EXHIBIT 4(g)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
"Accrual Yield" means the amount as specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Additional Business Centre(s)" means the city or cities specified as such in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Additional Financial Centre(s)" means the city or cities specified as such in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Adjustment Spread" means either a spread (which may be positive or negative), or the formula or methodology for calculating a spread, in either case, which the Issuer, following consultation with the Independent Adviser and acting in good faith, determines is required to be applied to the Successor Rate or the Alternative Rate (as the case may be), as a result of the replacement of the Original Reference Rate with the Successor Rate or the Alternative Rate (as the case may be) and is the spread, formula or methodology which:
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"Alternative Rate" means an alternative to the Reference Rate which the Issuer determines in accordance with Condition 7(h)(ii) has replaced the Original Reference Rate in customary market usage in the international debt capital markets for the purposes of determining rates of interest (or the relevant component part thereof) for the same interest period and in the same Specified Currency as the Notes or, if the Independent Adviser determines there is no such rate, such other rate as the Issuer determines (following consultation with the Independent Adviser and acting in good faith) is most comparable to the relevant Reference Rate;
"Benchmark Amendments" has the meaning given to it in Condition 7(h)(iv);
"Benchmark Event" means:
Notwithstanding the sub-paragraphs above, where the relevant Benchmark Event is a public statement within sub-paragraphs (ii), (iii) or (iv) above and the Specified Future Date in the public statement is more than six months after the date of that public statement, the Benchmark Event shall not be deemed to occur until the date falling six months prior to such Specified Future Date.
"Benchmark Regulations" shall mean Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1011 (the "EU Benchmark Regulation") and the EU Benchmark Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018;
"Business Day" means:
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"Business Day Convention" means, in relation to any particular date, the business day convention specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement and, if so specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement, may have different meanings in relation to different dates and, in this context, the following expressions shall have the following meanings:
"Calculation Agent" means the Fiscal Agent or such other Person specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement as the party responsible for calculating the Rate(s) of Interest and Interest Amount(s) and/or such other amount(s) as may be specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Calculation Amount" means the amount specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Consolidated Assets" means the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves for depreciation, amortization, unearned finance charges, allowance for credit losses and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, organization expenses and other like intangibles, all as set forth on the most recent balance sheet of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
"Coupon Sheet" means, in respect of a Note, a coupon sheet relating to the Note;
"Day Count Fraction" means, in respect of the calculation of an amount for any period of time (the "Calculation Period"), such day count fraction as may be specified in these Conditions or the relevant Pricing Supplement and:
(a) where the Calculation Period is equal to or shorter than the Regular Period during which it falls, the actual number of days in the Calculation Period divided by the product of (1) the actual number of days in such Regular Period and (2) the number of Regular Periods in any year; and
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(b) where the Calculation Period is longer than one Regular Period, the sum of:
(A) the actual number of days in such Calculation Period falling in the Regular Period in which it begins divided by the product of (1) the actual number of days in such Regular Period and (2) the number of Regular Periods in any year; and
(B) the actual number of days in such Calculation Period falling in the next Regular Period divided by the product of (a) the actual number of days in such Regular Period and (2) the number of Regular Periods in any year;
"Early Redemption Amount (Tax)" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Early Termination Amount" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in the Pricing Supplement and/or determined in accordance with these Conditions;
"EURIBOR" means, in respect of any specified currency and any specified period, the interest rate benchmark known as the Euro zone interbank offered rate which is calculated and published by a designated distributor (currently Thomson Reuters) in accordance with the requirements from time to time of the European Money Markets Institute (or any person which takes over administration of that rate;
"Extraordinary Resolution" has the meaning given in the Agency Agreement;
"Final Redemption Amount" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"First Interest Payment Date" means the date specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Fixed Coupon Amount" means the amount specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Indebtedness" means any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer;
"Independent Adviser" means an independent financial institution of international repute or an independent financial adviser with appropriate expertise appointed by the Issuer under Condition 7(h)(i);
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"Interest Amount" means, in relation to a Note and an Interest Period, the amount of interest payable in respect of that Note for that Interest Period;
"Interest Commencement Date" means the Issue Date of the Notes or such other date as may be specified as the Interest Commencement Date in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Interest Determination Date XE "Interest Determination Date" ", in respect of any Interest Period, has the meaning given to it in the relevant Pricing Supplement or:
(a) in the case of Floating Rate Notes where the "Reference Rate" is specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement as being "SONIA", means the date falling "p" London Banking Days prior to the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period (or the date falling "p" London Banking Days prior to such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes are due and payable);
(b) in the case of Floating Rate Notes where the "Reference Rate" is specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement as being "SOFR", means the date falling "p" U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period (or the date falling "p" U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes are due and payable);
(c) in the case of Floating Rate Notes where the "Reference Rate" is specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement as being "€STR", means the date falling "p" TARGET Settlement Days prior to the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period (or the date falling "p" TARGET Settlement Days prior to such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes are due and payable).
"Interest Payment Date" means the First Interest Payment Date and any other date or dates specified as such in the relevant Pricing Supplement and, if a Business Day Convention is specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement:
"Interest Period" means each period beginning on (and including) the Interest Commencement Date or any Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) the next Interest Payment Date;
"ISDA Benchmarks Supplement" means the Benchmarks Supplement (as amended and updated as at the date of issue of the first Tranche of the Notes of the relevant Series (as specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement)) published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc;
"ISDA Definitions" means the 2006 ISDA Definitions (as amended and updated as at the date of issue of the first Tranche of the Notes of the relevant Series (as specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement) as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) or, if so specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the 2000 ISDA Definitions (as amended and updated as at the date of issue of the first Tranche of the Notes of the relevant Series (as specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement) as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.);
"Issue Date" means the date specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Liens" means any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, including but not limited to a security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, conditional sale or trust receipt, or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. For the purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it has or holds subject to a conditional sale arrangement, financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or is vested in some other Person for security purposes;
"Margin" means the margin specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Maturity Date" means the date specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
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"Maximum Rate of Interest" has the meaning given in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Maximum Redemption Amount" means the amount specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Minimum Rate of Interest'' has the meaning given in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Minimum Redemption Amount" means the amount specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Optional Redemption Amount (Call)" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Optional Redemption Amount (Put)" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Optional Redemption Date (Call)" means the date specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Optional Redemption Date (Put)" means the date specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Original Reference Rate" means the originally-specified Reference Rate used to determine the Rate of Interest (or any component part thereof) on the Notes;
"Participating Member State" means a Member State of the European Union that adopts the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with the Treaty;
"Payment Business Day" means:
"Person" means any individual, company, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, organization, state or agency of a state or other entity, whether or not having separate legal personality;
"Principal Financial Centre" means, in relation to any currency, the principal financial centre for that currency provided, however, that in relation to euro, it means the principal financial centre of such Member State of the European Union as is selected (in the case of a payment) by the payee or (in the case of a calculation) by the Calculation Agent;
"Property" means any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible;
"Put Option Notice" means a notice that must be delivered to a Paying Agent by any Noteholder wanting to exercise a right to redeem a Note at the option of the Noteholder;
"Put Option Receipt" means a receipt issued by a Paying Agent to a depositing Noteholder upon deposit of a Note with such Paying Agent by any Noteholder wanting to exercise a right to redeem a Note at the option of the Noteholder;
"Rate of Interest" means the rate or rates (expressed as a percentage per annum) of interest payable in respect of the Notes specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement and/or calculated or determined in accordance with the provisions of these Conditions;
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"Redemption Amount" means, as appropriate, the Final Redemption Amount, the Early Redemption Amount (Tax), the Optional Redemption Amount (Call), the Optional Redemption Amount (Put), the Early Termination Amount or such other amount in the nature of a redemption amount as may be specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Reference Banks" means the reference banks specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement or, if none, four major banks selected by the Calculation Agent in the market that is most closely connected with the Reference Rate;
"Reference Price" means the reference price specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Reference Rate" means EURIBOR, SONIA, SOFR or €STR as specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement in respect of the currency and period specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement. Other than in the case of U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate Notes for which the "Reference Rate" is specified in the relevant Final Terms as being SOFR, the term Reference Rate shall, following the occurrence of a Benchmark Event under Condition 7(h) (Benchmark Discontinuation), include any Successor Rate or Alternative Rate and shall, if a Benchmark Event should occur subsequently in respect of any such Successor Rate or Alternative Rate, also include any further Successor Rate or further Alternative Rate;
"Regular Period" means:
"Relevant Date" means, in relation to any payment, whichever is the later of (a) the date on which the payment in question first becomes due and (b) if the full amount payable has not been received in the Principal Financial Centre of the currency of payment by the Fiscal Agent on or prior to such due date, the date on which (the full amount having been so received) notice to that effect has been given to the Noteholders;
"Relevant Financial Centre" means (i) the financial centre specified as such in the relevant Pricing Supplement (ii) or, in the case of a determination of EURIBOR and none is otherwise specified, Brussels;
"Relevant Nominating Body" means, in respect of a Reference Rate:
"Relevant Screen Page" means the page, section or other part of a particular information service (or any successor or replacement page, section or other part of a particular information service, including, without limitation, the Reuter Money 3000 Service) specified as the Relevant Screen Page in the relevant Pricing Supplement, or such other page, section or other part as may replace it on that information service or such other information service, in each case, as may be nominated by the Person providing or sponsoring the information appearing there for the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to the Reference Rate;
"Relevant Time" means the time specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
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"Reserved Matter" means any proposal
"Restricted Debt" when used with respect to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer, means any present or future indebtedness for money borrowed evidenced by any note, bond, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed which is, or is capable of being, listed, quoted or traded on any stock exchange or in any securities market (including, without limitation, any over-the counter market), for which the Issuer or such Subsidiary of the Issuer is liable, directly or indirectly, absolutely or contingently. Restricted Debt shall not include any indebtedness for the payment, redemption or satisfaction of which money (or other Property permitted under the instrument creating or evidencing such indebtedness) in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with a trustee or proper depository at or before the maturity or redemption date thereof. For the purposes of this definition, "indebtedness for money borrowed" shall include, without limitation, obligations created or arising under any conditional sale, financing lease, or other title retention agreement and obligations to pay for Property;
"Specified Currency" means the currency specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Specified Denomination(s)" means the denomination(s) specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Specified Office" has the meaning given in the Agency Agreement;
"Specified Period" means the period specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Subsidiary" means, in relation to any Person (the "first Person") at any particular time, any other Person (the "second Person"):
"Successor Rate" means a successor to or replacement of the Original Reference Rate which is formally recommended by any Relevant Nominating Body;
"Talon" means a talon for further Coupons;
"TARGET2" means the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform, and which was launched on 19 November 2007;
"TARGET Settlement Day" means any day on which TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments in euro;
"Treaty" means the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as amended; and
"Zero Coupon Note" means a Note specified as such in the relevant Pricing Supplement.
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The Notes are in bearer form in the Specified Denomination(s) with Coupons and, if specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement, Talons attached at the time of issue. In the case of a Series of Notes with more than one Specified Denomination, Notes of one Specified Denomination will not be exchangeable for Notes of another Specified Denomination. The minimum Specified Denomination shall be €1,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency as at the date of issue of the relevant Notes). Title to the Notes and the Coupons will pass by delivery. The holder of any Note or Coupon shall (except as otherwise required by law) be treated as its absolute owner for all purposes (whether or not it is overdue and regardless of any notice of ownership, trust or any other interest therein, any writing thereon or any notice of any previous loss or theft thereof) and no Person shall be liable for so treating such holder. No Person shall have any right to enforce any term or condition of any Note under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
The Notes constitute direct, general, unconditional, unsubordinated and (without prejudice to the provisions of Condition 5 (Negative Pledge)) unsecured obligations of the Issuer which will at all times rank pari passu among themselves and at least pari passu with all other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer, save for such obligations as may be preferred by provisions of law that are both mandatory and of general application and subject to Condition 5 (Negative Pledge).
After the date hereof, the Issuer will not itself, and will not permit any Subsidiary of the Issuer to, create, incur or suffer to exist, any Lien on any Property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer securing any Restricted Debt, without effectively providing that the Notes (together with, if the Issuer shall so determine, any other indebtedness of the Issuer or such Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created) shall be secured equally and rateably with (or, at the option of the Issuer, prior to) such secured Restricted Debt, so long as such secured Restricted Debt shall be so secured, unless, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of all Restricted Debt of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries secured by Liens on Property of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries would not exceed 15 per cent. of Consolidated Assets; provided, however, that this Condition 5 shall not apply to, and there shall be excluded from Restricted Debt secured by Liens in any computation under this Condition 5, Restricted Debt secured only by:
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For purposes of this Condition 5 an "acquisition" of Property shall include any transaction or Series of transactions by which the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer acquires, directly or indirectly, an interest, or an additional interest (to the extent thereof), in such Property, including without limitation an acquisition through merger or consolidation with, or an acquisition of an interest in, a Person owning an interest in such Property.
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provided, however, that if no rate is available for a period of time next shorter or, as the case may be, next longer than the length of the relevant Interest Period, then the Calculation Agent shall determine such rate at such time and by reference to such sources as it determines appropriate;
and the Rate of Interest for such Interest Period shall be the sum of the Margin and the rate or (as the case may be) the arithmetic mean so determined; provided, however, that if the Calculation Agent is unable to determine a rate or (as the
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case may be) an arithmetic mean in accordance with the above provisions in relation to any Interest Period, the Rate of Interest applicable to the Notes during such Interest Period will be the sum of the Margin and the rate or (as the case may be) the arithmetic mean last determined in relation to the Notes in respect of a preceding Interest Period.
"Compounded Daily SONIA", with respect to an Interest Period, will be calculated by the Calculation Agent on each Interest Determination Date in accordance with the following formula, and the resulting percentage will be rounded, if necessary, to the fourth decimal place, with 0.00005 being rounded upwards:
i= 1do1+ SONIAi x niD-1x Dd
"d" means the number of calendar days in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period;
"D" is the number specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement (or, if no such number is specified, 365);
"do" means the number of London Banking Days in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period;
"i" means a series of whole numbers from one to do, each representing the relevant London Banking Day in chronological order from, and including, the first London Banking Day in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period;
to, and including, the last London Banking Day in such period;
"London Banking Day" means any day on which commercial banks are open for general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London;
"ni" for any London Banking Day "i", in the relevant Interest Period or Observation Period (as applicable) is the number of calendar days from, and including, such London Banking Day "i" up to, but excluding, the following London Banking Day;
"Observation Period" means, in respect of an Interest Period, the period from, and including, the date falling "p" London Banking Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period (and the first Interest Period shall begin on and include the Interest Commencement Date) and ending on, but excluding, the date which is "p" London Banking
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Days prior to the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period (or the date falling "p" London Banking Days prior to such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes become due and payable);
"p" for any Interest Period or Observation Period (as applicable), means the number of London Banking Days specified as the "Lag Period" or the "Observation Shift Period" (as applicable) in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"SONIA Reference Rate" means, in respect of any London Banking Day, a reference rate equal to the daily Sterling Overnight Index Average ("SONIA") rate for such London Banking Day as provided by the administrator of SONIA to authorised distributors and as then published on the Relevant Screen Page (or if the Relevant Screen Page is unavailable, as otherwise is published by such authorised distributors) on the London Banking Day immediately following such London Banking Day; and
"SONIAi" means the SONIA Reference Rate for:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the London Banking Day falling "p" London Banking Days prior to the relevant London Banking Day "i"; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant London Banking Day "i";
"Benchmark" means Compounded SOFR, which is a compounded average of daily SOFR, as determined for each Interest Period in accordance with the specific formula and other provisions set out in this Condition 7(e).
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"Compounded SOFR" with respect to any Interest Period, means the rate of return of a daily compound interest investment computed in accordance with the following formula (and the resulting percentage will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with 0.000005 being rounded upwards to 0.00001):
i=1do1+ SOFRi x niD-1 x Dd
"d" is the number of calendar days in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period.
"D" is the number specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement (or, if no such number is specified, 360);
"do" is the number of U.S. Government Securities Business Days in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period.
"i" is a series of whole numbers from one to do, each representing the relevant U.S. Government Securities Business Day in chronological order from, and including, the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period,
to and including the last U.S. Government Securities Business Day in such period;
"ni" for any U.S. Government Securities Business Day "i" in the relevant Interest Period or Observation Period (as applicable), is the number of calendar days from, and including, such U.S. Government Securities Business Day "i" to, but excluding, the following U.S. Government Securities Business Day ("i+1");
"Observation Period" in respect of an Interest Period means the period from, and including, the date falling "p" U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the first day in such Interest Period (and the first Interest Period shall begin on and include the Interest Commencement Date) and ending on, but excluding, the date falling "p" U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period (or the date falling "p" U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes become due and payable);
"p" for any Interest Period or Observation Period (as applicable) means the number of U.S. Government Securities Business Days specified as the "Lag Period" or the "Observation Shift Period" (as applicable) in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"SOFR" with respect to any U.S. Government Securities Business Day, means:
(i) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published for such U.S. Government Securities Business Day as such rate appears on the SOFR Administrator's Website at 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on the immediately following U.S. Government Securities Business Day (the "SOFR Determination Time"); or
(ii) Subject to Condition 7(e)(iv) below, if the rate specified in (i) above does not so appear, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which the Secured Overnight Financing Rate was published on the SOFR Administrator's Website;
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"SOFR Administrator" means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate);
"SOFR Administrator's Website" means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor source;
"SOFRi" means the SOFR for:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day falling "p" U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the relevant U.S. Government Securities Business Day "i"; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant U.S. Government Securities Business Day "i"; and
"U.S. Government Securities Business Day" means any day except for a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.
Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Issuer (or its Independent Adviser) pursuant to this condition, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection:
For the purposes of this condition 7(e)(iv):
"Benchmark" means, initially, Compounded SOFR, as such term is defined above; provided that if the Issuer determines on or prior to the Reference Time that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Compounded SOFR (or the published daily SOFR used in the calculation thereof) or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” shall mean the applicable Benchmark Replacement;
"Benchmark Replacement" means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Issuer or its Independent Adviser as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:
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"Benchmark Replacement Adjustment" means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Issuer or its Independent Adviser as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:
"Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Issuer or its Independent Adviser decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Issuer or its Independent Adviser decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Issuer or its Independent Adviser determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Issuer determines is reasonably necessary);
"Benchmark Replacement Date" means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the daily published component used in the calculation thereof):
For the avoidance of doubt, if the event that gives rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination;
"Benchmark Transition Event" means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the daily published component used in the calculation thereof):
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"ISDA Fallback Adjustment" means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark;
"ISDA Fallback Rate" means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment;
"Reference Time" with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (i) if the Benchmark is Compounded SOFR, the SOFR Determination Time, and (ii) if the Benchmark is not Compounded SOFR, the time determined by the Issuer or its Independent Adviser after giving effect to the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes;
"Relevant Governmental Body" means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto; and
"Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement" means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
No later than notifying the Fiscal Agent of the same, the Issuer shall deliver to the Fiscal Agent a certificate signed by two authorised signatories of the Issuer:
(A) confirming (x) that a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred, (y) the relevant Benchmark Replacement and, (z) where applicable, any Benchmark Replacement Adjustment and/or the specific terms of any relevant Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, in each case as determined in accordance with the provisions of this Condition 7(e); and
(B) certifying that the relevant Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes are necessary to ensure the proper operation of such Benchmark Replacement and/or Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
"Compounded Daily €STR XE "Compounded Daily €STR" " means, with respect to any Interest Period, the rate of return of a daily compound interest investment (with the daily euro short-term rate as reference rate for the calculation of interest) as calculated by the Calculation Agent as at the relevant Interest Determination Date in
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accordance with the following formula (and the resulting percentage will be rounded if necessary to the nearest fifth decimal place, with 0.000005 being rounded upwards):
i=1do1+€STRi × niD-1×Dd
where:
"d" means the number of calendar days in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period;
"D" means the number specified as such in the relevant Pricing Supplement (or, if no such number is specified, 360);
"do" means the number of TARGET Settlement Days in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period;
the "€STR reference rate XE "€STR reference rate" ", in respect of any TARGET Settlement Day, is a reference rate equal to the daily euro short-term rate ("€STR XE "€STR" ") for such TARGET Settlement Day as provided by the European Central Bank as the administrator of €STR (or any successor administrator of such rate) on the website of the European Central Bank (or, if no longer published on its website, as otherwise published by it or provided by it to authorised distributors and as then published on the Relevant Screen Page or, if the Relevant Screen Page is unavailable, as otherwise published by such authorised distributors) on the TARGET Settlement Day immediately following such TARGET Settlement Day (in each case, at the time specified by, or determined in accordance with, the applicable methodology, policies or guidelines, of the European Central Bank or the successor administrator of such rate);
"€STRi XE "€STRi" " means the €STR reference rate for:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the TARGET Settlement Day falling "p" TARGET Settlement Days prior to the relevant TARGET Settlement Day "i"; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant TARGET Settlement Day "i".
"i" is a series of whole numbers from one to "do", each representing the relevant TARGET Settlement Day in chronological order from, and including, the first TARGET Settlement Day in:
(i) where "Lag" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Interest Period; or
(ii) where "Observation Shift" is specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the relevant Observation Period;
to, and including, the last TARGET Settlement Day in such period;
"ni" for any TARGET Settlement Day "i" in the relevant Interest Period or Observation Period (as applicable), means the number of calendar days from (and including) such TARGET Settlement Day "i" up to (but excluding) the following TARGET Settlement Day;
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"Observation Period XE "Observation Period" " means, in respect of any Interest Period, the period from (and including) the date falling "p" TARGET Settlement Days prior to the first day of the relevant Interest Period (and the first Interest Period shall begin on and include the Interest Commencement Date) to (but excluding) the date falling "p" TARGET Settlement Days prior to (A) (in the case of an Interest Period) the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period or (B) such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes become due and payable; and
"p" for any latest Interest Period or Observation Period (as applicable), means the number of TARGET Settlement Days specified as the "Lag Period" or the "Observation Shift Period" (as applicable) in the relevant Pricing Supplement or, if no such period is specified, five TARGET Settlement Days.
(Compounded Index EndCompounded Index Start-1) X Numeratord
and rounded to the Relevant Decimal Place, plus or minus the Margin (if any), all as determined and calculated by the Calculation Agent, where:
"Compounded Index" shall mean either the SONIA Compounded Index or the SOFR Compounded Index, as specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"d" is the number of calendar days from (and including) the day on which the relevant Compounded Index Start is determined to (but excluding) the day on which the relevant Compounded Index End is determined;
"End" means the relevant Compounded Index value on the day falling the Relevant Number of Index Days prior to the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period, or such other date on which the relevant payment of interest falls due (but which by its definition or the operation of the relevant provisions is excluded from such Interest Period);
"Index Days" means, in the case of the SONIA Compounded Index, London Banking Days, and, in the case of the SOFR Compounded Index, U.S. Government Securities Business Days;
"London Banking Day" has the meaning given in Condition 7(d);
"Numerator" means, in the case of the SONIA Compounded Index, 365 and, in the case of the SOFR Compounded Index, 360;
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"Relevant Decimal Place" shall, unless otherwise specified in the Pricing Supplement, be the fifth decimal place, rounded up or down, if necessary (with 0.000005 being rounded upwards); and
"Relevant Number" is as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, but, unless otherwise specified shall be five.
"SONIA Compounded Index" means the Compounded Daily SONIA rate as published at 10:00 (London time) by the Bank of England (or a successor administrator of SONIA) on the Bank of England's Interactive Statistical Database, or any successor source;
"SOFR Compounded Index" means the Compounded Daily SOFR rate as published at 15:00 (New York time) by Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of SOFR) on the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor source;
"Start" means the relevant Compounded Index value on the day falling the Relevant Number of Index Days prior to the first day of the relevant Interest Period; and
"U.S. Government Securities Business Day" has the meaning given in Condition 7(e).
Provided that a Benchmark Event or Benchmark Transition Event has not occurred in respect of the relevant Compounded Index, if, with respect to any Interest Period, the relevant rate is not published for the relevant Compounded Index either on the relevant Start or End date, then the Calculation Agent shall calculate the rate of interest for that Interest Period as if Index Determination was not specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement and as if Compounded SONIA or Compounded Daily SOFR (as defined in Condition 7(d) or Condition 7(e), as applicable) had been specified instead in the Pricing Supplement, and in each case "Observation Shift" had been specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Pricing Supplement, and where the Observation Shift Period for the purposes of that definition in Condition 7(d) or Condition 7(e) (as applicable) shall be deemed to be the same as the Relevant Number specified in the Pricing Supplement and where, in the case of Compounded Daily SONIA, the Relevant Screen Page will be determined by the Issuer.
For the avoidance of doubt, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred in respect of the SOFR Compounded Index or if a Benchmark Event has occurred in respect of the SONIA Compounded Index, the provisions of Condition 7(d)(iv), 7(e)(iv) and 7(h) (Benchmark Discontinuation) (as applicable) shall apply.
Other than in the case of a U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate Note for which the Reference Rate is specified in the relevant Final Terms as being "SOFR", if a Benchmark Event occurs in relation to an Original Reference Rate when any Rate of Interest (or any component part thereof) remains to be determined by reference to such Original Reference Rate, then the Issuer shall use its reasonable endeavours to appoint (at the expense of the Issuer) and consult with an Independent Adviser, as soon as reasonably practicable, with a view to the Issuer (acting in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner) determining a Successor Rate, failing which an Alternative Rate (in accordance with Condition 7(h)(ii)) and, in either case, an Adjustment Spread if any (in accordance with Condition 7(h)(iii)) and any Benchmark Amendments (in accordance with Condition 7(h)(iv)).
An Independent Adviser appointed pursuant to this Condition 7(h) shall act in good faith as an expert and (in the absence of bad faith or fraud) shall have no liability whatsoever to the Issuer, the Paying Agents, the Calculation Agent, the Noteholders or the Couponholders for any determination made by it or for any advice given to the Issuer in connection with any determination made by the Issuer, pursuant to this Condition 7(h).
If (a) the Issuer is unable to appoint an Independent Adviser or (b) the Issuer, following consultation with the Independent Adviser, fails to determine a Successor Rate or, failing which, an Alternative Rate in accordance with this Condition 7(h)(i) prior to the relevant Interest Determination Date, the Reference Rate applicable to the immediate following Interest Period shall be the Reference Rate applicable as at the last preceding Interest Determination Date. If there has not been a first Interest Payment Date, the Reference Rate shall be the Reference Rate applicable to the first Floating Rate Interest Period. For the avoidance of doubt, any adjustment pursuant to this final paragraph of Condition 7(h)(i) shall apply to the immediately following Interest Period only. Any subsequent Interest Period may be subject to the subsequent operation of this Condition 7(h)(i).
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If the Issuer, following consultation with the Independent Adviser and acting in good faith, determines that:
If the Issuer, following consultation with the Independent Adviser and acting in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, determines (x) that an Adjustment Spread is required to be applied to the Successor Rate or the Alternative Rate (as the case may be) and (y) the quantum of, or a formula or methodology for determining, such Adjustment Spread, then such Adjustment Spread shall be applied to the Successor Rate or the Alternative Rate (as the case may be).
If any Successor Rate, Alternative Rate or Adjustment Spread is determined in accordance with this Condition 7(h) and the Issuer, following consultation with the Independent Adviser and acting in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, determines (i) that amendments to these Conditions are necessary to ensure the proper operation of such Successor Rate, Alternative Rate and/or Adjustment Spread (such amendments, the "Benchmark Amendments") and (ii) the terms of the Benchmark Amendments, then the Issuer shall, subject to giving notice thereof in accordance with Condition 7(h)(v), without any requirement for the consent or approval of Noteholders, vary these Conditions to give effect to such Benchmark Amendments with effect from the date specified in such notice.
In connection with any such variation in accordance with this Condition 7(h)(iv), the Issuer shall comply with the rules of any stock exchange on which the Notes are for the time being listed or admitted to trading.
Any Successor Rate, Alternative Rate, Adjustment Spread and the specific terms of any Benchmark Amendments determined under this Condition 7(h) will be notified promptly by the Issuer to the Calculation Agent, the Paying Agents and, in accordance with Condition 18, the Noteholders. Such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the effective date of the Benchmark Amendments, if any.
Without prejudice to the obligations of the Issuer under Conditions 7(h)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), the Original Reference Rate and the fallback provisions provided for in Conditions 7(c)(iv) and (v) will continue to apply unless and until the Calculation Agent has been notified of the Successor Rate or the Alternative Rate (as the case may be), and any Adjustment Spread (if applicable) and Benchmark Amendments, in accordance with Condition 7(h)(v).
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on giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to the Noteholders (which notice shall be irrevocable), at their Early Redemption Amount (Tax), together with interest accrued (if any) to the date fixed for redemption, if:
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provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than:
(1) where the Notes may be redeemed at any time, 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer would be obliged to pay such additional amounts if a payment in respect of the Notes were then due; or
(2) where the Notes may be redeemed only on an Interest Payment Date, 60 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring immediately before the earliest date on which the Issuer would be obliged to pay such additional amounts if a payment in respect of the Notes were then due.
Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to this paragraph, the Issuer shall deliver to the Fiscal Agent (A) a certificate signed by two members of the Board of Management of the Issuer stating that the Issuer is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Issuer so to redeem have occurred and (B) (in the case of redemption under Condition 9(b)(A)) an opinion of independent legal advisers of recognized standing to the effect that the Issuer has or will become obliged to pay such additional amounts as a result of such change or amendment. Upon the expiry of any such notice as is referred to in this Condition 9(b), the Issuer shall be bound to redeem the Notes in accordance with this Condition 9(b).
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Where such calculation is to be made for a period which is not a whole number of years, the calculation in respect of the period of less than a full year shall be made on the basis of such Day Count Fraction as may be specified in the Pricing Supplement for the purposes of this Condition 9(g) or, if none is so specified, a Day Count Fraction of 30E/360.
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Each sum of principal so deducted shall be paid in the manner provided in paragraph (a) above against presentation and (provided that payment is made in full) surrender of the relevant missing Coupons.
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If any of the following events occurs and is continuing:
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then any outstanding Notes of a particular Series may by written notice, addressed by any Noteholder, delivered to the Issuer or to the Specified Office of the Fiscal Agent, be declared immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable at their Early Termination Amount together with accrued interest (if any) without further action or formality. Upon payment of the Early Termination Amount, all obligations of the Issuer in respect of payment of the principal amount of the Notes of such Series shall terminate.
Claims for principal shall become void unless the relevant Notes are presented for payment within ten years of the appropriate Relevant Date. Claims for interest shall become void unless the relevant Coupons are presented for payment within five years of the appropriate Relevant Date.
If any Note or Coupon is lost, stolen, mutilated, defaced or destroyed, it may be replaced at the Specified Office of the Fiscal Agent, subject to all applicable laws and competent authority, stock exchange and/or quotation system requirements (if any), upon payment by the claimant of the expenses incurred in connection with such replacement and on such terms as to evidence, security, indemnity and otherwise as the Issuer may reasonably require. Mutilated or defaced Notes or Coupons must be surrendered before replacements will be issued.
In acting under the Agency Agreement and in connection with the Notes and the Coupons, the Paying Agents act solely as agents of the Issuer and do not assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the Noteholders or Couponholders.
The initial Paying Agents and their initial Specified Offices are listed below. The initial Calculation Agent (if any) is specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement. The Issuer reserves the right at any time to vary or terminate the appointment of any Paying Agent and to appoint a successor fiscal agent or Calculation Agent and additional or successor paying agents; provided, however, that:
(a) the Issuer shall at all times maintain a Fiscal Agent; and
(b) if a Calculation Agent is specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement, the Issuer shall at all times maintain a Calculation Agent; and
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(c) if and for so long as the Notes are admitted to listing and trading and/or quotation by any competent authority, stock exchange and/or quotation system which requires the appointment of a Paying Agent in any particular place, the Issuer shall maintain a Paying Agent having its Specified Office in the place required by such competent authority, stock exchange and/or quotation system.
In addition, the Issuer shall forthwith appoint a Paying Agent in New York City in respect of any Notes denominated in U.S. dollars in the circumstances described in Condition 10(c).
Notice of any change in any of the Paying Agents or in their Specified Offices shall promptly be given to the Noteholders.
In addition, a resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of the holders of not less than 75 per cent. in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes will take effect as if it were an Extraordinary Resolution. Such a resolution in writing may be contained in one document or several documents in the same form, each signed by or on behalf of one or more Noteholders.
The consent or approval of the Noteholders will not be required for any Benchmark Amendments made pursuant to Condition 7(h) (Benchmark Discontinuation).
The Issuer may from time to time, without the consent of the Noteholders or the Couponholders, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the Notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the first payment of interest) so as to form a single series with the Notes.
Notices to the Holders shall be valid if published in a leading English language daily newspaper published in London (which is expected to be the Financial Times) and, if the Notes are admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and it is a requirement of applicable law or regulations, a leading newspaper having general circulation in Luxembourg (which is expected to be Luxemburger Wort) or published on the website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu) or in either case, if such publication is not practicable, in a leading English language daily newspaper having general circulation in Europe. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of first publication (or if required to be published in more than one newspaper, on the first date on which publication shall have been made in all the required newspapers). Couponholders shall be deemed for all purposes to have notice of the contents of any notice given to the Holders.
If any sum due from the Issuer in respect of the Notes or the Coupons or any order or judgment given or made in relation thereto has to be converted from the currency (the "first currency") in which the same is payable under these Conditions
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or such order or judgment into another currency (the "second currency") for the purpose of (a) making or filing a claim or proof against the Issuer, (b) obtaining an order or judgment in any court or other tribunal or (c) enforcing any order or judgment given or made in relation to the Notes, the Issuer shall indemnify each Noteholder, on the written demand of such Noteholder addressed to the Issuer and delivered to the Issuer or to the Specified Office of the Fiscal Agent, against any loss suffered as a result of any discrepancy between (i) the rate of exchange used for such purpose to convert the sum in question from the first currency into the second currency and (ii) the rate or rates of exchange at which such Noteholder may in the ordinary course of business purchase the first currency with the second currency upon receipt of a sum paid to it in satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any such order, judgment, claim or proof.
This indemnity constitutes a separate and independent obligation of the Issuer, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of action and shall continue in full force and effect despite any other judgment, order, claim or proof for a liquidated amount in respect of any sum due under the Note or Coupon or any other judgment or order.
For the purposes of any calculations referred to in these Conditions, (unless otherwise specified in these Conditions, or the relevant Pricing Supplement), (a) all percentages resulting from such calculations will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, (b) U.S. dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one half cent being rounded up), (c) all Japanese Yen amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded downwards to the next lower whole Japanese Yen amount, and (d) all amounts denominated in any other currency used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest two decimal places in such currency, with 0.005 being rounded upwards.
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