exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or (4) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution.
The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.
“Rating Event” means the rating on the Securities is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the Securities are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Securities is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) commencing 60 days prior to the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.
Unless the Company defaults in the Change of Control Payment, on and after the Change of Control Payment Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Securities or portions of the Securities tendered for repurchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.
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