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): November 9, 2015

 

 

Symantec Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   000-17781   77-0181864

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

350 Ellis Street, Mountain View, CA   94043
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code (650) 527-8000

 

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ 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))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On November 9, 2015, Symantec Corporation (“Symantec”) entered into an accelerated stock buyback agreement (the “ASR Agreement”) with Barclays Bank PLC (“Bank”) to repurchase an aggregate of $500 million of Symantec’s common stock. The ASR Agreement is part of Symantec’s existing stock repurchase program, for which Symantec’s Board of Directors authorized an increase of an additional $1.5 billion in August 2015.

Under the terms of the ASR Agreement, Symantec will make a $500 million payment to Bank on November 13, 2015 and expects to receive from Bank on the same day an initial delivery of approximately 19,880,716 shares of Symantec’s common stock. The final number of shares to be repurchased will be based on the volume-weighted average stock price of Symantec’s common stock during the term of the transaction, less a discount and subject to potential adjustments pursuant to the terms of the ASR Agreement. At settlement, under certain circumstances, Bank may be required to deliver additional shares of common stock to Symantec, or under certain circumstances, Symantec may be required to deliver shares of common stock or to make a cash payment, at its election, to Bank. The final settlement of the transactions under the ASR Agreement is scheduled to occur in February 2016.

The ASR Agreement contains customary terms for these types of transactions, including, but not limited to, the mechanisms to determine the number of shares or the amount of cash that will be delivered at settlement, the required timing of delivery of the shares, the specific circumstances under which adjustments may be made to the transaction, the specific circumstances under which the transaction may be terminated prior to its scheduled settlement date and various acknowledgements, representations and warranties made by Symantec and Bank to one another.

From time to time, Bank and/or its affiliates have directly and indirectly engaged, and may engage in the future, in investment and/or commercial banking transactions with Symantec for which they have received, or may receive, customary compensation, fees and expense reimbursement.

The foregoing description of the ASR Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the ASR Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Master Confirmation – Accelerated Stock Buyback, dated as of November 9, 2015, between Symantec Corporation and Barclays Bank PLC

 

2


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.

 

    Symantec Corporation
Date: November 9, 2015     By:   /s/ THOMAS J. SEIFERT
     

 

      Thomas J. Seifert
      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

3


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Master Confirmation – Accelerated Stock Buyback, dated as of November 9, 2015, between Symantec Corporation and Barclays Bank PLC

 

4



Exhibit 10.1

Opening Transaction

 

To:   

Symantec Corporation

350 Ellis Street

Mountain View, CA 94043

  
A/C:    [Insert Account Number]   
From:   

Barclays Bank PLC

5 The North Colonnade

Canary Wharf, London E14 4BB

Facsimile: +44(20)77736461

Telephone: +44 (20) 777 36810

 

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

as Agent for Barclays Bank PLC

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Telephone: +1 212 412 4000

  
Re:    Accelerated Stock Buyback   
Ref. No:        As provided in the Supplemental Confirmation   
Date:    November 9, 2015   

 

 

This master confirmation (this “Master Confirmation”), dated as of November 9, 2015 is intended to set forth certain terms and provisions of certain Transactions (each, a “Transaction”) entered into from time to time between Barclays Bank PLC (“Dealer”), through its agent Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Agent”) and Symantec Corporation (“Counterparty”). This Master Confirmation, taken alone, is neither a commitment by either party to enter into any Transaction nor evidence of a Transaction. The additional terms of any particular Transaction shall be set forth in a Supplemental Confirmation in the form of Schedule A hereto (a “Supplemental Confirmation”), which shall reference this Master Confirmation and supplement, form a part of, and be subject to this Master Confirmation. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation together shall constitute a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below. Dealer is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”). Dealer is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., are incorporated into this Master Confirmation. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation evidence a complete binding agreement between Counterparty and Dealer as to the subject matter and terms of each Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation relate and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto.

This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation supplement, form a part of, and are subject to an agreement in the form of the 1992 ISDA Master Agreement (Multicurrency-Cross Border) (the “Agreement”) as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed the Agreement on the date of this Master Confirmation (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of Loss and Second Method, New York law (without reference to its choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law) as the governing law and US Dollars (“USD”) as the Termination Currency, (ii) the election that subparagraph (ii) of Section 2(c) will not apply to the Transactions, (iii) the replacement of the word “third” in the last line of Section 5(a)(i) with the word “first”, ( iv) the insertion of “, absent manifest error” immediately before the period at the end of the last sentence of Section 6(d)(i), and (iv) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) shall apply to Dealer and Counterparty, with a “Threshold Amount” of USD 3% of stockholders’ equity applicable to each party; provided


that (a) the words “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” shall be deleted from Section 5(a)(vi) and (b) the following sentence shall be added to the end thereof: “Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Event of Default shall not occur under either (1) or (2) above if (a) the event or condition referred to in (1) or the failure to pay referred to in (2) is caused by an error or omission of an administrative or operational nature, (b) funds were available to such party to enable it to make the relevant payment when due, and (c) such payment is made within three Local Business Days.”

The Transactions shall be the sole Transactions under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Dealer and Counterparty or any confirmation or other agreement between Dealer and Counterparty pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Dealer and Counterparty, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Dealer and Counterparty are parties, the Transactions shall not be considered Transactions under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement.

All provisions contained or incorporated by reference in the Agreement shall govern this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified herein or in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

If, in relation to any Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and a Supplemental Confirmation relate, there is any inconsistency between the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail for purposes of such Transaction in the order of precedence indicated: (i) such Supplemental Confirmation; (ii) this Master Confirmation; (iii) the Equity Definitions; and (iv) the Agreement.

1. Each Transaction constitutes a Share Forward Transaction for the purposes of the Equity Definitions. Set forth below are the terms and conditions that, together with the terms and conditions set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation relating to any Transaction, shall govern such Transaction.

General Terms:

Trade Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Buyer:

   Counterparty

Seller:

   Dealer

Shares:

   Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Counterparty (Ticker: SYMC)

Exchange:

   Nasdaq Global Select Market

Related Exchange(s):

   All Exchanges.

PrepaymentVariable

Obligation:

   Applicable

Prepayment Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Prepayment Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.
Valuation:   

VWAP Price:

   For any Exchange Business Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent based on the New York 10b-18 Volume Weighted Average Price per Share for the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof) of the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day (without regard to pre-open or after hours trading

 

2


   outside of such regular trading session for such Exchange Business Day), as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m. New York time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session) on such Exchange Business Day, on Bloomberg page “SYMC <Equity> AQR_SEC” (or any successor thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such Exchange Business Day for any reason or is, in the Calculation Agent’s reasonable discretion, erroneous, such VWAP Price shall be as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent. For purposes of calculating the VWAP Price, the Calculation Agent will include only those trades that are reported during the period of time during which Counterparty could purchase its own shares under Rule 10b-18(b)(2) and are effected pursuant to the conditions of Rule 10b-18(b)(3), each under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (such trades, “Rule 10b-18 eligible transactions”).

Forward Price:

   The average of the VWAP Prices for the Exchange Business Days in the Calculation Period that are Scheduled Calculation Dates for a Transaction, subject to “Valuation Disruption” below.

Forward Price Adjustment Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Calculation Period:

   The period from and including the Calculation Period Start Date to and including the Termination Date.

Calculation Period Start Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Scheduled Calculation Dates:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in Schedule A to the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Termination Date:

   The Scheduled Termination Date; provided that Dealer shall have the right to designate any Exchange Business Day on or after the First Acceleration Date to be the Termination Date (the “Accelerated Termination Date”) by delivering notice to Counterparty of any such designation prior to 11:59 p.m. New York City time on the Exchange Business Day immediately following the designated Accelerated Termination Date.

Scheduled Termination Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation, subject to postponement as provided in “Valuation Disruption” below

First Acceleration Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation

Valuation Disruption:

   The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” and inserting the words “at any time on any Scheduled Calculation Date during the Calculation Period or Settlement Valuation Period” after the word “material,” in the third line thereof.
   Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

 

3


   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, to the extent that a Disrupted Day occurs (i) in the Calculation Period, the Calculation Agent may, in its good faith and commercially reasonable discretion, postpone the Scheduled Termination Date, or (ii) in the Settlement Valuation Period, the Calculation Agent may extend the Settlement Valuation Period. If any such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day because of a Market Disruption Event (or a deemed Market Disruption Event as provided herein), the Calculation Agent shall determine whether (i) such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day in full, in which case the VWAP Price for such Disrupted Day shall not be included for purposes of determining the Forward Price or the Settlement Price, as the case may be, or (ii) such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case the VWAP Price for such Disrupted Day shall be determined by the Calculation Agent based on Rule 10b-18 eligible transactions in the Shares on such Disrupted Day taking into account the nature and duration of the relevant Market Disruption Event, and the weighting of the VWAP Price for the relevant Scheduled Calculation Dates during the Calculation Period or the Settlement Valuation Period, as the case may be, shall be adjusted in a commercially reasonable manner by the Calculation Agent for purposes of determining the Forward Price or the Settlement Price, as the case may be, with such adjustments based on the duration of any Market Disruption Event and the volume, historical trading patterns and price of the Shares. Any Exchange Business Day on which, as of the date hereof, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal close of trading shall be deemed not to be an Exchange Business Day; if a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading on any Exchange Business Day is scheduled following the date hereof, then such Exchange Business Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full.
   If a Disrupted Day occurs during the Calculation Period or the Settlement Valuation Period, as the case may be, and each of the five immediately following Scheduled Calculation Dates is a Disrupted Day, then the Calculation Agent, in its good faith and commercially reasonable discretion, may deem such fifth Scheduled Calculation Date to be an Exchange Business Day that is not a Disrupted Day and determine the VWAP Price for such fifth Scheduled Calculation Date using its good faith estimate of the value of the Shares on such fifth Scheduled Calculation Date based on the volume, historical trading patterns and price of the Shares.
   The Calculation Agent shall notify the parties of the occurrence of any Disrupted Day as promptly as practicable, and shall use good faith efforts to notify the parties of any determination pursuant to these Valuation Disruption provisions no later than the Exchange Business Day immediately following the last consecutive affected Scheduled Calculation Date.
Settlement Terms:   

Settlement Procedures:

   If the Number of Shares to be Delivered is positive, Physical Settlement shall be applicable; provided that Dealer does not, and shall not, make the agreement or the representations set forth in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions related to the restrictions imposed by applicable securities laws with respect to any Shares delivered by Dealer to Counterparty under any Transaction. If the Number of Shares to be Delivered is negative, then the Counterparty Settlement Provisions in Annex A shall apply.

Number of Sharesto be Delivered:

   A number of Shares equal to (x)(a) the Prepayment Amount divided by (b) the Divisor Amount minus (y) the number of Initial Shares.

 

4


Divisor Amount:

   The greater of (i) the Forward Price minus the Forward Price Adjustment Amount and (ii) $1.00.

Excess Dividend Amount:

   For the avoidance of doubt, all references to the Excess Dividend Amount shall be deleted from Section 9.2(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions.

Settlement Date:

   If the Number of Shares to be Delivered is positive, the date that is one Settlement Cycle immediately following the Termination Date.

Settlement Currency:

   USD

Initial Share Delivery:

   Dealer shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the Initial Shares to Counterparty on the Initial Share Delivery Date in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with the Initial Share Delivery Date deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4.

Initial Share Delivery Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Initial Shares:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.
Share Adjustments:   

Potential Adjustment Event:

   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions, an Extraordinary Dividend shall not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event.
   It shall constitute an additional Potential Adjustment Event if the Scheduled Termination Date for any Transaction is postponed pursuant to “Valuation Disruption” above, in which case the Calculation Agent may, in its commercially reasonable discretion, adjust any relevant terms of any such Transaction as necessary to account for the economic effect on any Transaction of such postponement.

Extraordinary Dividend:

   For any calendar quarter, any dividend or distribution on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring during such calendar quarter (other than any dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions) (a “Dividend”) the amount or value of which (as determined by the Calculation Agent), when aggregated with the amount or value (as determined by the Calculation Agent) of any and all previous Dividends with ex-dividend dates occurring in the same calendar quarter, exceeds the Ordinary Dividend Amount.

Ordinary Dividend Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Method of Adjustment:

   Calculation Agent Adjustment

Agreement Regarding Dividends:

   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Master Confirmation, the Definitions or the Agreement to the contrary, in calculating any adjustment pursuant to Article 11 of the Equity Definitions or any amount payable in respect of any termination or cancellation of the Transaction pursuant to Article

 

5


   12 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6 of the Agreement, the Calculation Agent shall not take into account changes to any dividends since the Trade Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Early Termination Date occurs in respect of the Transaction, the amount payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement in respect of such Early Termination Date shall be determined without regard to the difference between actual dividends declared (including Extraordinary Dividends) and expected dividends as of the Trade Date.

Scheduled Ex-Dividend Dates:

   For each Transaction for each calendar quarter, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.
Extraordinary Events:   

Consequences of Merger Events:

  

(a)

   Share-for-Share:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

(b)

   Share-for-Other:    Cancellation and Payment

(c)

   Share-for-Combined:    Component Adjustment

Tender Offer:

   Applicable; provided that (i) Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing “10%” in the third line thereof with “20%”, (ii) Section 12.1(l) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended (x) by deleting the parenthetical in the fifth line thereof, (y) by replacing “that” in the fifth line thereof with “whether or not such announcement” and (z) by adding immediately after the words “Tender Offer” in the fifth line thereof “, and any publicly announced change or amendment to such an announcement (including the announcement of an abandonment of such intention)” and iii) Sections 12.3(a) and 12.3(d) of the Equity Definitions shall each be amended by replacing each occurrence of the words “Tender Offer Date” by “Announcement Date.”

Consequences of Tender Offers:

  

(a)

   Share-for-Share:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment.

(b)

   Share-for-Other:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

(c)

   Share-for-Combined:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:

   Cancellation and Payment; provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE MKT, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange.

 

6


Additional Disruption Events:   

 

(a)

   Change in Law:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) by replacing the word “Shares” where it appears in clause (X) thereof with the words “Hedge Position” and (iii) by immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date”; provided further that (i) any determination as to whether (A) the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute) or (B) the promulgation of or any change in the interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in each case, constitutes a “Change in Law” shall be made without regard to Section 739 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, and (ii) Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the parenthetical beginning after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)”.

(b)

   Failure to Deliver:    Applicable

(c)

   Insolvency Filing:    Applicable

(d)

   Hedging Disruption:    Not Applicable

(e)

   Increased Cost of Hedging:    Not Applicable

(f)

   Loss of Stock Borrow:    Applicable
   Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    200 basis points per annum
   Hedging Party:    Dealer

(g)

   Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:    Applicable
   Initial Stock Loan Rate:    25 basis points per annum

 

7


   Hedging Party:    Dealer; provided that when making any determination or calculation as “Hedging Party, Dealer shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner and shall provide Counterparty with a written explanation describing in reasonable detail any determination made by it (including any quotations, market data or information from internal sources used in making such determinations, but without disclosing its proprietary models or other information that it determines in good faith is likely to be proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information).
   Determining Party:    Dealer; provided that when making any determination or calculation as “Determining Party,” Dealer shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner and shall provide Counterparty with a written explanation describing in reasonable detail any determination made by it (including any quotations, market data or information from internal sources used in making such determinations, but without disclosing its proprietary models or other information that it determines in good faith is likely to be proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information).
Additional Termination
Event(s):
   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if, as a result of an Extraordinary Event, any Transaction would be cancelled or terminated (whether in whole or in part) pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions, an Additional Termination Event (with such terminated Transaction(s) (or portions thereof) being the Affected Transaction(s) and Counterparty being the sole Affected Party) shall be deemed to occur, and, in lieu of Sections 12.7, 12.8 and 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply to such Affected Transaction(s).
   The declaration by the Issuer of:
   (i) any Extraordinary Dividend, the ex-dividend date for which occurs or is scheduled to occur during the Relevant Dividend Period, and/or
   (ii) any Dividend that is not an Extraordinary Dividend, if the ex-dividend date for such Dividend for any calendar quarter occurring (in whole or in part) during the Relevant Dividend Period will be prior to the Scheduled Ex-Dividend Date for such calendar quarter,
   shall in each case constitute an Additional Termination Event, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and all Transactions hereunder as the Affected Transactions.
Relevant Dividend Period:    The period from and including the Calculation Period Start Date to and including the Relevant Dividend Period End Date.
Relevant Dividend Period End Date:    If the Number of Shares to be Delivered is negative, the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period; otherwise, the Termination Date.

 

8


Non-Reliance/Agreements and

Acknowledgements Regarding

Hedging Activities/Additional Acknowledgements:

   Applicable
Transfer:    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, Dealer may assign, transfer and set over all rights, title and interest, powers, privileges and remedies of Dealer under any Transaction, in whole or in part, to an affiliate of Dealer whose obligations are guaranteed by Dealer or Dealer’s parent without the consent of Counterparty.
Dealer Payment Instructions:    Bank: Barclays Bank plc NY
   ABA# 
   BIC:
   Acct:
   Beneficiary:
Counterparty’s Contact Detailsfor Purpose of Giving Notice:    To be provided by Counterparty
Dealer’s Contact Details for Purpose of Giving Notice:   

Barclays Bank PLC

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attn: David Levin

Telephone: (+1) 212-526-8098

Facsimile: (+1) 718-422-0232

2. Calculation Agent. Dealer. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent or the Determining Party hereunder, upon a written request by Counterparty, the Calculation Agent or Determining Party, as the case may be, will provide to Counterparty within five (5) Exchange Business Days following receipt of such written request, by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Counterparty in such written request, a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data without disclosing any proprietary models of the Calculation Agent or other information that it determines in good faith is or is likely to be proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations not to disclose such information) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be. Whenever the Calculation Agent is required or permitted to exercise discretion in any way, it will do so in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.

3. Additional Mutual Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Each Party. In addition to the representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, each party represents, warrants and covenants to the other party that:

(a) Eligible Contract Participant. It is an “eligible contract participant”, as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (as amended), and is entering into each Transaction hereunder as principal (and not as agent or in any other capacity, fiduciary or otherwise) and not for the benefit of any third party.

(b) Accredited Investor. Each party acknowledges that the offer and sale of each Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof. Accordingly, each party represents and warrants to the other that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in each Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined under Regulation D under the Securities Act and (iii) the disposition of each Transaction is restricted under this Master Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws. Counterparty has total assets of at least USD 50,000,000 as of the date hereof.

 

9


(c) Material Nonpublic Information. Dealer hereby represents and covenants to Counterparty that it has implemented policies and procedures, taking into consideration the nature of its business, reasonably designed to prevent individuals making investment decisions related to any Transaction from having access to material nonpublic information regarding Issuer that may be in possession of other individuals at Dealer

(d) With respect to purchases of Shares by Dealer in connection with any Transaction during the Calculation Period for such Transaction (other than any purchases made by Dealer in connection with dynamic hedge adjustments of Dealer’s exposure to any Transaction as a result of any equity optionality contained in such Transaction, including, for the avoidance of doubt, timing optionality), Dealer will use good faith, commercially reasonable efforts to effect such purchases in a manner so that, if such purchases were made by Counterparty, they would meet the requirements of Rule 10b-18(b)(2), (3) and (4), and effect calculations in respect thereof, taking into account any applicable Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters as appropriate and subject to any delays between the execution and reporting of a trade of the Shares on the Exchange and other circumstances beyond Dealer’s control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Dealer shall not be responsible for any failure to comply with Rule 10b-18(b)(3) to the extent any transaction that was executed (or deemed to be executed) by or on behalf of Counterparty or an “affiliated purchaser” (as defined under Rule 10b-18) pursuant to a separate agreement is not deemed to be an “independent bid” or an “independent transaction” for purposes of Rule 10b-18(b)(3).

4. Additional Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Counterparty. In addition to the representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, Counterparty represents, warrants and covenants to Dealer that:

(a) The purchase or writing of each Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

(b) It is not entering into any Transaction (i) on the basis of, and is not aware of, any material non-public information with respect to the Shares (ii) in anticipation of, in connection with, or to facilitate, a distribution of its securities, a self tender offer or a third-party tender offer or (iii) to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares).

(c) Each Transaction is being entered into pursuant to a publicly disclosed Share buy-back program and its Board of Directors has approved the use of derivatives to effect the Share buy-back program.

(d) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that neither Dealer nor any of its affiliates is making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of any Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity.

(e) As of (i) the date hereof and (ii) the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, Counterparty is in compliance in all material respects with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act.

(f) Counterparty shall report each Transaction as required under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(g) The Shares are not, and Counterparty will not cause the Shares to be, subject to a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act) at any time during any Regulation M Period (as defined below) for any Transaction unless Counterparty has provided written notice to Dealer of such restricted period not later than the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the first day of such “restricted period”; Counterparty acknowledges that any such notice may cause a Disrupted Day to occur pursuant to Section 5 below; accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 6 below; “Regulation M Period” means, for any Transaction, (i) the Relevant Period (as defined below) and (ii) the Settlement Valuation Period, if any, for such Transaction. “Relevant Period” means, for any Transaction, the period commencing on the Calculation Period Start Date for such Transaction and ending on the earlier of (i) the Scheduled Termination Date and (ii) the last Additional Relevant Day (as specified in the related Supplemental Confirmation) for such Transaction, or such earlier day as elected by Dealer and communicated to Counterparty on such day (or, if later, the First Acceleration Date without regard to any acceleration thereof pursuant to “Special Provisions for Acquisition Transaction Announcements” below).

 

 

10


(h) As of the Trade Date, the Prepayment Date, the Initial Share Delivery Date and the Settlement Date for each Transaction, Counterparty is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) and Counterparty would be able to purchase a number of Shares with a value equal to the Prepayment Amount in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of Counterparty’s incorporation.

(i) Counterparty is not and, after giving effect to any Transaction, will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(j) Counterparty has not and will not enter into agreements similar to the Transactions described herein where any initial hedge period, calculation period, relevant period or settlement valuation period (each however defined) in such other transaction will overlap at any time (including as a result of extensions in such initial hedge period, calculation period, relevant period or settlement valuation period as provided in the relevant agreements) with any Relevant Period or, if applicable, any Settlement Valuation Period under this Master Confirmation. In the event that the initial hedge period, relevant period, calculation period or settlement valuation period in any other similar transaction overlaps with any Relevant Period or, if applicable, Settlement Valuation Period under this Master Confirmation as a result of any postponement of the Scheduled Termination Date or extension of the Settlement Valuation Period pursuant to “Valuation Disruption” above, Counterparty shall promptly amend such transaction to avoid any such overlap.

5. Regulatory Disruption. In the event that Dealer concludes, in its good faith, commercially reasonable discretion based on the advice of counsel, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer (provided that any such requirements, policies or procedures are generally applicable to transactions of this nature and related to compliance with applicable laws for Dealer and applied hereto in a non-discriminatory manner and in a consistent manner to similarly affected transactions generally), for it to refrain from or decrease any market activity on any Scheduled Trading Day or Days in order to establish, maintain or unwind commercially reasonable Hedge Positions during the Calculation Period or, if applicable, the Settlement Valuation Period, Dealer may by written notice to Counterparty elect to deem that a Market Disruption Event has occurred and will be continuing on such Scheduled Trading Day or Days.

6. 10b5-1 Plan. Counterparty represents, warrants and covenants to Dealer that:

(a) Counterparty is entering into this Master Confirmation and each Transaction hereunder in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b5-1”) or any other antifraud or anti-manipulation provisions of the federal or applicable state securities laws and that it has not entered into or altered and will not enter into or alter any corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the Shares. Counterparty acknowledges that it is the intent of the parties that each Transaction entered into under this Master Confirmation comply with the requirements of paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) and (B) of Rule 10b5-1 and each Transaction entered into under this Master Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).

(b) Counterparty will not seek to control or influence Dealer’s decision to make any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B)(3)) under any Transaction entered into under this Master Confirmation, including, without limitation, Dealer’s decision to enter into any hedging transactions. Counterparty represents and warrants that it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation under Rule 10b5-1.

(c) Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Master Confirmation or the relevant Supplemental Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Counterparty or any officer, director, manager or similar person of Counterparty is aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares.

 

11


7. Counterparty Purchases. Counterparty (or any “affiliated purchaser” as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”)) shall not, without the prior written consent of Dealer, directly or indirectly purchase any Shares (including by means of a derivative instrument), listed contracts on the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares (including, without limitation, any Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks (as defined in Rule 10b-18)) during any Relevant Period or, if applicable, Settlement Valuation Period, except through Dealer; provided that the foregoing shall not limit (w) Counterparty’s purchases of Shares that do not constitute “Rule 10b-18 purchases” under subparagraphs (ii) or (iii) of Rule 10b-18(a)(13), (x) Counterparty’s purchases of Shares pursuant to employee incentive plans in connection with related equity transactions, or the granting of Shares or options to “affiliated purchasers” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) or the ability of such affiliated purchasers to acquire such Shares or options, in connection with the Counterparty’s compensation policies for directors, officers and employees, (y) withholding of Shares to cover amounts payable (including tax liabilities and/or payment of exercise price) in respect of the exercise of employee stock options or the vesting of restricted stock or stock units and (z) privately negotiated (off-market) transactions by Counterparty, not involving any derivative instrument, to purchase Shares from existing holders of Shares in transactions that do not result in, or relate to, purchases of Shares in the public market by such existing holders in connection with such transactions, shall, in each case, not be subject to this Section 7.

Notwithstanding this Section 7, Counterparty may purchase Shares pursuant to a publicly announced stock buyback program during any Relevant Period or, if applicable, Settlement Valuation Period, so long as (i) on any day such purchases are conducted solely through Dealer; (ii) on any Exchange Business Day during the Relevant Period or, if applicable, during the Settlement Valuation Period in respect of any Transaction, such purchases do not exceed the Designated OMR Threshold specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction on such Exchange Business Day, and (iii) such purchases otherwise comply with other provisions of Rule 10b-18 and other applicable laws, rules and regulation.

8. Special Provisions for Merger Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Equity Definitions:

(a) Counterparty agrees that it:

(i) will not during the period commencing on the Trade Date through the end of the Relevant Period or, if applicable, the Settlement Valuation Period for any Transaction make, or, to the extent within its control, permit to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any Merger Transaction or potential Merger Transaction (a “Public Announcement”) unless such Public Announcement is made prior to the opening or after the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange for the Shares, except to the extent required by any law, rule or regulation applicable to Counterparty;

(ii) shall promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) notify Dealer following any such Public Announcement that such Public Announcement has been made; and

(iii) shall promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) provide Dealer with written notice specifying (i) Counterparty’s average daily Rule 10b-18 Purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months immediately preceding the announcement date that were not effected through Dealer or its affiliates and (ii) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding the date of such Public Announcement. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Counterparty to Dealer that such information is true and correct. In addition, Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the earlier to occur of the completion of the relevant Merger Transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders.

 

12


(b) Counterparty acknowledges that a Public Announcement may cause the terms of any Transaction to be adjusted or such Transaction to be terminated; accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that in making any Public Announcement, it must comply with the standards set forth in Section 6 above.

(c) Upon the occurrence of any Public Announcement (whether made by Counterparty or a third party) Dealer in its commercially reasonable discretion may (i) make commercially reasonable adjustments to the terms of any Transaction to account for the economic effect on the Transaction of such Merger Transaction, including, without limitation, the Scheduled Termination Date or the Forward Price Adjustment Amount, and/or suspend the Calculation Period and/or any Settlement Valuation Period (such adjustments to be limited to account for changes in the price of the Shares and volatility, stock loan rate and liquidity relevant to the Shares or to such Transaction) or (ii) if the Calculation Agent determines that no adjustment that it could make under clause (i) would produce a commercially reasonable result, treat the occurrence of such Public Announcement as an Additional Termination Event with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and the Transactions hereunder as the Affected Transactions and with the amount under Section 6(e) of the Agreement determined taking into account the fact that the Calculation Period or Settlement Valuation Period, as the case may be, had fewer Scheduled Calculation Dates than originally anticipated.

Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization referred to in Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act (after giving effect to the exclusions from such reference in clause (A) of Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv)).

9. Special Provisions for Acquisition Transaction Announcements. (a) If an Acquisition Transaction Announcement occurs on or prior to the Settlement Date for any Transaction, then the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustments in a commercially reasonable manner, to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of such Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate, at such time or at multiple times as the Calculation Agent deems appropriate (without duplication), to account for the economic effect on such Transaction of such Acquisition Transaction Announcement. If an Acquisition Transaction Announcement occurs after the Trade Date, but prior to the First Acceleration Date of any Transaction, the First Acceleration Date shall be the date of such Acquisition Transaction Announcement.

(b) “Acquisition Transaction Announcement” means (i) the announcement of an Acquisition Transaction by Counterparty, any of its subsidiaries or any other party that is expected to be a party to such Acquisition Transaction, (ii) an announcement that Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries has entered into an agreement, a letter of intent or an understanding designed to result in an Acquisition Transaction by Counterparty, any of its subsidiaries or any other party that is expected to be a party to such Acquisition Transaction, (iii) the announcement by Counterparty of the intention to solicit or enter into, or to explore strategic alternatives or other similar undertaking that include, an Acquisition Transaction, (iv) any other announcement that in the reasonable judgment of the Calculation Agent is reasonably likely to result in an Acquisition Transaction (provided that for such purposes the Calculation Agent may take into account the effect of such announcement on the market price of the Shares or options on the Shares) or (v) any announcement of any material change or amendment to any previous Acquisition Transaction Announcement (including any announcement of the abandonment of any such previously announced Acquisition Transaction, agreement, letter of intent, understanding or intention). For the avoidance of doubt, except as specifically stated otherwise, announcements as used in the definition of Acquisition Transaction Announcement refer to any public announcement whether made by the Issuer or a third party who is a party to such Acquisition Transaction, or could reasonably be expected to consummate such Acquisition Transaction (as determined by the Calculation Agent in good faith, taking into account the effect of such announcement on the market price of the Shares or options on the Shares).

(c) “Acquisition Transaction” means (i) any Merger Event (for purposes of this definition the definition of Merger Event shall be read with the references therein to “100%” being replaced by “25%” and to “50%” by “75%” and without reference to the clause beginning immediately following the definition of Reverse Merger therein to the end of such definition), Tender Offer or Merger Transaction or any other transaction involving the merger of Counterparty with or into any third party, (ii) the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Counterparty, (iii) a recapitalization, reclassification, binding share exchange or other similar transaction, (iv) any acquisition, lease, exchange, transfer, disposition (including by way of spin-off or distribution) of assets (including any capital stock or other ownership interests in subsidiaries) or other similar event by Counterparty or any of its

 

13


subsidiaries where the aggregate consideration transferable or receivable by or to Counterparty or its subsidiaries exceeds 25% of the market capitalization of Counterparty and (v) any transaction in which Counterparty or its board of directors has a legal obligation to make a recommendation to its shareholders in respect of such transaction (whether pursuant to Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act or otherwise).

10. Acknowledgments. (a) The parties hereto intend for:

(i) each Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, a “swap agreement” as defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “forward contract” as defined in Section 101(25) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 546(j), 555, 556, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code;

(ii) the Agreement to be a “master netting agreement” as defined in Section 101(38A) of the Bankruptcy Code;

(iii) a party’s right to liquidate, terminate or accelerate any Transaction, net out or offset termination values or payment amounts, and to exercise any other remedies upon the occurrence of any Event of Default or Termination Event under the Agreement with respect to the other party or any Extraordinary Event that results in the termination or cancellation of any Transaction to constitute a “contractual right” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code); and

(iv) all payments for, under or in connection with each Transaction, all payments for the Shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of the Prepayment Amount) and the transfer of such Shares to constitute “settlement payments” and “transfers” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code).

(b) Counterparty acknowledges that:

(i) during the term of any Transaction, Dealer and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to such Transaction;

(ii) Dealer and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and derivatives linked to the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to any Transaction, including acting as agent or as principal and for its own account or on behalf of customers;

(iii) Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Counterparty’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the VWAP Price;

(iv) any market activities of Dealer and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price and VWAP Price, each in a manner that may be adverse to Counterparty; and

(v) each Transaction is a derivatives transaction in which it has granted Dealer an option; Dealer may purchase shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the price paid by Counterparty under the terms of the related Transaction.

(c) Counterparty:

(i) is an “institutional account” as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c);

 

14


(ii) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, and will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of Dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified Dealer in writing; and

(iii) will notify Dealer if any of the statements contained in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 10(c) ceases to be true.

11. Credit Support Documents. The parties hereto acknowledge that no Transaction hereunder is secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Counterparty herein or pursuant to the Agreement.

12. No Set-off. Obligations under the Agreement shall not be subject to any Set-off by either party against any obligations of the other party or of that other party’s affiliates. “Set-off” means set-off, offset, combination of accounts, right of retention or withholding or similar right or requirement to which the relevant payer of an amount is entitled or subject (whether arising under the Agreement, another contract, applicable law or otherwise) that is exercised by, or imposed on, such payer.

13. Delivery of Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer may, by prior notice to Counterparty, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.

14. Early Termination. In the event that an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) occurs or is designated with respect to any Transaction (except as a result of a Merger Event in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash), if either party would owe any amount to the other party pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement (any such amount, a “Payment Amount”), then, in lieu of any payment of such Payment Amount, Counterparty may, no later than the Early Termination Date or the date on which such Transaction is terminated, elect to deliver or for Dealer to deliver, as the case may be, to the other party a number of Shares (or, in the case of a Merger Event, a number of units, each comprising the number or amount of the securities or property that a hypothetical holder of one Share would receive in such Merger Event (each such unit, an “Alternative Delivery Unit” and, the securities or property comprising such unit, “Alternative Delivery Property”)) with a value equal to the Payment Amount, as determined by the Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable manner (and the parties agree that, in making such determination of value, the Calculation Agent may take into account a number of factors, including the market price of the Shares or Alternative Delivery Property on the date of early termination and, if such delivery is made by Dealer, the prices at which Dealer purchases Shares or Alternative Delivery Property in a commercially reasonable manner to fulfill its delivery obligations under this Section 14); provided that in determining the composition of any Alternative Delivery Unit, if the relevant Merger Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash; and provided further that Counterparty may make such election only if Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer in writing on the date it notifies Dealer of such election that, as of such date, Counterparty is not aware of any material non-public information concerning the Shares and is making such election in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws. If such delivery is made by Counterparty, paragraphs 2 through 7 of Annex A shall apply as if such delivery were a settlement of the Transaction to which Net Share Settlement applied, the Cash Settlement Payment Date were the Early Termination Date and the Forward Cash Settlement Amount were zero (0) minus the Payment Amount owed by Counterparty.

15. Calculations and Payment Date upon Early Termination. The parties acknowledge and agree that in calculating Loss pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement Dealer may (but need not) determine losses and gains without reference to actual losses and gains incurred or realized but based on expected losses and gains assuming a commercially reasonable (including without limitation with regard to reasonable legal and regulatory guidelines) risk bid were used to determine loss to avoid awaiting the delay associated with closing out any hedge or related trading position in a commercially reasonable manner prior to or sooner following the designation of an Early Termination Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, all amounts calculated as being due in respect of an Early Termination Date under Section 6(e) of the Agreement will be payable on the day that notice of the amount payable is effective; provided that if Counterparty elects to receive Shares or Alternative Delivery Property in accordance with Section 14, such Shares or Alternative Delivery Property shall be delivered on a date selected by Dealer as promptly as practicable.

 

15


16. Maximum Share Delivery. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be required to deliver any Shares in respect of any Transaction in excess of the Maximum Number of Shares set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

17. Automatic Termination Provisions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6 of the Agreement, if a Termination Price is specified in any Supplemental Confirmation, then an Additional Termination Event with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and the Transaction to which such Supplemental Confirmation relates as the Affected Transaction will automatically occur without any notice or action by Dealer or Counterparty if the price of the Shares on the Exchange at any time falls below such Termination Price, and the Exchange Business Day that the price of the Shares on the Exchange at any time falls below the Termination Price will be the “Early Termination Date” for purposes of the Agreement.

18. Delivery of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Master Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Counterparty to deliver cash in respect of the settlement of the Transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation following payment by Counterparty of the relevant Prepayment Amount, except in circumstances where the required cash settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, as in effect on the relevant Trade Date (including, without limitation, where Counterparty so elects to deliver cash or fails timely to elect to deliver Shares or Alternative Delivery Property in respect of the settlement of such Transactions).

19. Claim in Bankruptcy. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Master Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transactions that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Counterparty’s bankruptcy.

20. Governing Law. The Agreement, this Master Confirmation, each Supplemental Confirmation and all matters arising in connection with the Agreement, this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without reference to its choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law).

21. Illegality. The parties agree that, for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of Section 5(b)(i) of the Agreement, “any applicable law” shall include the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and any similar law or regulation, without regard to Section 739 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, and the consequences specified in the Agreement, including without limitation, the consequences specified in Section 6 of the Agreement, shall apply to any Illegality arising from any such act, rule or regulation.

22. Role of Agent. Each of Dealer and Counterparty acknowledges to and agrees with the other party hereto and to and with the Agent that (i) the Agent is acting as agent for Dealer under any Transaction pursuant to instructions from such party, (ii) the Agent is not a principal or party to any Transaction, and may transfer its rights and obligations with respect to any Transaction, (iii) the Agent shall have no responsibility, obligation or liability, by way of issuance, guaranty, endorsement or otherwise in any manner with respect to the performance of either party under any Transaction, (iv) Dealer and the Agent have not given, and Counterparty is not relying (for purposes of making any investment decision or otherwise) upon, any statements, opinions or representations (whether written or oral) of Dealer or the Agent, other than the representations expressly set forth in this Master Confirmation or the Agreement, and (v) each party agrees to proceed solely against the other party, and not the Agent, to collect or recover any money or securities owed to it in connection with any Transaction. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Agent is an intended third party beneficiary hereunder. Counterparty acknowledges that the Agent is an affiliate of Dealer. Dealer will be acting for its own account in respect of this Master Confirmation, each Supplemental Confirmation and any Transaction contemplated hereunder.

 

16


23. Regulatory Provisions. The time of dealing for any Transaction will be confirmed by Dealer upon written request by Counterparty. The Agent will furnish to Counterparty upon written request a statement as to the source and amount of any remuneration received or to be received by the Agent in connection with a Transaction.

24. Method of Delivery. Whenever delivery of funds or other assets is required hereunder by or to Counterparty, such delivery shall be effected through the Agent. In addition, all notices, demands and communications of any kind relating to between Barclays and Counterparty shall be transmitted exclusively through the Agent.

25. Offices.

(a) The Office of Dealer for each Transaction is: 5 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4BB

(b) The Office of Counterparty for each Transaction is:.350 Ellis Street, Mountain View, CA 94043.

26. Arbitration. The Agreement, this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation are subject to the following arbitration provisions:

(a) All parties to this Master Confirmation are giving up the right to sue each other in court, including the right to a trial by jury, except as provided by the rules of the arbitration forum in which a claim is filed.

(b) Arbitration awards are generally final and binding; a party’s ability to have a court reverse or modify an arbitration award is very limited.

(c) The ability of the parties to obtain documents, witness statements and other discovery is generally more limited in arbitration than in court proceedings.

(d) The arbitrators do not have to explain the reason(s) for their award.

(e) The panel of arbitrators will typically include a minority of arbitrators who were or are affiliated with the securities industry, unless Counterparty is a member of the organization sponsoring the arbitration facility, in which case all arbitrators may be affiliated with the securities industry.

(f) The rules of some arbitration forums may impose time limits for bringing a claim in arbitration. In some cases, a claim that is ineligible for arbitration may be brought in court.

(g) The rules of the arbitration forum in which the claim is filed, and any amendments thereto, shall be incorporated into this Master Confirmation.

Counterparty agrees that any and all controversies that may arise between Counterparty and Dealer, including, but not limited to, those arising out of or relating to the Agreement or any Transaction hereunder, shall be determined by arbitration conducted before the FINRA Dispute Resolution (“FINRA-DR”), or, if the FINRA-DR declines to hear the matter, before the American Arbitration Association, in accordance with their arbitration rules then in force. The award of the arbitrator shall be final, and judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court, state or federal, having jurisdiction.

No person shall bring a putative or certified class action to arbitration, nor seek to enforce any pre-dispute arbitration agreement against any person who has initiated in court a putative class action or who is a member of a putative class who has not opted out of the class with respect to any claims encompassed by the putative class action until: (i) the class certification is denied; (ii) the class is decertified; or (iii) Counterparty is excluded from the class by the court.

 

17


Such forbearance to enforce an agreement to arbitrate shall not constitute a waiver of any rights under this Master Confirmation except to the extent stated herein.

27. Counterparts. This Master Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Master Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

 

18


Counterparty hereby agrees (a) to check this Master Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty with respect to any particular Transaction to which this Master Confirmation relates, by manually signing this Master Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to David Levin.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC., acting solely as Agent for BARCLAYS BANK PLC

By:   /s/ David Levin
  Authorized Signatory

 

Agreed and Accepted By:

 

SYMANTEC CORPORATION

By:   /s/ Thomas J. Seifert
  Name: Thomas J. Seifert
 

Title:   Executive Vice President and

            Chief Financial Officer

 

19


SCHEDULE A

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION

 

To:           

Symantec Corporation

350 Ellis Street

Mountain View, CA 94043

From:   

Barclays Bank PLC

5 The North Colonnade

Canary Wharf, London E14 4BB

Facsimile: +44(20)77736461

Telephone: +44 (20) 777 36810

Subject:    Accelerated Stock Buyback
Ref. No:    [Insert Reference No.]
Date:    [Insert Date]

 

 

The purpose of this Supplemental Confirmation is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between Barclays Bank PLC (“Dealer”), through its agent Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Agent”) and Symantec Corporation (“Counterparty”) (together, the “Contracting Parties”) on the Trade Date specified below. This Supplemental Confirmation is a binding contract between Dealer and Counterparty as of the relevant Trade Date for the Transaction referenced below.

1. This Supplemental Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Master Confirmation dated as of November 9, 2015 (the “Master Confirmation”) between the Contracting Parties, as amended and supplemented from time to time. All provisions contained in the Master Confirmation govern this Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified below.

2. The terms of the Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

Trade Date:    [     ]
Forward Price Adjustment Amount:    USD [    ]
Calculation Period Start Date:    [     ]
Scheduled Calculation Dates:    See Appendix I
Scheduled Termination Date:    [     ]
First Acceleration Date:    [     ]
Prepayment Amount:    USD [    ]
Prepayment Date:    [     ]

 

A-1


Initial Shares:    [         ] Shares; provided that if, in connection with the Transaction, Dealer is unable to borrow or otherwise acquire a number of Shares equal to the Initial Shares for delivery to Counterparty on the Initial Share Delivery Date, the Initial Shares delivered on the Initial Share Delivery Date shall be reduced to such number of Shares that Dealer is able to so borrow or otherwise acquire, and thereafter Dealer shall continue to use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow or otherwise acquire a number of Shares, at a stock borrow cost no greater than the Initial Stock Loan Rate, equal to the shortfall in the Initial Share Delivery and to deliver such additional Shares as soon as reasonably practicable (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that in using such commercially reasonable efforts Dealer shall act in good faith and in accordance with its then current policies, practices and procedures (including without limitation any policies, practices or procedures relating to counterparty risk, market risk, reputational risk, credit, documentation, legal, regulatory capital, compliance and collateral), and shall not be required to enter into any securities lending transaction or transact with any potential securities lender if such transaction would not be in accordance with such policies, practices and procedures). For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate of all shares delivered to Counterparty in respect of the Transaction pursuant to this paragraph shall be the “number of Initial Shares” for purposes of “Number of Shares to be Delivered” in the Master Confirmation.
Initial Share Delivery Date:    [     ]
Maximum Number of Shares:    [     ]
Ordinary Dividend Amount:    [     ]
Scheduled Ex-Dividend Dates:    [     ]
Termination Price:    [     ]
Additional Relevant Days:    The [       ] Exchange Business Days immediately following the Calculation Period.
Designated OMR Threshold:    0% of the ADTV (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(1)).

3. Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer that neither it nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act) has made any purchases of blocks pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act during either (i) the four full calendar weeks immediately preceding the Trade Date or (ii) during the calendar week in which the Trade Date occurs

4. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Master Confirmation, (i) any announcement made prior to the Trade Date in respect of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement dated August 11, 2015 between Counterparty and Havasu Holdings Ltd. (the “Havasu Transactions”) shall not be deemed to constitute an

 

A-2


Acquisition Transaction Announcement (it being understood that any change or amendment occurring after the Trade Date may constitute an Acquisition Transaction Announcement), and (ii) as of the Trade Date, the Havasu Transactions shall not be deemed to constitute a Merger Transaction.

5. This Supplemental Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Supplemental Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

Counterparty hereby agrees (a) to check this Supplemental Confirmation carefully and immediately upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty with respect to the Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates, by manually signing this Supplemental Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and immediately returning an executed copy to David Levin.

 

Yours sincerely,
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC., acting solely as
Agent for BARCLAYS BANK PLC
 
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Agreed and Accepted By:

 

SYMANTEC CORPORATION

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


APPENDIX I

SCHEDULED CALCULATION DATES

 

     Scheduled Calculation
Dates
          Scheduled Calculation
Dates
          Scheduled Calculation
Dates

1

        41            81      

2

        42            82      

3

        43            83      

4

        44            84      

5

        45            85      

6

        46            86      

7

        47            87      

8

        48            88      

9

        49            89      

10

        50            90      

11

        51            91      

12

        52            92      

13

        53            93      

14

        54            94      

15

        55            95      

16

        56            96      

17

        57            97      

18

        58            98      

19

        59            99      

20

        60            100      

21

        61            101      

22

        62            102      

23

        63            103      

24

        64            104      

25

        65            105      

26

        66            106      

27

        67            107      

28

        68            108      

29

        69            109      

30

        70            110      

31

        71            111      

32

        72            112      

33

        73            113      

34

        74            114      

35

        75            115      

36

        76            116      

37

        77            117      

38

        78            118      

39

        79            119      

40

        80            120      

 

1


ANNEX A

COUNTERPARTY SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS

1. The following Counterparty Settlement Provisions shall apply to the extent indicated under the Master Confirmation:

 

  Settlement Currency:    USD
  Settlement Method Election:    Applicable; provided that (i) Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the word “Physical” in the sixth line thereof and replacing it with the words “Net Share” and (ii) the Electing Party may make a settlement method election only if the Electing Party represents and warrants to Dealer in writing on the date it notifies Dealer of its election that, as of such date, the Electing Party is not aware of any material non-public information concerning Counterparty or the Shares and is electing the settlement method in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws.
  Electing Party:    Counterparty
  Settlement Method Election Date:    The earlier of (i) the Scheduled Termination Date and (ii) the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Accelerated Termination Date (in which case the election under Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions shall be made no later than 10 minutes prior to the open of trading on the Exchange on such second Exchange Business Day), as the case may be
  Default Settlement Method:    Cash Settlement
  Forward Cash Settlement Amount:    The Number of Shares to be Delivered multiplied by the Settlement Price
  Settlement Price:    The average of the VWAP Prices for the Exchange Business Days in the Settlement Valuation Period, subject to Valuation Disruption as specified in the Master Confirmation
  Settlement Valuation Period:    A number of Scheduled Trading Days required for Dealer to unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position, beginning on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the earlier of (i) the Scheduled Termination Date or (ii) the Exchange Business Day immediately following the Termination Date
  Cash Settlement:    If Cash Settlement is applicable, then Buyer shall pay to Seller the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount on the Cash Settlement Payment Date.

 

2


  Cash Settlement Payment Date:    The date one Settlement Cycle following the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period.
  Net Share Settlement Procedures:    If Net Share Settlement is applicable, Net Share Settlement shall be made in accordance with paragraphs 2 through 7 below.

2. Net Share Settlement shall be made by delivery on the Cash Settlement Payment Date of a number of Shares satisfying the conditions set forth in paragraph 3 below (the “Registered Settlement Shares”), or a number of Shares not satisfying such conditions (the “Unregistered Settlement Shares”), in either case with a value equal to the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount, with such Shares’ value determined by the Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable manner (which value shall, in the case of Unregistered Settlement Shares, take into account a customary, commercially reasonable illiquidity discount), in each case as determined by the Calculation Agent.

3. Counterparty may only deliver Registered Settlement Shares pursuant to paragraph 2 above if:

(a) a registration statement covering public resale of the Registered Settlement Shares by Dealer (the “Registration Statement”) shall have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act and been declared or otherwise become effective on or prior to the date of delivery, and no stop order shall be in effect with respect to the Registration Statement; a printed prospectus relating to the Registered Settlement Shares (including any prospectus supplement thereto, the “Prospectus”) shall have been delivered to Dealer, in such quantities as Dealer shall reasonably have requested, on or prior to the date of delivery;

(b) the form and content of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including, without limitation, any sections describing the plan of distribution) shall be reasonably satisfactory to Dealer;

(c) as of or prior to the date of delivery, Dealer and its agents shall have been afforded a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities of issuers comparable to Counterparty and the results of such investigation are satisfactory to Dealer, in its discretion, subject to customary confidentiality undertakings on the part of such party; and

(d) as of the date of delivery, an agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) shall have been entered into with Dealer in connection with the public resale of the Registered Settlement Shares by Dealer substantially similar to underwriting agreements customary for underwritten offerings of equity securities of similar size of issuers comparable to Counterparty, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, which Underwriting Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such underwriting agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its affiliates and the provision of customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters.

4. If Counterparty delivers Unregistered Settlement Shares pursuant to paragraph 2 above:

(a) all Unregistered Settlement Shares shall be delivered to Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof;

(b) as of or prior to the date of delivery, Dealer and any potential purchaser of any such shares from Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) identified by Dealer shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for private placements of similar size of equity securities of issuers comparable to Counterparty (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them), subject to customary confidentiality undertakings on the part of such party;

 

3


(c) as of the date of delivery, Counterparty shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) with Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate), substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of similar size of equity securities, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its affiliates and the provision of customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters, and shall provide for the payment by Counterparty of all commercially reasonable fees and expenses in connection with such resale, including all commercially reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, and shall contain customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Counterparty reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales; and

(d) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate), Counterparty shall, if so requested by Dealer, prepare, in cooperation with Dealer, a private placement memorandum in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer

5. Dealer, itself or through an affiliate (the “Selling Agent”) or any underwriter(s), will sell, in a commercially reasonable manner, all, or such lesser portion as may be required hereunder, of the Registered Settlement Shares or Unregistered Settlement Shares and any Makewhole Shares (as defined below) (together, the “Settlement Shares”) delivered by Counterparty to Dealer pursuant to paragraph 6 below commencing on the Cash Settlement Payment Date and continuing until the date on which the aggregate Net Proceeds (as such term is defined below) of such sales, as determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner, is equal to the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount (such date, the “Final Resale Date”). If the proceeds of any sale(s) made by Dealer, the Selling Agent or any underwriter(s), net of any commercially reasonable fees and commissions (including, without limitation, underwriting or placement fees) customary for similar transactions under the circumstances at the time of the offering, together with commercially reasonable carrying charges and expenses incurred in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares (including, but without limitation to, the covering of any over-allotment or short position (syndicate or otherwise)) (the “Net Proceeds”) exceed the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount, Dealer will refund, in USD, such excess to Counterparty on the date that is three (3) Currency Business Days following the Final Resale Date, and, if any portion of the Settlement Shares remains unsold, Dealer shall return to Counterparty on that date such unsold Shares.

6. If the Calculation Agent determines that the Net Proceeds received from the sale of the Registered Settlement Shares or Unregistered Settlement Shares or any Makewhole Shares, if any, pursuant to this paragraph 6 are less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount (the amount in USD by which the Net Proceeds are less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount being the “Shortfall” and the date on which such determination is made, the “Deficiency Determination Date”), Counterparty shall on the Exchange Business Day next succeeding the Deficiency Determination Date (the “Makewhole Notice Date”) deliver to Dealer, through the Selling Agent, a notice of Counterparty’s election that Counterparty shall either (i) pay an amount in cash equal to the Shortfall on the day that is one (1) Currency Business Day after the Makewhole Notice Date, or (ii) deliver additional Shares. If Counterparty elects to deliver to Dealer additional Shares, then Counterparty shall deliver additional Shares in compliance with the terms and conditions of paragraph 3 or paragraph 4 above, as the case may be (the “Makewhole Shares”), on the first Clearance System Business Day which is also an Exchange Business Day following the Makewhole Notice Date in such number as the Calculation Agent reasonably believes would have a market value on that Exchange Business Day equal to the Shortfall. Such Makewhole Shares shall be sold by Dealer in accordance with the provisions above; provided that if the sum of the Net Proceeds from the sale of the originally delivered Shares and the Net Proceeds from the sale of any Makewhole Shares is less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount then Counterparty shall, at its election, either make such cash payment or deliver to Dealer further Makewhole Shares until such Shortfall has been reduced to zero.

 

4


7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the aggregate number of Settlement Shares and Makewhole Shares be greater than the Reserved Shares minus the amount of any Shares actually delivered by Counterparty under any other Transaction(s) under this Master Confirmation (the result of such calculation, the “Capped Number”). Counterparty represents and warrants (which shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that a Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of Shares determined according to the following formula:

A – B

 

  Where    A = the number of authorized but unissued shares of the Counterparty that are not reserved for future issuance on the date of the determination of the Capped Number; and
     B = the maximum number of Shares required to be delivered to third parties if Counterparty elected Net Share Settlement of all transactions in the Shares (other than Transactions in the Shares under this Master Confirmation) with all third parties that are then currently outstanding and unexercised.

Reserved Shares” means initially, [            ] Shares. The Reserved Shares may be increased or decreased in a Supplemental Confirmation.

 

5

Symantec (NASDAQ:SYMC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Symantec Charts.
Symantec (NASDAQ:SYMC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Symantec Charts.