if certificated, the certificate numbers of Notes to be delivered for repurchase;

(B)              the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be integral multiples of $25 with a minimum of $25; and

(C)            that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this First Supplemental Indenture.

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the Repurchase Notice must comply with the Applicable Procedures.

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Any repurchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.1 shall be consummated by the delivery of the consideration to be received by the Holder in accordance with Section 5.1(d).

The Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section 5.1.

Any certificated Note that is to be repurchased only in part shall be surrendered to the Trustee (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder of such certificated Note without service charge, a new certificated Note or new certificated Notes, containing identical terms and conditions, each in an authorized denomination in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepurchased portion of the principal of the certificated Note so surrendered.

(b)            Within thirty (30) days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company shall give notice (the “Repurchase Right Notice”) to each Holder of Notes, with a written copy to the Trustee and the Paying Agent. Such Repurchase Right Notice will state:

(1)            a description of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event;

(2)            that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Article V;

(3)             the Repurchase Price and the date on which the Repurchase Price will be paid, which date will be a Business Day that is no earlier than thirty (30) days and no later than sixty (60) days from the date the Repurchase Right Notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the “Repurchase Price Payment Date”); and

(4)            if the Repurchase Right Notice is given prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, a statement that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the Repurchase Price Payment Date.

At the Company’s request accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, upon at least five (5) Business Days’ notice (or such shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Trustee shall deliver such notice in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that the form and content of such notice shall be prepared by the Company.

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(c)            A Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn in whole or in part by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Paying Agent in accordance with the Repurchase Right Notice at any time prior to the Close of Business on the date specified in the Repurchase Right Notice, specifying:

(1)            the principal amount of the withdrawn Notes, which must be integral multiples of $25 with a minimum of $25;

(2)            if certificated Notes have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn Notes; and

(3)             the principal amount, if any, of such Note that remains subject to the original Repurchase Notice, which portion must be in principal amounts of integral multiples of $25 with a minimum of $25;

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the withdrawal notice must comply with the Applicable Procedures.

(d)            On the Repurchase Price Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

(1)            accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2)            deposit prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Repurchase Price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(3)             deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by the Company.

(e)            Subject to a Holder’s right to receive interest on the related Interest Payment Date where the Repurchase Price Payment Date, as applicable, falls between a Record Date and the Interest Payment Date to which it relates, if the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) holds money or securities sufficient to pay the Repurchase Price on the Repurchase Price Payment Date, then (i) such Notes shall cease to be outstanding and interest shall cease to accrue on such Notes, whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes is made or whether or not the Notes are delivered to the Paying Agent, and (ii) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes shall terminate other than the right to receive the Repurchase Price and previously accrued and unpaid interest, if any, upon delivery or book-entry transfer of the Notes.

(f)            No Notes may be repurchased at the option of Holders on any date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the applicable Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes).

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(g)             In connection with any repurchase offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Company shall, if required:

(1)            comply with Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event;

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

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

in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this Article V to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in this Indenture. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions in this Article V, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Article V by virtue of such conflict.

(h)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article V, the Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if:

(1)            the Company or such successor has given written notice of a redemption as provided under Article IV of this First Supplemental Indenture prior to the occurrence of the Change of Control Repurchase Event; provided, that the Company has not failed to pay the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date; or

(2)            a third party makes such an offer in respect of the Notes in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all the Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

ARTICLE VI.

GUARANTEE

Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4 hereof shall replace Sections 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes and the Note Guarantee.

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Section 6.1         Note Guarantee.

(a)            Subject to this Article VI, for value received, the Guarantor hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, that:

(1)            the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of the Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company under the Indenture or the Notes, and interest, if any, on, the Notes, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under the Indenture or the Notes (including fees and expenses of counsel) will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms under the Indenture or the Notes; and

(2)            in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantor will be obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b)            The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes are full and unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Indenture or the Notes, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions of the Indenture or the Notes, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes entitled to the Guarantee, whether at the Stated Maturity or upon acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.7 of the Base Indenture, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company. The Guarantor hereby (1) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever, (2) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (3) covenants that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Indenture and the Notes.

(c)            If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantor or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantor, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

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(d)            The Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. The Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VIII for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VIII, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.

Section 6.2        Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 6.1, the Guarantor hereby agrees that this First Supplemental Indenture and a Notation of Guarantee will be executed on its behalf by one of the Officers of the Company, on behalf of the Guarantor, and such Notation of Guarantee shall be affixed to the Notes. If an Officer whose signature is on this First Supplemental Indenture or Notation of Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which the Notation of Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee will be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this First Supplemental Indenture on behalf of the Guarantor.

Section 6.3        Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability.

The Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of the Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to the Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of the Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will not, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, result in the obligations of the Guarantor under its Note Guarantee constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

Section 6.4        Application of Certain Terms and Provisions to the Guarantor.

(a)            For purposes of any provision of the Indenture which provides for the delivery by the Guarantor of an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel, the definitions of such terms in Section 1.2 shall apply to the Guarantor as if references therein to the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, were references to the Guarantor.

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(b)            Any notice or demand which by any provision of the Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of Notes to or on the Guarantor may be given or served as described in Section 10.2 of the Base Indenture as if references therein to the Company were references to the Guarantor.

(c)            Upon any demand, request or application by the Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under the Indenture, the Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as are required in Section 11.1 as if all references therein to the Company were references to the Guarantor.

ARTICLE VII.

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

The covenants set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.3 and 4.4 of the Base Indenture and the following additional covenants shall apply with respect to the Notes so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding.

Section 7.1         Existence.

Except as permitted by Article V of the Base Indenture, each of the Company and the Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its respective existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall be required to preserve any right or franchise if the Board of Directors on behalf of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall determine that the preservation of that right or franchise is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 7.2         Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

Each of the Company and the Guarantor shall pay or discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all of its respective taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or any of its respective Subsidiaries or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or any of their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or to the extent the non-payment thereof could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

Section 7.3         Provision of Financial Information.

The Company shall, so long as any Notes 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. If the Company is not so required to file such reports with the SEC under said Sections, then the Company shall be required to file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC, such of the supplementary and periodic reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed in such rules and regulations. The Company shall also comply with the other provisions of TIA Section  314(a). Reports, information and documents filed with the SEC via the SEC’s EDGAR system will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time of such filing via the SEC’s EDGAR system for purposes of this Section 7.3, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed via the SEC’s EDGAR system.

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Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section  7.3 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

ARTICLE VIII.

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Sections 8.1 and 8.2 hereof shall replace Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes only. Section 8.3 hereof shall replace Section 7.5 of the Base Indenture.

Section 8.1         Events of Default.

Event of Default,” wherever used herein or in the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a)default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest under the Notes;

(b)default in the payment of the principal amount or any other portion of the Repurchase Price or Redemption Price due with respect to the Notes, when the same becomes due and payable;

(c)failure by the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantor, to comply with any of the Company’s or the Guarantor’s other agreements in the Notes, the Note Guarantee or the Indenture with respect to the Notes upon receipt by the Company of notice of such default by the Trustee or by Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and the Company’s failure to cure (or obtain a waiver of) such default within 60 days after it receives such notice;

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(d)default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantor or under any mortgage, indenture or other instrument (in each case, other than non-recourse debt) of the Company or the Guarantor under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be (or by any Subsidiary of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, the repayment of which the Company or the Guarantor has guaranteed or for which the Company or the Guarantor is directly responsible or liable as obligor or guarantor), whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, shall happen and shall result in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such indebtedness having been discharged, or such acceleration having been waived, rescinded or annulled;

(e)the Note Guarantee of the Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of the Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or the Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or the Note Guarantee, except by reason of the release of such Note Guarantee in accordance with provisions of the Indenture; or

(f)the Company, the Guarantor or any the Company’s Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or under or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(1)            commences a voluntary case or proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company, the Guarantor or any such Significant Subsidiary or its debts or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company, the Guarantor or any such Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of the property of the Company, the Guarantor or any such Significant Subsidiary; or

(2)            consents to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against the Company, the Guarantor or any such Significant Subsidiary; or

(3)            consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially of its property; or

(4)            makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

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

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

(1)            is for relief against the Company, the Guarantor or any of the Company’s Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case or proceeding;

(2)            appoints a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company, the Guarantor or any such Significant Subsidiary or any substantial part of the property of the Company, the Guarantor or any such Significant Subsidiary; or

(3)            orders the liquidation of the Company, the Guarantor or any such Significant Subsidiary, in each case in this clause (h), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for thirty (30) calendar days.

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors.

Section 8.2         Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Sections 8.1(f), 8.1(g) or 8.1(h) with respect to the Company or the Guarantor, which shall result in an automatic acceleration), then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the principal amount of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the outstanding Notes 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 declaration such principal amount, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 8.1(f), 8.1(g) or 8.1(h) shall occur with respect to the Company or the Guarantor, the principal amount of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all outstanding Notes shall automatically become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

At any time after the principal amount of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all Defaults or Events of Default and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, subject in all respects to Section 6.13 of the Base Indenture, if: (a) the Company has deposited with the Trustee all required payments of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes, plus the reasonable compensation and reimbursement for the Trustee’s expenses, disbursements and advances pursuant to Section 7.7 of the Base Indenture; and (b) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal of, or premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes that have become due solely because of such acceleration, have been cured or waived. No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon. The Company shall notify in writing a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, promptly upon becoming aware thereof, of any Event of Default, as provided in Section 4.3 of the Base Indenture and the steps to be taken to cure such Event of Default.

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Section 8.3         Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Notes and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of the Notes, in the manner set forth in Section  10.2 on the Base Indenture, notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

ARTICLE IX.

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof shall replace Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes only.

Section 9.1         Without Consent of Holders.

The Company and the Guarantor, when authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental without the consent of the Holders of the Notes hereto for one or more of the following purposes:

(a)            to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture; provided that this action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Notes in any material respect;

(b)            to evidence a successor to the Company as obligor or to the Guarantor as guarantor under the Indenture with respect to the Notes;

(c)            to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Notes then outstanding;

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(d)            to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture;

(e)            to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the Indenture by more than one Trustee;

(f)            to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA;

(g)            to reflect the release of the Guarantor, as guarantor, in accordance with the Indenture;

(h)            to secure the Notes or the Guarantee;

(i)            to add guarantors with respect to the Notes; and

(j)            to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantee to any provision of the description thereof set forth under the captions “Description of the Notes” in the prospectus supplement relating to the Notes and “Description of Debt Securities” in the prospectus accompanying the prospectus supplement relating to the Notes.

Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors certified by the corresponding Secretary or Assistant Secretary, authorizing the execution of any supplemental indenture, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the Guarantor in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Section 9.2         With Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, the Company, the Guarantor 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 of the provisions of the Indenture or any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes; provided that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Note so affected:

(a)            reduce the principal amount of the Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

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(b)            reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including Defaulted Interest) on the Notes;

(c)            reduce the principal of, or premium, if any, on, or change the Stated Maturity of, the Notes;

(d)            reduce any Redemption Price or Repurchase Price of any Note or amend or modify, in any manner adverse to the Holders, the Company’s right to redeem the Notes or the Company’s obligation to repurchase the Notes in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise as provided for in this First Supplemental Indenture;

(e)            waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(f)            make the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes payable in any currency other than that stated in the Notes;

(g)            make any change in Section 6.8 of the Base Indenture, 6.13 of the Base Indenture or Section 9.2(g) of this First Supplemental Indenture (this sentence) relating to, among other things, the right of the Holders to receive payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments;

(h)            waive a redemption payment with respect to the Notes; or

(i)            release the Guarantor as a guarantor of the Notes other than as provided in the Indenture or modify the Note Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.

Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors certified by the corresponding Secretary or Assistant Secretary, authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate certifying receipt of the requisite consent of Holders as aforesaid, upon which the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantor in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture. In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by the Indenture, the Trustee shall receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officers’ Certificate or both stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by the Indenture, that all conditions precedent to the execution of such supplemental indenture have been complied with, and that the supplemental indenture is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Guarantor as applicable, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

ARTICLE X.

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES

Section 10.1      Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

A meeting of Holders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article X to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act provided by the Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders.

Section 10.2      Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a)            The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders for any purpose specified in Section 10.1, to be held at such time and at such place in The City of New York, New York as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders, 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 given, in the manner provided in Section 10.2 of the Base Indenture, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b)            In case at any time the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders for any purpose specified in Section 10.1, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of or made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the City of New York, New York, for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (a) of this Section 10.2.

Section 10.3      Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders, a person shall be (a) a Holder of one or more outstanding Notes, or (b) a person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more outstanding Notes by such Holder or Holders; provided, that none of the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Notes shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders or be counted for purposes of determining a quorum at any such meeting in respect of any Notes owned by such persons. The only persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel, any representatives of the Guarantor and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

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Section 10.4      Quorum; Action.

The persons entitled to vote at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at the meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, the persons holding or representing the specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 10.2 of this First Supplemental Indenture, except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the outstanding Notes which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which the Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Any such resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders duly held in accordance with this Section 10.4 shall be binding on all the Holders, whether or not such Holders were present or represented at the meeting.

Section 10.5       Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(a)            Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders in regard to proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies and in 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 appropriate.

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(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 Holders as provided in Section 10.2(b), in which case the Company, the Guarantor or the Holders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of such series represented at the meeting.

(c)            At any meeting, each Holder or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $25 principal amount of Notes held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Note challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder or proxy.

(d)            Any meeting of Holders duly called pursuant to Section 10.2 of this First Supplemental Indenture at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 10.6      Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the outstanding Notes held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 10.2 and, if applicable, Section 10.4. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and the Guarantor, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 11.1      Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent, Certificates to Trustee.

This Section 11.1 shall replace Sections 10.4 and 10.5 of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes only.

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Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee stating that all covenants and conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such covenants and conditions precedent have been complied with. The Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel provided for in the Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in the Indenture shall include: (1) a statement that the person making such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement or opinion contained in such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel is based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, such person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

Section 11.2       No Recourse Against Others.

This Section 11.2 shall replace Section 10.8 of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes only.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in Article VI of this First Supplemental Indenture, no recourse for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Note or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company or the Guarantor in this First Supplemental Indenture or in any Note or the Guarantee, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director, employee or controlling person of the Company or the Guarantor or of any successor person thereto, and such parties shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes, the Guarantor under the Guarantee or the Company and the Guarantor under the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

Section 11.3       Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this First Supplemental Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

34

Section 11.4       Governing Law.

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEE, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE BASE INDENTURE, FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE NOTE GUARANTEE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 11.5       Counterparts.

This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this First Supplemental Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in this First Supplemental Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) any Officers’ Certificate, Company Order, Opinion of Counsel, Note, Note Guarantee, opinion of counsel, instrument, agreement or other document delivered pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats, (b) all references in Section 2.3 of the Base Indenture, Section 6.2 of this First Supplemental Indenture or elsewhere in the Indenture to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Note, any Guarantee endorsed on any Note, or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats, and (c) any requirement in this Indenture that any signature be made under a corporate seal (or facsimile thereof) shall not be applicable to the Notes or any Note Guarantee. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions.

Section 11.6       Successors.

All agreements of the Company and the Guarantor in this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors.

All agreements of the Trustee in this First Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successor.

35

Section 11.7       Severability.

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

Section 11.8       Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this First Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 11.9       Ratifications.

The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed. The Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. All provisions included in this First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Notes supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Indenture.

Section 11.10     Effectiveness.

The provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

Section 11.11     The Trustee.

The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Indenture. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or the due execution thereof by the Company or the Guarantor. The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements solely of the Company and the Guarantor, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the TIA regarding the collection of the claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA, 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 TIA and the Indenture.

[Signature Page Follows]

36

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers hereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first written above.

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., as the Company
By: /s/ Brandon Filson
Name: Brandon Filson
Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, as the Guarantor
By: Angel Oak Mortgage OP GP, LLC, its general partner
By: Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., its sole member

By: /s/ Brandon Filson
Name: Brandon Filson
Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the Trustee

By: /s/ Chelsey Jordan
Name: Chelsey Jordan
Title: Assistant Vice President

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

EXHIBIT A

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.2 OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.2(a) OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE BASE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE 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. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.

9.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

Certificate No. []

CUSIP No.: []

ISIN: []

$[]

Exhibit A-1

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] MILLION DOLLARS ($[ ])[, or such lesser amount as is set forth in the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note on the other side of this Note,] on July 30, 2029 at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on October 30, 2024, to the Holder in whose name the Note is registered in the security register at the Close of Business on the preceding January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest (1) on any Notes in certificated form (i) if such Holder holds $2,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Notes, by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address as it appears in the security register maintained by the Registrar, and (ii) if such Holder holds more than $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, (A) by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address as it appears in the security register maintained by the Registrar or (B) if such Holder delivers to the Registrar a written request that the Company make such payments by wire transfer to an account of such Holder within the United States, for each payment corresponding to each Record Date occurring during the period beginning on the date on which such Holder delivered such request and ending on the date, if any, on which such Holder delivers to the Registrar a written instruction to the contrary, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by such Holder, or (2) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed manually or by facsimile by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent under the Indenture.

Exhibit A-2

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

Dated: [ ], 20[ ]

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:

Exhibit A-3

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Notes described in the within-named Indenture.

Dated: [ ], 20[ ]

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:
Authorized Signatory

Exhibit A-4

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.

9.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company, designated as its 9.500% Senior Notes due 2029 (herein called the “Notes”), issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of July 25, 2024 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantor and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024 (herein called the “First Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantor and the Holders of the Notes. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Note shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default referred to in Sections 8.1(f), 8.1(g) or 8.1(h) of the First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Company or the Guarantor, which shall result in an automatic acceleration) occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes may be declared to be due and payable by either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and, upon said declaration the same shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 8.1(f), 8.1(g) or 8.1(h) of the First Supplemental Indenture occurs with respect to the Company or the Guarantor, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest accrued and unpaid on all the Notes shall be immediately and automatically due and payable without necessity of further action.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes, subject to exceptions set forth in Section 9.2 of the First Supplemental Indenture. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any past Default or Event of Default, subject to exceptions set forth in the Indenture.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall impair, as among the Company and the Holder of the Notes, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency prescribed herein and in the Indenture.

Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

Exhibit A-5

The Notes are issuable in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $25 principal amount and any multiple of $25. At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without payment of any service charge but with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration or exchange of Notes, Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of any other authorized denominations.

The Company shall have the right to redeem the Notes under certain circumstances as set forth in Article IV of the First Supplemental Indenture.

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

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, if a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes pursuant to Article IV of the First Supplemental Indenture, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (in a principal amount of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at the Repurchase Price. To exercise such right, a Holder shall deliver to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), and the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) must receive, a Repurchase Notice containing the information set forth in the Indenture, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the date specified in the Repurchase Right Notice, and shall deliver the Notes to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) as set forth in the Indenture. Holders have the right to withdraw (in whole or in part) any Repurchase Notice by delivering to the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of the Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XII of the Base Indenture as amended by Article VI of the First Supplemental Indenture and reference is hereby made to such Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in Article VI of the First Supplemental Indenture, no recourse for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Note or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company or the Guarantor in the First Supplemental Indenture or in any Note or the Guarantee, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director, employee or controlling person of the Company or the Guarantor or of any successor person thereto, and such parties shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes, the Guarantor under the Guarantee or the Company and the Guarantor under the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of this Note.

Exhibit A-6

ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:

(Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint

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

Date:

Your Signature:
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

Exhibit A-7

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE *

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 Date of
Exchange
   Amount of
decrease in
principal amount
at maturity of
this Global Note
  Amount of
increase in
principal
amount at
maturity of this
Global Note
  Principal amount
at maturity of this
Global Note
following such
decrease (or
increase)       
  Signature of
authorized
officer of
Trustee or
Custodian

 

 

 

 

* This Schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

Exhibit A-8

FORM OF REPURCHASE NOTICE

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association 

U.S. Bank Global Corporate Trust 

2 Concourse Parkway, Suite  800 

Atlanta, Georgia 30328-5588 

Telephone: (404) 898-8829 

Facsimile: (404) 898-8844

Re: Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”)
9.500% Senior Notes due 2029

This is a Repurchase Notice as defined in Section 5.1(a) of the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024, between the Company, Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, as guarantor (the “Guarantor”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “First Supplemental Indenture,” and the Base Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024, between the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, as amended, modified and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”). Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

Certificate No(s). of Notes: ________________________

I intend to deliver the following aggregate principal amount of Notes for repurchase by the Company pursuant to Article V of the First Supplemental Indenture (integral multiples of $25 with a minimum of $25):

$_____________________

I hereby agree that the Notes will be repurchased on the Repurchase Price Payment Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Notes and in the Indenture.

Signed:

Exhibit A-9

 

Exhibit 4.3

 

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.

 

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.2 OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.2(a) OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE BASE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE 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. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

 

 

 

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.

 

9.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

 

Certificate No. [ ]

 

CUSIP No.: [ ]

 

ISIN: [ ]

 

$[ ]

 

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] MILLION DOLLARS ($[ ])[, or such lesser amount as is set forth in the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note on the other side of this Note,] on July 30, 2029 at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest quarterly in arrears on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on October 30, 2024, to the Holder in whose name the Note is registered in the security register at the Close of Business on the preceding January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest (1) on any Notes in certificated form (i) if such Holder holds $2,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Notes, by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address as it appears in the security register maintained by the Registrar, and (ii) if such Holder holds more than $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, (A) by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address as it appears in the security register maintained by the Registrar or (B) if such Holder delivers to the Registrar a written request that the Company make such payments by wire transfer to an account of such Holder within the United States, for each payment corresponding to each Record Date occurring during the period beginning on the date on which such Holder delivered such request and ending on the date, if any, on which such Holder delivers to the Registrar a written instruction to the contrary, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by such Holder, or (2) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed manually or by facsimile by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent under the Indenture.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Dated: [ ], 20[ ]

 

  ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.
   
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Global Note]

 

 

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Notes described in the within-named Indenture.

 

Dated: [ ], 20[ ]

 

  U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
   
  By:
     

 

[Signature Page to Global Note]

 

 

 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

 

ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE REIT, INC.

 

9.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company, designated as its 9.500% Senior Notes due 2029 (herein called the “Notes”), issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of July 25, 2024 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantor and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024 (herein called the “First Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantor and the Holders of the Notes. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Note shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default referred to in Sections 8.1(f), 8.1(g) or 8.1(h) of the First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Company or the Guarantor, which shall result in an automatic acceleration) occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes may be declared to be due and payable by either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and, upon said declaration the same shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 8.1(f), 8.1(g) or 8.1(h) of the First Supplemental Indenture occurs with respect to the Company or the Guarantor, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest accrued and unpaid on all the Notes shall be immediately and automatically due and payable without necessity of further action.

 

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes, subject to exceptions set forth in Section 9.2 of the First Supplemental Indenture. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any past Default or Event of Default, subject to exceptions set forth in the Indenture.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall impair, as among the Company and the Holder of the Notes, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency prescribed herein and in the Indenture.

 

Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

 

 

 

The Notes are issuable in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $25 principal amount and any multiple of $25. At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without payment of any service charge but with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration or exchange of Notes, Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of any other authorized denominations.

 

The Company shall have the right to redeem the Notes under certain circumstances as set forth in Article IV of the First Supplemental Indenture.

 

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

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, if a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes pursuant to Article IV of the First Supplemental Indenture, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (in a principal amount of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at the Repurchase Price. To exercise such right, a Holder shall deliver to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), and the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) must receive, a Repurchase Notice containing the information set forth in the Indenture, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the date specified in the Repurchase Right Notice, and shall deliver the Notes to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) as set forth in the Indenture. Holders have the right to withdraw (in whole or in part) any Repurchase Notice by delivering to the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of the Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XII of the Base Indenture as amended by Article VI of the First Supplemental Indenture and reference is hereby made to such Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in Article VI of the First Supplemental Indenture, no recourse for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Note or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company or the Guarantor in the First Supplemental Indenture or in any Note or the Guarantee, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director, employee or controlling person of the Company or the Guarantor or of any successor person thereto, and such parties shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes, the Guarantor under the Guarantee or the Company and the Guarantor under the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of this Note.

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:    
   
(Insert assignee’s legal name)  
   
   
   
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)  
   
   
   
   

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint    

 

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

 

Date:_______________________________________

 

  Your Signature:    

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

 

Signature Guarantee*:________________________

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE *

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

 Date of
Exchange
   Amount of
decrease in
principal amount
at maturity of
this Global Note
  Amount of
increase in
principal
amount at
maturity of this
Global Note
  Principal amount
at maturity of this
Global Note
following such
decrease (or
increase)
  Signature of
authorized
officer of
Trustee or
Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

* This Schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

 

 

 

FORM OF REPURCHASE NOTICE

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

U.S. Bank Global Corporate Trust

2 Concourse Parkway, Suite  800

Atlanta, Georgia 30328-5588

Telephone: (404) 898-8829

Facsimile: (404) 898-8844

 

  Re: Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”)
    9.500% Senior Notes due 2029

 

This is a Repurchase Notice as defined in Section 5.1(a) of the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024, between the Company, Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, as guarantor (the “Guarantor”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “First Supplemental Indenture,” and the Base Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024, between the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, as amended, modified and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”). Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

 

Certificate No(s). of Notes: ________________________

 

I intend to deliver the following aggregate principal amount of Notes for repurchase by the Company pursuant to Article V of the First Supplemental Indenture (integral multiples of $25 with a minimum of $25):

 

$_____________________

 

I hereby agree that the Notes will be repurchased on the Repurchase Price Payment Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Notes and in the Indenture.

 

Signed:    

 

 

 

 

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

 

The Guarantor signing below has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture (as defined below) and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities to which this notation is affixed and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities to which this notation is affixed by the Company.

 

The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of Securities to which this notation is affixed and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XII of the Base Indenture (as defined below) as amended by Article VI of the First Supplemental Indenture (as defined below) and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and among Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc. a Maryland corporation, Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

  Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, as the Guarantor
   
  By: Angel Oak Mortgage OP GP, LLC, its general partner
   
  By: Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., its sole member
   
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

    750 E. PRATT STREET SUITE 900 BALTIMORE, MD 21202
T 410.244.7400 F 410.244.7742 www.Venable.com

July 25, 2024

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1725

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

Re:        Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-280531)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as Maryland counsel to Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of the offering and sale of up to $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) of the Company, guaranteed by Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in an underwritten public offering covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-3, and all amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

1.            The Registration Statement, in the form filed with the Commission under the Securities Act;

2.            The Company’s Prospectus, dated July 9, 2024, as supplemented by the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated July 18, 2024, and the Prospectus Supplement, dated July 18, 2024, relating to the offering and sale of the Notes, each in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act;

3.            The charter of the Company, certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

4.            The Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

5.            A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

6.            Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, and a duly authorized committee thereof (the “Resolutions”), relating to, among other matters, (a) the registration and issuance of the Notes and (b) the Indenture and the Global Note (each as defined herein), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

   

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

July 25, 2024

Page 2

7.            The Global Note evidencing the Notes, dated as of the date hereof (the “Global Note”), by the Company;

8.            The Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Operating Partnership and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Trustee;

9.            A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

10.          Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

1.            Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.

2.            Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

3.            Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

4.            All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

   

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

July 25, 2024

Page 3

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

1.            The Company is a corporation duly formed and validly existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

2.            The execution and delivery of the Indenture and the Global Note by the Company have been duly authorized, and the Indenture and the Global Note have been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

3.            The issuance of the Notes has been duly authorized.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning U.S. federal law or the laws of any other state. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter. The opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of any judicial decision which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the issuance of the Notes (the “Current Report”). We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,
/s/ Venable LLP

 

Exhibit 5.2

 

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019

+1 212 839 5300
+1 212 839 5599 Fax

 

 

AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE

 

July 25, 2024

 

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP

3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1725

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

 

Re:Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-280531 and 333-280531-01) (the “Registration Statement”), filed by Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Guarantor”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which Registration Statement was declared effective on July 9, 2024. Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company is issuing $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9.500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”), pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated July 18, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, the Guarantor, Falcons I, LLC and the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”). The Notes are being issued under an Indenture dated as of July 25, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), as amended and supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 25, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), each among the Company, as issuer, the Guarantor, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The obligations of the Company under the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor (the “Guarantee” and, together with the Notes, the “Securities”).

 

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

 

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities in global form and the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), by the Affiliated Transactions and Risk Committee of the Board and by the Pricing Committee of the Board established by the Board relating to the Registration Statement, the Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement and the issuance of the Securities. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents, certificates and statements of the Company and the Guarantor and other corporate documents and instruments, and have examined such questions of law, as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for this opinion letter. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for examination. As to facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied without independent investigation or verification upon, and assumed the accuracy and completeness of, certificates, letters and oral and written statements and representations of public officials and officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantor.

 

 

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP

July 25, 2024

Page 2

 

Based on and subject to the foregoing and the other limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.            Assuming the Notes have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture against payment of the requisite consideration therefor as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

 

2.            The Guarantee has been duly authorized by the Guarantor. When the Guarantee has been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor, and when the Notes have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture against payment of the requisite consideration therefor as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantee will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor.

 

Our opinions are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including concepts of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief. Our opinions are also subject to (i) provisions of law which may require that a judgment for money damages rendered by a court in the United States of America be expressed only in United States dollars, (ii) requirements that a claim with respect to any debt securities or other obligations that are denominated or payable other than in United States dollars (or a judgment denominated or payable other than in United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law and (iii) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside of the United States of America or in a foreign currency.

 

This opinion letter is limited to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and the laws of the State of New York (excluding the securities laws, the blue sky laws, the real estate syndication laws or the municipal laws or the laws, rules or regulations of any local agencies or governmental authorities of or within the State of New York). Various issues pertaining to Maryland law are addressed in the opinion of Venable LLP, which has been separately provided to you. We express no opinion with respect to those matters herein, and to the extent elements of those opinions are necessary to the conclusions expressed herein, we have, with your consent, assumed such matters. We express no opinion as to the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the federal laws of the United States of America or any state securities or blue sky laws.

 

 

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.

Angel Oak Mortgage Operating Partnership, LP

July 25, 2024

Page 3

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 25, 2024 and the incorporation by reference of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to our Firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Sidley Austin LLP

 

 

 

 

v3.24.2
Cover
Jul. 25, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Amendment Flag false
Document Period End Date Jul. 25, 2024
Entity File Number 001-40495
Entity Registrant Name Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key 0001766478
Entity Tax Identification Number 37-1892154
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code MD
Entity Address, Address Line One 3344 Peachtree Road Northeast
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 1725
Entity Address, City or Town Atlanta
Entity Address, State or Province GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 30326
City Area Code 404
Local Phone Number 953-4900
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(b) Security Common stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol AOMR
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company false

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